easy is okay

Everything doesn’t have to be difficult. From a young age, we are taught that hard work and discipline make for great success. While this is true, we don’t constantly have to swim upstream, put obstacles in our own way, or fight with everyone around us just for the sake of fighting. Others’ voices in our heads tell us who to be, how to be, what to do, how to look, etc., which causes us to stress unnecessarily about not being good enough, attractive enough, smart enough, etc. I give you permission to accept and be who you are and use your natural talents to their best advantage. You will breathe easier.

 

An organizing system has to fit the needs of the individual using it, or s/he won’t use it. There are tons of organizing books recommending this system or that as the “next big thing,” and that success comes only from following that prescribed plan. Maybe yes and maybe no. No, because there is no single one-size-fits all organizing solution. Yes, because there are so many different types of people that there have to be so many different types of organizing systems. Trial and error is the key. Persevering to find the system that works for you – your unique brain, experiences, processing modality, sensory preference, and natural habits – will make getting and staying organized simple and easier.

 

Simplicity does take thought and time, however. We have to “stop the bus” of our busy lives, examine what’s working and what isn’t, and sometimes totally eliminate certain things, tasks, and people. Clear the decks, start fresh, and refocus. As Steven Covey says, “Put the big rocks in first,” meaning that if the most important things are not included in our lives first, there won’t be room for them later. You may need to make some difficult decisions on what to include and what to exclude. As for how to simplify a gargantuan To Do list, break down large tasks or projects into impossibly small, very doable pieces, then do them one at a time.  Multitasking doesn’t work. You will live easier.

 

You can change the way you think about how you do things. We get into a rut of doing things a certain way and thinking a certain way because our brains develop neural pathways that keep us doing the same thing the same way and thinking/feeling the same way about it. However, everything in life is a choice, and we can choose to make tasks difficult or easy by examining how we think about them. One simple example is taking out the garbage. You could think, “I resent my spouse for making me do this disgusting task,” and therefore hate doing it every night, making you feel grouchy and unresponsive to the family for the rest of the evening.  Alternatively, you could think, “It takes just a few seconds, it saves my spouse time, and I get to go outside for a moment to breathe fresh air and look at the stars.” Consciously focusing on the positive creates a different perspective, different emotions, and different outcomes. Clear your mind of as much negativity as possible. See the bright side. Remember to feel grateful for little things. You will think easier.