Dr. Susan Biali

I’ve written about clutter myself, in fact my book, Live a Life You Love: 7 Steps to a Healthier, Happier, More Passionate You has a whole section about clearing out the clutter in your life – not only the physical clutter, but the social, emotional and financial clutter that can keep you overwhelmed and stuck.

Here are some of the quotes underlined in Ranka’s little book:

Just think about that one for a moment: have you become an expert in dealing with unpleasant situations? Gulp.

What are some key things you need to do but are “ignoring”?  Would writing it out, owning it, and posting it help?  I think so – this is a great coaching exercise.

The container suppliers are not to blame; they are simply meeting the demands of consumers.  We have to admit that we are out of control when it comes to buying, we have too much stuff that we don’t need in our homes and our lives.”

If you look around at the clutter and “stuff” in your home and in your life, what does it tell you about you?  Where are you out of control? Where have you taken in or on too much stuff, whether it’s in your closet or your appointment book?

Gulp, again.  Normally I’m pretty organized but I’ve had to move a couple of times this year and am still in a transient situation right now.  I had to sift through and shuffle papers on my desk this morning in order to create the “space” to write (which is the thing I’ve now promised myself to do every single morning) and almost let myself get distracted by them.  I’ve been way too busy lately and have gotten into bad habits.  As I look at all the stuff on my desk after reading this, I  cringe.  I also imagine what my morning at my desk would feel like if the desk was actually clear, with everything in its place…

Read that one again.  At first it seemed excessive, but when I think about it, it’s probably accurate.  If I’m unorganized with my grocery shopping, I’ll be less likely to have enough food in the refrigerator and more likely to grab takeout on my way home.  If I don’t follow-up with those clients that I know I should, I probably won’t enjoy their business.  Unless I get really aggressive about what my top priorities are, I’ll continue to be bogged down keeping up with everything that comes my way instead of moving forward steadily and powerfully in my life and career.

It’s hard to clear out the clutter.  It’s also hard to continue to keep life clutter-free even if you do clear it out, because “nature abhors a vacuum”.  I’m hoping that you (and I), by understanding the deeper meaning and cost of clutter, will be helped by the information here.  Saying “I really should get my office more organized” is one thing.  Understanding what you might lose if you don’t is another thing entirely.

To read my book, complete with its section on my approach to clearing out life’s clutter, go to www.livealifeyoulovebook.com.  For more information on Ranka Burzan’s work, see www.solutionsorganizing.com .