Blogging is such an interesting way to learn more about yourself. Who knew! Knowing that I was documenting a goal that I was journeying to achieve was quite motivating when I clarified that goal. But not in a punitive, I better achieve the goal or else sort of way. What was interesting was that the project I had been trying to tackle for months was achieved in 5 mind-focused days when the goal was put out there without time constraints attached. It became challenging, fun and I completed the task far quicker than I previously had been trying.
It was fun to see how creatively I could rummage about the house trying to find things to get rid of, almost reminding me of one of those card matching games I used to play as a kid. Fun! That was the missing link. Once the goal was clear and the big picture made sense it was fun to creatively problem-solve to get to that goal. The reward was celebrating an achievement, not wiping the sweat from my brow for having just dodged a hurried bullet. And what an amazing feeling to know that the goal was achieved in such a short period of time!
That being said, I’m looking forward to zooming in on the vision for my future and having more fun achieving those goals. New Year 2011 will be the year of clarifying personal mission, vision and values statements. I look forward to learning even more about myself as my journey continues!
So I decided to give myself homework – just for fun! As always I turn to the internet as my Muse to find inspirational, yet specific, questions to start this next year…
Susan Heathfield from About.com Guide suggests:
Exploration to Prepare to Write the Personal Vision Statement
Use these questions to guide your thoughts.
- What are the ten things you most enjoy doing? Be honest. These are the ten things without which your weeks, months, and years would feel incomplete.
- What three things must you do every single day to feel fulfilled in your work?
- What are your five-six most important values?
- Your life has a number of important facets or dimensions, all of which deserve some attention in your personal vision statement. Write one important goal for each of them: physical, spiritual, work or career, family, social relationships, financial security, mental improvement and attention, and fun.
- If you never had to work another day in your life, how would you spend your time instead of working?
- When your life is ending, what will you regret not doing, seeing, or achieving?
- What strengths have other people commented on about you and your accomplishments? What strengths do you see in yourself?
- What weaknesses have other people commented on about you and what do you believe are your weaknesses?
http://humanresources.about.com/od/success/a/personal_vision.htm
Project De-clutter – Day 8
I’m amazed to say I got rid of 100 pounds of de-clutter weight. It took 
five non-consecutive days during the holidays and I’m thrilled! It started off modestly when I weighed myself holding a bag of shredded paper of a surprising 8 pounds and gained momentum as I continued to track my progress on my calendar;
- 30 pounds of clothes, shoes and stuff became thrift store donations
- 26 pounds of old magazines went to recycling
- another 12 pounds of paper were recycled and 6 pounds of garbage
- finally, 18 pounds of jackets, bags and more clothes were donated.
What I learned is how much I valued that goal amount. The decision to keep stuff or have it be weight in the challenge made the choice way easier. Not only that, but with no rigid deadline in mind it was actually fun and fast! Turns out Goal + Fun = Things Get Done Quickly. With two weeks left in the declutter challenge I’m realizing more about myself and look forward to taking this knowledge to future challenges.
Project De-Clutter – Day 7
After a bit of a hiatus it’s time to get back on track with Project De-clutter. A new 100 pound de-clutter challenge has emerged. So far to date I have tossed 8 pounds of paper clutter and it feels like a good start. 
92 pounds left and I feel I can do this challenge. I’m determined to do this challenge. My new strategy involves researching the art of feng shui. It’s interesting to intentionally arrange my environment to reflect my goals and aspirations for various aspects of my life.
So off to Google videos I go. I find the Leigh Kubin series of feng shui videos (http://www.fengshuibyleigh.com/) to be absolutely fantastic! The “before” 
with explanation and the “after” debrief with the client around their personalized touches is just the customized and caring approach that is really inviting.
This feng shui stuff is turning out to be a very uplifting and inspiring way to de-clutter. If it fits in with the feng shui of the room it stays. If it doesn’t fit it needs to be relocated or tossed. This approach is making the process far more exciting and meaningful.
Project – De-Clutter – Day 6
The de-clutter Muse can strike in the darndest places. It was a spontaneous trip to buy a new mattress that became quite the inspirational adventure. The first furniture store my boyfriend and I went to was actually a very positive experience. I had never “tried out” a mattress before and it was actually quite fun determining which mattress was the “best” for both of us. It turned out to be the first mattress we were shown, not sure if that’s a good thing or not. More surprising was that we both agreed on the choice! After almost what seemed like hours of my boyfriend talking to the sales person about the mattresses and the protective sheets and special pillows and their protective coverings, we decided to check out more stores. Sharing this experience, albeit unfruitful as we didn’t end up buying a mattress nor bedroom suite after all, was surprisingly motivating. After returning home I found myself picturing the new mattress and the new bedroom suite I had picked out in the bedroom. I looked around and could better see what I wanted the space to look like. In a fit of inspiration I grabbed two garbage bags and proceeded to fill them with clothes I just simply didn’t wear. Feeling 20 pounds lighter I thought about the clutter. What if I weighed my “stuff”? I wonder what my “clutter weight” really would be? I could vie
w this de-clutter project as a clutter-weight-loss project of sorts. I wonder how much clutter-weight I can get rid of in the weeks to follow? The more interesting question will be, how will I be inspired to lose my next 20 pounds of clutter-weight?
Project – De-Clutter – Day 5
It was time to start tackling my most-dreaded space…the basement. The prospects of venturing into this space were downright – overwhelming. I needed a new prospective. That’s when a procrastinating trip to the store turned out to be my next de-clutter plan. I bought a delicious half chocolate cake and a bottle of wine, a beverage I rarely consume, all in the name of de-cluttering.
One piece of delicious cake and glass of wine later I entered the space I typically ran from. I looked around with new eyes and a feeling of giddiness. Choosing alcohol, not to run and hide from something, but rather in order to tackle something and feel different was an interesting experiment. I felt different and actually started sorting, grouping and arranging objects into Tupperware bins I had bought some time ago. Not typically the way I usually operate, I felt somewhat intrigued and interested in how I could possibly alter the feeling I had in the space and possibly learn to enjoy it. For the first time I had a good time in a space I had seen as a huge obstacle for years. Though this space is no where near being “finished” I’m feeling a little more optimistic.
Filed under: Project Spontaneous | Tags: book store, Debbie Ford, The Best Year of Your Life
Project – Spontaneous – Day 4
It’s interesting how the people in my life can throw a curve ball despite my best efforts to make my own choices. What do I do when spontaneous acts are done around me that affect how I’ve viewed my living space? What do I do when the space I thought was “home” in an instant has simply become a shared space. Feeling quite uncomfortable and well out of my comfort zone I felt my life as I knew it take on a new form, drastically. After a few tear-filled nights and uneasy days I resigned to the fact that sometimes what makes me uncomfortable may not necessarily be all bad. It was during one of these tear-filled nights that I turned to Project Spontaneous for solace…and found Chapters book store.
I really didn’t know what I wanted nor what I need I just knew I needed to surround myself with an unfamiliar yet somehow neutral territory. Wandering from the self-help section, to exploring the audio book section, to searching through the autobiography section, then journeying through the religion section, I finally re-planted myself in the path of the self-help section hoping a book or two may speak to me, somehow. This is where I met Debbie Ford, life coach and writer, for the first time. I picked up “The Best Year of Your Life” and put it back. 
I glanced at books on healing and positivity and yet I somehow ended up back at Debbie Ford’s interesting creation that appeared to be some sort of self-care game based on one of her best selling books. Buying the small package gave me the boost I needed. I, with the guidance of life coach Debbie, would try to make my dreams come true one week at a time. Feeling quite distressed when I chose to spontaneously head to Chapters, I felt somewhat…supported at the end of this activity…as it appears to be the gift that may help me to keep going…
Project De-clutter – Day 4
After a few attempts at de-cluttering the physical space around me I found myself contemplating the other spaces I live with daily. For several years I’ve filled my “free-time” schedule with many work type tasks. Recently it became increasingly clear that if I am to set straight the space around me that that my mind had to somehow share in that process.
My next de-clutter move was to re-prioritize my schedule and start removing those things that didn’t fit into my future planning. After many years of pursuing an active hobby as a way to earn extra money, it suddenly became clear that working all the time is not always the answer. For me work has been a tool to cope with many things and it has served me well for many years. For the first time I’m trying to actually fill my schedule with things that align with what I enjoy. Letting go has been the theme for the last few weeks and letting go of old workoholic ways is one of the biggest challenges yet. It’s interesting how too much scheduling can actually clutter thoughts and self-perceptions at times. In letting go of a comforting hobby I look forward to moving forward in other professional development areas of my life. Who knows where things will lead but I’m hopeful for a fulfilled future. Though it’s been a mental shift, I’m feeling a little more productive in my de-clutter journey.
Project De-clutter – Day 3
This day I decided to just enter a room, lock the door and see what I could do to de-clutter to some degree of satisfaction. That room turned out to be one of the least exciting rooms on my de-clutter list, the bathroom. If only this small tiny space could be transformed into some sort of spa oasis. This was more of a cleaning session and not as much in the way of de-cluttering as I would have hoped. However, I did find ways to rid myself of some partially used shampoo containers I knew full well I would never use. Ruthlessness in the face of cleaning proved to be…necessary. I did discover that the newly bought toilet bowl cleaner from “the green line” of Great Value products from Walmart was the best toilet bowl cleaner I’ve ever smelled. Citrus Sage is my new favorite bathroom cleaning scent that I will definately “look forward to” including in my next cleaning session. Sadly, however, I did find this room zapped my motivation for other rooms. Back to the drawing board… youtube de-clutter inspiration here I come…
Filed under: Project Spontaneous | Tags: disappointment, movie, The Science of Sleep
Project Spontaneous – Day 3
The night I came home from work not having had the best of days. Feeling like I wanted to vent, in fact, feeling like blogging. However, I was unable to get onto the computer, due to a computer monopoly by a certain boyfriend. This is when Project Spontaneous kicked in and I did the unthinkable on a week night…I popped in some independent movie I’ve never heard of and started watching…just because I felt like it! For those 106 minutes I wanted to forget the world and escape. Unfortunately that world called The Science of Sleep by Michel Gondry started off with potential and ended up a strange, drawn out snore fest. Suppose that was the point of the flick? Anywho, my boyfriend was quite taken aback that I should break with the rut…er I mean “routine” way of operating on the week nights and sat silently mourning lost minutes of reality tv. Ok, in hindsight this spontaneous act could have lead to a potentially fabulous and satifying evening, but in fact turned out to be a big disappointment. Hopefully my next act of spontaneity will lead to more…fulfilling…times.
Filed under: Project Spontaneous | Tags: learn to sing, Sound Forge Audio Studio
Project Spontaneous – Day 2
I was struck with inspiration for my spontaneous activity on the way home from work. I drove past my house and right to the nearest Staples store where I decided to buy my first ever voice recording software. After many years of thinking how amazing it would be to learn how to sing, I decided one way I could teach myself is by recording my voice and playing it back to hear where I could improve. Sony’s Sound Forge Audio Studio was my choice for its advertised ability to “remove” vocals in songs to create karaoke style music. I was thrilled to find voice recording software and quite disappointed in the voice removal feature. But for a spontaneous activity I would probably never have done otherwise, I found this sort of play much-needed and long overdue. I look forward to sharing my interest in learning how to sing with other people. Does anyone out there have tips on how to learn to sing or share my interest in wanting to learn how to sing?
