Challenge: 8 Items a Day

Last night, my fiancé said “I read this article and it said to get rid of 8 items a day for the next 10 days”. My first thought was a feeling of relief. How good would that feel, how much more space would we have, and oh how I can’t wait to help you do that!! lol . Then I thought, do I have 80 items to donate?, oh this will be tough.

After more thought, I went from thinking of 80 clothes items to just 80 items in general — clothes, sheets, shoes, files, etc. etc — oh the world just opened up! I can do that for a month!

I found that my clients hold onto items because, “I paid $x for that, I can never get rid of it.” When I ask how long ago that was, they almost always have the term “years” in their answer. So we hold onto something because of the money we spent on it — even if it’s value today is $0. The wake-up reality is that $x is already spent, long gone, and is holding you down — today.

If you want to take on this challenge and find yourself saying this statement to yourself, be kind, be compassionate to yourself, and say “I’m glad I could afford $x, but it’s now costing me peace, time, energy, and space and I value that more. Good-bye.”

Declutter Me Now

I created my business name, Declutter Me Now. What does that name even mean? I’m so glad you asked!

We have clutter in our homes and offices. It just happens. It’s a part of life. We buy too much stuff, keep things we don’t need, stack papers in the corner to sort through later, technology changes so quickly that CDs, VHS tapes, and cassettes get set aside to deal with later, or we just don’t have time. These examples amongst others, create clutter.

We thrive and are committed to decluttering our client’s homes. We understand and fully respect your feelings and possessions as we move through the decluttering process. It is a cleansing and empowering decluttering process, and even fun!

Why “Me”? We believe that everything is energy. Everything. Our stuff, our feelings, our homes, our clutter. Usually what is happening on the outside is a reflection of what is happening on the inside. If you can’t find your keys, have stacks of papers, boxes that need to be emptied, or have to walk across the room to get a fry pan, most likely your time and schedule is overbooked, overwhelming, and a challenge to ever feel caught up. As we declutter your space, we also declutter your space - internally. And, boy, is it so freeing — it’s like taking a breath of fresh air!

Why “now”? Why not? When you feel like you have had enough, that you are ready to make a tangible shift in your life, we can serve you by helping you declutter. Life is too short to wait any longer.

Containers: First or Last?

I've come to believe that there is a simple way to know if you are an organizer or not.  In my experience, my clients all answer yes to this one question:  Do they buy the containers first?  Yes, yes, yes!  In fact, several of my clients had a variety of containers, aka baskets, already in their homes.  The biggest problem is they were not used and they were not the right size.

So if your mind wants to go buy a basket, pretty box, or a container of any sort before you purged, donated, trashed, repurposed, and sorted, then you most likely are a creative person.

There's no judgement, no right or wrong.  Possibly take this as insight and knowledge to help you understand who you are.  It also might provide you relief instead of trying to force yourself, or your time and energy, into doing something instead of your gifts for the world.

A short but right on point story.  One of my clients wanted to reorganize his two young kid's closets.  This included buying new containers -- but the container was a closet storage unit -- like $700-$1,000 each.  This is a chunk of change.  He really got emotional and almost demanding about it - like we need to buy these today, right now.  This was before taking everything out of the closets, seeing what we want to keep vs. donate, how many clothes need to be on hangers, how many could be folded in drawers, did they want to "see" the clothes (drawers vs. shelves), how much floor space was needed for the toys, books, crafts.... and the list of unknown questions kept growing.  My head was spinning, my body felt tight, nothing felt right.  

Please do all that you can to hold off on purchasing the containers.  I suggest viewing it as a "reward" for after shopping.  You know, like going out for a new outfit after a work-out, or even dessert :) 

Which Spot is Next?

You just know it.  You feel it, you sense it, and you try to block it out.  As much as we want to deny it, these "actions" take energy away from us.  Yet, day in and day out, we don't have the time, energy, know-how, or desire to do it.

But I do.

I know which closets, rooms, areas, and the like need my attention.  I think about it daily.  Yet, summer is here and it's sunny outside -- all of it can wait, right?

Not for me.

I can't wait to attack our 2 sheds and our garage.  Yes, I said it.  I'm super excited.  I'll admit that there are other priorities, such as hiking and spending quality time with family.  But when that opportunity surfaces, and I know it will, it's game time.

One shed has a sofa standing on it's side, cushions with paint cans on top of them, about 6 containers of who knows what, even more of a number of brown boxes from moving or past-on relatives, and who knows how many cobwebs.  The other shed has a perimeter of brown boxes, black containers, and piles and piles of stuff, and I think our holiday items are stacked somewhere out in one if not both these sheds.

So, I know which spot is next for me.  One if not both of the sheds.  Everything is coming out onto the lawn.  Everything will be sorted into categories.  And then it's time to containerize the categories and find their homes.  I can't wait!! 

Returns at TJ Maxx - Freak Out

One of my clients had a huge stack of clothes, still with their TJ Maxx tag, to be returned to the store.  Approximately 50 pieces of clothing, bought at different dates/times so they had different receipts, had to be sorted into a pile with the matching receipt.  At first, I said no-way.  You see, when I was younger, like 10-12 years old, my Mom would ask, scratch that -- "tell" me, that I had to go into the store and make the returns for her.  The worst part was that most of the time she didn't have a receipt.  If you ever made a return, you know that not having a receipt is a big ordeal.  There was one specific time (isn't there always?!) that she sent me into the store with an item to return with no receipt, and "supposedly" no tag on the item.  I got into an argument with the lady working there as she protested that the item wasn't bought at that store.  Of course, my mom telling me that it was, I protested back saying yes it was.  After a few bitter exchanges, she flipped the item over, and there was the tag --- and the tag was from another store.

Needless to say, many years later I still remember this traumatic event, and I shiver ever time I have to make a return.  Now, I try to make light of the situation with the person on the other side that works for the store.  And, 99% of the time, I make sure I have the receipt.

Now, back to present day, when my client asked me to do this.  I said, I'll enjoy taking the clothes and putting them into piles based on matching it with the appropriate receipt; afterall, that's part of my business - I organize, categorize, purge (clothes that had no receipt -- I wasn't taking them back!), and return to their "home" (aka TJ Maxx).  

This is an example of the byproduct that comes with organizing.  And this time it was an empowering moment for me.   I was able to cleanse an event in my childhood, help out a client, and return the items to a very friendly gentlemen who didn't have any issue with making the returns.  Of course, each pile was placed in a bag with the right receipt - and I made it as easy (and fun) as possible.

I have a dark space that was cleared and brought light to it inside my body, my client has more space in her house where the clothes were stacked, and she had some extra cash for her vacation.

What is holding you back from organizing?  Let me assist you by setting up a system for you, so you can live a more empowering life, and be able to breathe easier.

Let the Space Tell You What it Needs

Sounds hokey-pokey, right?  Maybe a little feng-shui?  It's similar to breath in, breath out; wax on, wax off.

If we take a breath, become innocently curious, and be open -- meaning no judgements or expectations -- the space will tell you what it needs.  I believe the space (or "room") needs to breathe too, and it doesn't feel good to be stuffed, trashed, disorganized, or in mass chaos.  It wants to serve you but our disorganization won't let it.

The room will tell me what it needs.  Sometimes it feels like a 911 call and others it feels like, I'm glad you're hear, this is where you need to begin.  So I go to that area and I begin.  And, then the next step, and the next... and I can feel when it can take a deep breath...I must admit, it sure does feel good.

If you walk into a room or look at an area, and you feel stuck, stale, overwhelmed, or like someone is sitting on your chest.  Take a moment.  Take a breath.  And listen.

Else, call me. 

Do You Dream of Organizing?

I do.  But seriously, do you wish or dream that you knew how, had the time, or do you beat yourself up that you simply can't get things in order? 

I noticed a pattern with my clients.  They have baskets or containers used for organizing, that are empty, in their home.  I find that wildly fascinating.  When we talked about it, they have the desire to organize and they get themselves siked up that they will -- but as soon as they come home, life happens and the baskets and containers end up in the closet, or under the bed, and remain empty.

I'll be honest - that really ends up helping because they have the supplies that are needed -- and they picked them out, so it matches their tastes!  So I put them to use and we set up a system that works for them.  

Our minds can be our most inner critic and create a lot of noise, fantasies, doubts, or shame.  Knowing that is not "you", that it's another energy form that you can choose to ignore, put to the side, or say "I love you, but I just don't need you right now" can be very empowering.

Whether you dream that you were more organized, or dream about organizing because you love it so much, starting to clear the space will clear the space in your life -- where it counts the most.  

It's Closet Time

I went over to my client's house.  I was going through serious withdrawal.  I haven't been over there in 4 days to organize.  I was truly excited to dive in, empower, and organize.

After a conversation of how her new systems were working for her; which I have to say, she was smiling with excitement and sense of freedom yet empowerment, when she described her past 48 hours.  "I had three things in my hands, and I thought, where are their homes?  I must take them there."   When she went on a spontaneous ski trip, she knew exactly where to go to find her hat, gloves, and equipment -- a time saver, and no longer beating herself up for being lost and confused.  

Today's challenge was her closet.  Despite the beautiful array of color blouses and tops, the dozen plus jeans and yoga pants, and twenty or so bras, she knew it was time.  Every morning when she opened her closet door, it was dreadful and chaotic. 

Is that the way we should start off our day???

I moved every single top/shirt/blouse into her bedroom and created a few distinct piles.  Instead of organizing by color, I organized by type.  Types that included  dressy long sleeve, t-shirts, semi-casual short sleeves, etc. 

A simple change in organizing - from color to type -- and that still fit her mind's paradigm, and it's a new beginning. 

Now, when she opens her closet door to get dressed for the day, she already knows the weather as well as her itinerary for the day, so she simply matches the two -- and with a smile to start her day.

That's how we should begin every day -- with a smile and feeling of empowerment.

What to do today?

There are many different practices to begin your day.  Read someone famous' quote or mantra.  Meditate.  Eat.  Kiss your hunny.  I have a practice that I for the majority do every morning.  I kiss my #metrosexualcowboy.  I lay in bed, eyes closed, and then set an intention.  I ask God, "Please talk to me today.  I'm listening."

My coach taught me to follow the energy.  It's literally a step by step practice throughout the entire day.  Should I do "this" or "that"?  I take a breath, and my inner voice answers.  Rinse and repeat.  It's a muscle that is getting stronger every time I use it, and it's never let me down.

I have the same approach with my projects.  I'll look at a space, whether a closet, an engulfed table of "stuff", or boxes.  I'll take a breath and go into action of what the voice tells me to do.  It simply amazes me.

Today, I had a few priorities on my to-do list.  Things that couldn't wait and they were also things that weren't "fun" - you know the type.  I set the intention and went into action.  The end result?  A feeling of productivity, and a breath of fresh air.

So what will you do today?  Take a breath, listen, and put into action.

Everything is Energy

Everything.  Every.little.or.big.thing.is.energy.

What a concept.  I take things personally.  Not anymore.  Why not?  Because it has nothing to do with me.  It has to do with energy.  What does the energy - in this moment, in this circumstance, in this conversation, feel like?  What is it telling me?  How does it feel - heavy, light?  sharp or smooth?  fast or slow?  The energy is wise, the energy is information.

This new learning has changed my life.  I feel more empowered.  I feel more free.  I feel like I have choice.  I'm not imprisoned by my thoughts.   I feel the energy of the moment and that is what needs to happen - to be of service to myself, to others, to the World.

When I open our pantry closet, it gives off an energy -- it was full, overloaded, no room to breathe, no room to find anything, no room for anything else.  The energy was heavy, abrasive, and crying for help.   Whenever I walked by the closet, I knew what was on the inside.  I couldn't just close that door again and ignore it.   I took the 90 minutes and emptied the closet.  Everything in there.  What would you feel like if you were the closet?  Does it feel familiar to your own life, or parts of it?   My intuition and skill knew what needed to happen next.

Now, when I open the closet door, I can breathe.  Why?  Because my closet can again.  That's how all of our closets should be, and everything in our life could be.

Energy.  It's all energy.  And I'm a fan of letting it flow - easily and openly.

Purpose Embodiment

It was about 2 months ago when my coach challenged us to demonstrate what's our purpose...without any words.  All body movement.  What?? How??  I've never been a fan of charades, and this is taking it a step deeper -- this is my purpose afterall!!

How dare she?

Because that's what makes Monica Day, well, Monica Day.  A transformational coach.  Of course, she picked me as the guinea pig for the 8 other entrepreneurs seeking a deeper meaning of their lives, of their business, of their purpose.

So I began acted it out.  Yes, with small hand gestures, a small smirky grin, and maybe a slight bend in my knees.  I spread open my arms about 3 feet, closed my hands almost in a pinching position and brought them together, as I slightly bent down as if pulling something from the Earth, and then took my hands above my head and pulled down as if pulling something down from the sky...to then complete the cycle.

Nope.  Not good enough.  Monica bent down in a grounding position, heart forwarded, hips behind, and looked me in the eye and said "do it again".  So I did.  Nope, not big enough.  This time when she looked me in the eyes, I felt it.  I felt it in every cell of my body.  

Yes, I must go there.  I must go to the purpose within my cells, within my body and act out what I was feeling in body movements.   I teared up.  I couldn't resist.

The same body motions but this time .. every motion was bigger.  My arms were now spread 5 feet apart.  My knees were in 90 degree bend.  My pulling from the Earth and pulling from the sky were with intention, force, and ownership.

I owned my purpose.  Everyone felt it. I felt it.  There's no going back.

My purpose is in my body.  I connect people with heart centered businesses to solutions supplied by the Universe.

Crumbs or Buffet?

Imagine being at a table, and you have a choice.  To eat from the top of the table where it is a buffet...as much as you want to eat, and anything that you want to eat.  Or, to eat from underneath the table, where there are crumbs.   It might seem obvious, so let me ask you this, "in your life, relationship, job, or other area, are you holding onto something small, living small?  or are you living to the fullest expression with abundance, joy, and unlimited possibility?"

In two conversations, as well as with my own reflection, I heard the words "what if I don't find it again, in someone else"?   In other words, "shouldn't I just hold onto these crumbs, even though I want more than what I have right now, it's better than nothing, right?"

I challenge you to look at your life from afar and subjective mode.  Are you holding tight onto something that feels small, like it's not everything you want?  Are you too afraid to reach for the entire dream, job, promotion, or launching your own business -- for the buffet?

Here's a chance to say, I want more, and I'm going for it!!  There's no reason to keep starving.

It's Like a Deck of Cards

Imagine a deck of cards, stacked and face down.  There's 52 of them, including the 4 Aces.  You flip one card over at a time.  Knowing there are 4 of each number, and the 2's are the low numbers and the Aces are the ones you really really want.  Now, do you know which card you are about to turn over?  Nope.  Do you get excited, or even fearful, that the next card will be a 2? a 3? or even the Ace?

Isn't that what life is like?  You never know what you're going to get, including the Ace.

We keep flipping the cards, one at a time, patiently.   It might be a series of low number cards, like 10 or 12 or 20 in a row.  Do you give up?  Or do you keep flipping the cards?  

The choice is yours.

Even deeper, what happens when you do turn over the card and see an Ace?  Do you stop flipping the rest of the cards?  Do you celebrate, obsess, or quit after you get the Ace?   Or do you continue to flip the cards for another Ace?

The choice is yours.

How you flip the cards, the time it takes, your energy, passion, integrity, focus, and your intention with each card -- well it tells a lot about you and the way you flip, or manage or handle, life.

How you do one thing, is how you do everything.

So keep flipping.  Be excited.  Be engaged.  And know that every card deserves to be seen.  The Aces will come, as long as you are an Ace.

Your Body Never Lies

It's kind of scary knowing that almost everyone I talked to is either sick, or knows someone who has this dreaded cold.  Are we all connected? I've had the fever, exhaustion, low energy that turned into sleepless nights due to a hacking cough for the past 12 days.  My body is telling me something.

Well, what is it?

It's time for a clean slate, a new start.  What I was doing, wasn't working.  It wasn't creating the level of success that is meant for me.  I was starting to live old habits again - old thought patterns.  Ones that kept me playing small, putting labels on things/relationships, trying to control, force, or down right be a person on her pedestal.   So getting sick, put me in bed, wondering why am I sick, what is my body telling me. 

Now I know.

There is a life for everyone one of us - to claim, to live, to embrace, to love.  I love my life, I really do. But it's coming at a cost of playing it small, and I'm done with that.  There are many people that are feeling what I am, and it's my drive to share with them that there is a better way.  Yes, we are all connected.

Our bodies never lie.  If you don't trust your mind, your ego, or yourself because our mind can create and manipulate to keep itself safe, at least you can trust your body.  It doesn't lie.

The Prosperity Game

I like that word, "game".  It implies fun.  And when you add "prosperity" to the phrase, I definitely have a the mindset that I want to win.

But what if you have scarcity mentality?  I grew up cutting coupons, feeling guilty for buying anything extravagant, and did all that I could instead of hiring someone.  I remember my Mom asking me if I wanted to skip school because the Supermarket was having a sale AND TRIPLE coupon day.  Oh golly, what an exciting day.  Although I grew up in a middle class neighborhood, the energy was scarcity.

Until now.

I'm remapping my financial reprint.  Yep, reprogramming.  I have ideas and visions and world change that I want to do, and money will help me do it. 

So what is this prosperity game?

It's a practice to put into play.  At first, I challenge you to do it for 21 consecutive days.  Start with $10,000.  And write down how you would spend every dollar of it.. specifics and detailed as possible (Don't just say it out loud or in your mind, it is imperative to write it down.)   If you want to go on a trip, where would you go, how much would airfare, hotel, food, entertainment would it cost?  If you have credit card debt, who is the creditor?  Then day 2, add another $10,000.  So now you have $20,000 to spend.  Then day 3, $30,000.  Keep adding $10,000 everyday, for 21 days.  

You will start to see where your blocks are, where your mindset is...and this exercise helps to get them out of the way, so the money can easily flow.  Your subconscious mind will believe it already happened, and the Universe will find the "how" to make it happen - just have faith. Do the game. Have fun.  Be creative. Give.  Be of service.

Thank you Kathleen Deggelman for showing me this game.  It has changed my life.

Small Steps into Big Dreams

I was self sabotaging.  I had big dreams, and honestly, they were so big that my body couldn't feel them and my mind couldn't wrap around it.  How do you imagine $100,000 a month?  What would that feel like, look like, what would you buy?  I had my dreams so big that it was simply a joke to my mind.  

The ironic part is I didn't want to play it "small" anymore.  So I thought by dreaming big, I wasn't being small.  But if I can't create it, how could the big dreams ever come true?  

Until, I had a shift, a mental clarity.  Take the small, actionable steps, and repeat.  I know how to create and spend $10,000 a month.  I know what steps I have to take.  It's by doing the little things that allows me to expand into "greatness", into bigger dreams.

In essence, I'm playing and dreaming big...just one, small step at a time.

There is no ending

Have you ever had a moment of such clarity that you felt it to your core?  

I've read it, heard it, read it, heard it...over and over again.  Intellectually I understand it.  Afterall, it's one of my favorite symbols, infinity.  It means no beginning, no ending.  Like outer space.  Where is that point where it ends?  Is there a wall?  If so, what is on the other side of the wall?Thank you Wayne Dyer for writing it in that context.

Have you ever had a favorite restaurant, and then it closed or moved?  or a favorite menu item that they change something in the recipe?  Or in a relationship that you just know someday it will end.  The end, it's always near and coming.

Even death.

But...my lesson that I received to my core is that it doesn't end.  There's no ending no beginning, it just is in flow..constantly... one restaurant closes, another opens....one relationship ends, another begins...

That lifted about 20 tons off my shoulders and out of my mind/ego.  It's about flow.  We are infinite beings, and we are capable of infinite possibilities.

Which will you choose on your path?  

Money is Energy. Not Control.

So many times I get caught up in the scarcity cycle.  I'm not a shopper or a big spender.  I will spend extra money on what goes into my body - like organic, healthy food.  Sometimes being an entrepreneur, it feels like going back to the basics.  Re-learning.  And during that time, it takes a while for your business to bring in the income you're used to having.  So the mental mind wants to play head games with you and trap you back into being safe & secure.  It doesn't know that a j.o.b. isn't equate to safe & secure.  In fact, it's just the opposite (hence the re-learning).

When it comes to money, the mental mind can cause you to feel heavy, depressed, like you have 1,000 pounds on your back and you are scared to move, think, or do anything including spend money.

I surrendered to it.  I confronted it.  "Money you are energy.  You want to stay in flow.  Spend, receive, repeat.  I will do that."  and mental mind "you can no longer control me or money, because money is only energy." 

All the brainwashing (albeit they meant well) of don't go into debt - ever.  Causes paralysis.  Not freedom.  What if I go into debt, does that make me a bad person?  or deserve to go to jail?  I can still be responsible and someday be financially free, so the debt is just a temporary stepping stone.  No need to beat ourselves up about it.  It's our journey called life.

I wouldn't go back to Corporate for the nice 6 figure income just to say I'm debt free.  I'd rather build a team of people who want freedom, who want to control their destiny, and want to choose their life - and not what a boss tells them.  That to me is priceless.

Power of Nature

Do you feel overworked, overstressed, or just not yourself?  Escape to nature.  

I did for an overnight stay and camped.  Watching the stars, seeing the vast amount of trees, hearing the sounds of the water and birds, all gave me a sense of peace.  Why?  Because they are just what they are -- no complaints, no pressure, no demands -- they just grow the way that they grow.  They receive and they give.

Nature has so many lessons for us.  It grounds my soul, I get clarity of what is important, and have ah-ha moments of what lessons are there for my growth.  

Even if for a walk around the block, a small bike ride, or a drive...be with nature and see its wonder.  It's there 24x7.x365 for you.  You are of the same source and it's majesty and beauty are in you too!

Inflammation...good or bad?

Pick a disease. Any disease. You’ll quickly discover that it involves inflammation as a cause, a promoter of the disease process or a way of ramping up symptoms.

Often misunderstood, inflammation does have an upside. It’s part of our immune system’s response to infection, and without inflammation we would die after the most minor infection. Inflammation also stimulates the healing process after we suffer an injury, whether a cut on the thumb or a broken bone.

But chronic inflammation is like the dark side of the force. It eats away at our tissues and increases pain. This type of inflammation damages the heart, breaks down cartilage in the joints and stimulates the growth of cancer. It’s what makes the common cold and allergies feel so awful. And chronic low-grade inflammation is even worse because of its silent damage.

Even the aging process seems related, at least in part, to uncontrolled inflammation. According to recent research, human beings have more inflammation-regulating genes compared with dogs, cats and most other animals, which is why we humans have longer lifespans than almost every other species. These genes work by protecting against free radical damage, thereby reducing inflammation and cellular aging.

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Sources:

[1] https://www.sciencenews.org/article/anti-inflammation-genes-linked-longer-lives

[2] Schwarz F, Pearce OMT, Wang X, et al. Siglec receptors impact mammalian lifespan by modulating oxidative stress. eLife, 2015;4:e06184

- See more at: https://www.naturalgrocers.com/nutrition-and-health/nutrition-library/nutrition-article/the-turmeric-cure/?mc_cid=0c312ad9c7&mc_eid=670acb298f#sthash.3GZjnxQx.dpuf