| |
January 2008 Edition
|
| |
|
The Organized Lifestyle Magazine
|
HOME * OFFICE * TIME * SPIRIT
January 2008 - Your Paradigm Shift
|
|
|
|
Hello,
I suspect we're all familiar with the African
proverb that says, "It takes a village to
raise a child." I myself was raised by a
village of six siblings. (See photo at left)
Over the years, I have been blessed with many
an elder - defined by the dictionary as an
'influential member of my tribe'. Each elder
has guided me through life experiences so
that I might take what I need and grow as my
own person -- as a woman, a daughter, a
mother, a partner, a business person and a
friend. Their lives and their stories offer
me the opportunity to more deeply understand
and appreciate life. When I observe my elders
or listen to their stories, I have the
opportunity to learn and then make decisions
regarding how I would like to live my own life.
These elders exist in my life even today. I
count among these some traditional elders,
who may have already moved on from this life.
I also include my friends, my children, and
some people who moved through my life in a
fleeting moment. All of these people play
important roles and leave their footprints
forever in my heart. I feel blessed and am
grateful for their presence.
There are many moments to be grateful for -
each moment we breathe, every time we laugh,
cry, see birth and witness death. For all of
the little things and all of the big - let's
be grateful.
At this time of year many media are focusing
on what BIG changes we are going to make in
this coming year. Instead, I suggest that we
take a moment to acknowledge gratitude for
all the things with which we have already
been blessed and for that which we receive
each day.
A natural shift occurs when we look within
ourselves and find true gratitude for all
that already exists. It's more fulfilling
than any resolution you create or goal that
you set on Jan 1st. I propose that if you
create a change from within, your paradigm
shift will follow.
Wikipedia describes the paradigm shift as
"
representing the notion of a major change in
a certain thought-pattern - a radical change
in personal beliefs, complex systems or
organizations, replacing the former way of
thinking or organizing with a radically
different way of thinking or organizing."
Go ahead, give it a try - all you have to do
is look around you and begin to rhyme off all
the things for which you are grateful. Here
are some examples of very simple things I'm
grateful for: The computer on which I'm
writing these thoughts, my phone, my TV, the
cozy blankets on my warm bed. Once you begin
it's pretty hard to stop the gratitude!!
It's really that simple! When you start with
the basics, the paradigm shift is inevitable!
I hope you're ready for great things to
happen once you start.
In Gratitude.
If you prefer to opt out of receiving the
Organized
Lifestyle Magazine simply
respond to this email with "remove" in the
subject line and we'll take care of the rest.
If, on the
other hand, you enjoy reading our monthly on-line
magazine
feel free to forward it along to others who may enjoy it
as well. Scroll to the bottom of this email to
forward.
|
|
Shifting the Obvious
If you have been entertaining negative
thoughts regarding the 'chaos' of your
residence, I recommend that you adjust your
approach. Those negative thoughts aren't
doing you any good!! So adjust your
perception and begin a new process.
Start small -- take a look at one area in one
room. Pick a small organizational task that
you can start and complete today. Hey, if
that means it's just the cupboard under the
kitchen sink or bathroom sink - then great.
Begin the process by clearing some floor
space, and then empty your chosen area. Group
like items with like items, and throw out
old, expired or damaged goods. Clean the
interior with a warm soapy cloth and then put
everything back where it belongs.
You'll now have a great idea what sort of
organizing tools you'll need to keep that
space clean and organized. It might be a few
baskets from the dollar store, or maybe a
riser to more efficiently use vertical space.
Maybe you even have room for a shelf or two -
give us a call if you need a carpenter.
I know I make this sound easy, but often it's
simply the psychological satisfaction of
starting and finishing one thing that
provides the little nudge we need to begin
creating and accomplishing bigger and better.
|
|
Master of Time
"
You must master your time rather than
becoming a slave to the constant flow of
events and demands on your time. And you must
organize your life to to achieve balance,
harmony, and inner peace." -- Brian Tracy
I'm not sure there is much more I could add
to this thought, except possibly a few
practical tips on how to start becoming a
master of your time.
If time eludes you then
consider tracking where you spend it, just as
you would your money. I recently spoke with a
very good friend of mine about tracking time.
It was a great conversation because we spoke
about my ideas on time tracking and then she
offered me new insight.
You see, my process has always been to create
the categories and then time track based on
those categories. Her idea was to simply
track everything she does for a week or two
and then create the categories. By gosh,
great idea!
If time management is your challenge, we
would encourage you to pick one of the above
systems and start tracking your time. You
could even create a new system and share it
with us! The point is simply to start: That
is how every master, in any field, began
their journey to greatness - they started.
At some point a paradigm shift occurred, and
they became a master. I wish the same for you!!
|
|
|
Deanne's Web Picks
Wondering what the
7 Rules for Success are?
Read them
here
Watch this amazing You Tube video on
Information R/evolution
|
|
|
I'm a Stacker
I confess: I stack paper into piles. I'm a
stacker! However, this does not mean that I
am unorganized. Similarly, a clutter-free
desk does not necessarily equal organization,
although it may appear that way to the
untrained eye. When we work with our
clients, we stress that it's about
determining individual and specific systems
that will work for YOU.
My system is to stack; it works for me. When
I have multiple things on the go I stack the
relevant information together until I can
clearly identify the types of files I need to
create for the project.
When we begin working with a client who has
multiple categories to handle (papers, bills,
receivables, tax info, client files, etc.),
we break it down to the basics. We start with
the Kaos Group Core Four, which are as
follows: To-Do, To-Pay, To-File,
To-Read/Review. If you review all of your
loose papers, I'll bet that you'll agree that
everything can be put into one of these four
categories.
So why not start right now? Take four sticky
notes and label them with the four titles.
Stick the labels on the wall with enough room
to stack piles beneath them. Alternatively,
start four folders, or four shoe boxes, or
four trays - just start with the Core Four.
Review each paper item and sort it into its
appropriate pile. When that's done, focus on
the To-Do pile -- start entering the To-Do's
into your day-timer or compile the details
into one note-book. It's all about
compartmentalizing, and this is a great way to
develop a process that works.
|
|
|
Forty-Eight Hours
I have an approximate 48 hour delay on
emotional responses to major events in my
life. Allow me to explain. When my mother
recently took a turn for the worse, I was
able to function at full capacity with my
sisters for the duration of the crisis.
Forty-eight hours later, I cried. When I was
juggling two sick children, a major project
deadline, and sleepless nights I worked
through it. Forty-eight hours later, I cried.
In the past year or so, I've come to realize
that I need approximately 48 hours to process
emotions. It's not about avoidance; I simply
need that delay to create time for myself to
sit quietly and process significant events,
both emotionally & psychologically. I
compartmentalize the emotions until I have a
time and place to process them.
If I'm able, I'll process the emotions in the
moment, but often I don't have that luxury.
As adults we are responsible for work -- we
have deliverables and deadlines. In my case,
I have two children and I don't always have
the time to sit and think or cry or talk it
out. So I have come to appreciate and love my
own little survival mechanism.
Since I now know this about myself I can, in
most situations, create time to address
life's challenges and work through them. I
often find solace in journaling or speaking
with a friend, or simply sitting and
processing my thoughts. Once I have begun, I
can sort through the emotions and move on.
Why do I share this with you? What does it
have to do with organizing? Well, maybe by
sharing my reality you will identify with
something I say. Maybe you will reflect on
your life and understand that you too need
personal time to process your emotions. It's
not only about organizing our physical stuff,
it's also about how we organize our emotional
stuff.
|
|
|
|
Deanne Kelleher
Kaos Group
phone:
416.347.9002
|
|
|
|
| |
