Red Wednesday's Wisdom - CHG #6, Part Two

See Through My Stuff from the Inside Out and Follow Through

This past week, our SW was to ask the Lord to help us see what we have been blind to seeing, and to then ask Him how we could follow through by addressing that blindness.

One of the questions I was asked this week was, “How do I get organized and where do I even start?”  My one word response would be, “Empty.”  What does empty mean?  I will answer that question by applying CHGs #s 1-6.

CHG #1: Slow down and be still. 

This helps you to go inside of your head and empty out some of your thoughts so you can determine that one area that will give you the most satisfaction in being emptied out or decluttered.  What area will feel good for you to be working on?  

Here is a suggestion.  If storage areas like the basement, attic, garage, or closet are all cluttered up, then I suggest you start in one of those areas.  You need to create a potential “home” for the things you will eventually want to store from other areas. Much of the “stuff” in storage areas piles up and has no order because it is that place that collectively hides what we do not want to see and deal with.  It is also the “stuff” that piles up because you usually do not want to make a decision about it.  Storage areas are a great place to start with because much of the “stuff” gets emptied out as trash or donations. It’s a great feeling to cerate space as you see through your stuff from the inside out.  What has been pushed down on the inside now has the opportunity to come out!

Whatever area you start in, you need to have a pathway for your feet so as to avoid accidents.  So if the floor is all cluttered up you will need to empty the floor first.  This is then followed by counter tops.  When the floor and counter tops are clear you are ready to empty out those hidden storage areas, like closets, cupboards, or containers because you now have the space to empty and sort.  

CHG # 2 Love the Lord.

Acknowledge God’s presence in your life so you can include Him in this process of getting things emptied - decluttered.  He will guide your steps and help you to:

1. Gather your supplies – An assortment of bags is needed.  Heavy duty trash bags are inexpensive and hold a lot of “stuff” for transporting to the street as trash or to a donation center. Use plastic grocery bags for little parts that need containerized for donations.  Clear zip lock/slider bags are great for the smaller things that you want to keep and see. Sticky notes, sharpies, and tape are indispensible for labeling your bags as soon as they are filled. You do not want to mix up your categories.
2. Designate an area for trash, another for donations and one for keeps.  Label those areas so it is easy to see how and where “stuff” is to get sorted.  This is a broad example of getting things categorized. 
3. Stick with one activity at a time.  If you are sorting, then just sort.  If you are bagging, then just bag.  If you are labeling, then just label. You want to move around as little as possible, and follow through with completing one activity before moving on to the next one.    
4. Set a realistic time frame: Break down your time into small attainable time frames.  A good starting point is to establish a minimum time frame of 15 minutes to a maximum of 2 hours.  You want to nurture and encourage yourself by seeing the success you make with small steps. 

CHG # 3: Ask for help, ask questions, and pray.  

1. Feel free to ask me any kind of question that will help you to get organized.  I have a wealth of information and experience. 
2. If you need the assistance, support, or the physical presence of someone else, then ask for it.  One of the biggest draw backs to getting a task accomplished is that we do not delegate or ask others to help us.  This is especially the case at home with family members or at the work place with fellow employees.  Our self sufficient pride, control, and perfectionism, can create a great deal of our clutter. 
3. Ask the Lord to help you with the steps to take, like the ones mentioned above.  And ask Him to help you enjoy the process and learn from it.

CHG # 4 Love myself and others.

♥ To gather, means to come together in one direction.

♥ To scatter, means to go in many directions and be confused.

Follow through by moving in the direction that you said you were going to take.  You will prevent yourself and loved ones from being scattered here, there, and everywhere!

CHG # 5 Embrace change and set goals patiently.

Be patient with yourself as you go through the decluterring process of emptying out.  Avoid doing it in a hurry because haste truly does make waste for us at so many levels.

CHG # 6 See through your stuff from the inside out and follow through.

When you follow through with examples of applying these CHGs, you will conserve your space, time, energy, and money and know where to start.

To follow through means to complete what you start, and this means anything and everything:

♥ A thought

♥ An action

♥ A task or job

♥ Mean what you say and do it:

·         Make your “yes” yes.

·         Make your “no” no.

A lack of follow through often comes as the result of saying “yes” to too much.  Being a “yes” person is usually motivated by wanting to be a people pleaser.  Consequently, follow through often does not happen because there is too much on one’s plate.

This coming week let’s see how our SW will help us to be more cautious about what we say “yes” to and what we say “no” to. And from a spiritual perspective, if you have not  yet asked the Lord to come into your life, I pray that this be the time for you to say, “yes” to Him. May this also be the week that we stop procrastinating and commit to doing that job, task, or activity that we need to follow through with.  May you be richly blessed as you listen to this song that is all about God’s unconditional love for you and me.  It’s called, When God Ran by Phillips, Craig, and Dean.