What kind of response did you hear from the Lord when you asked Him to help you get the direction you needed to begin fine sorting those generalized paper piles? Well, here is the reality of what happened with me. I have been notoriously hearing the two most familiar words that have become a constant mantra in my life. Can you guess what they might be. You’d be right if you guessed “slow down.” It is that all too familiar prompting of CHG #1 that is consistently prodding me to slow down. Having said that, I want to clarify that my slowing down can look very different from the slowing down that you need to put into action as we deal with our individualized paper piles.
So let’s see how my situation can hopefully help you to understand some of the steps to execute in getting your own paper pile in order. First of all, I gathered a generalized paper pile that got categorized as the 2012 tax year. The goal that I had set for myself was to get my tax information finely sorted, recorded, and delivered to my accountant no later than March 15th. My plan was to do the taxes this past weekend, but that did not come to fruition. Instead, I found myself being “delayed” as I was in my bed for the entire weekend. It became very clear that there was a bigger priority at hand. I was under enemy attack, and my body needed to fight off the unidentified GI bug, gallbladder issue, or whatever unknown entity gets revealed, as I wait for some of the test results. Here is the direction that God gave me. He helped me to be at peace with the change of plans. My desire to get the taxes done in an even shorter time than what my goal had allotted me was being stalled, and God’s words resonated in my head about being patient. I needed to be patient with the change of plans, my goal setting (CHG # 5), and their implementation (CHG # 7). It can be so hard to still ourselves when we want to move, but it is possible, especially when we choose to listen to the quiet Spirit of God who is directing and working out our steps!
God willing, the tax information will get finely sorted tomorrow in their more specific piles. Here is a sampling of some of those categories that get finely sorted for someone like me who is self employed:
1. Expenses: Promotional,
Advertising. Office supplies, Seminars, Teaching
2. Utilities: Phones,
Gas and Electric, Internet, Security System
3. Mileage: Business, Health
4. Donations: Church, Charities,
Ministries
5. Investments: IRA, Mortgage
6. Taxes: Federal,
State, Local, Real Estate
7. Insurance: Health, Long
Term, Home/Auto
8. Income
The supplies that you want to gather for sorting papers include: post-its, sharpies, paper clips, scissors, rubber
bands, stapler, file folders, and a variety of clear zip lock bags.One of the biggest problems that arrive with sorting, is when the paper pile starts to get sorted, but then an interruption occurs and it causes many of you to ultimately throw all of your sorting, time, and energy back into an unsorted pile. It results in a repetitive sorting that never sees the follow through to completion. Stop that madness now! Here is what to do instead. First, use those post its to label each categorized pile. Then think of paper clips, rubber bands, file folders, or zip locks as your containerizing tools. Determine which of these tools will best keep what you have sorted to stay sorted. You can then gather your labeled and sorted piles into one pile. Your pile will stay sorted and you can pick up where you left off.
Once you have done the fine sorting, you are ready to take one pile at a time to read and study its contents, and make the necessary decisions. Your job will be done when you determine the type of container that is needed for your specific categories so that they can be taken home to rest.
Our time and devotion to CHG #7 has been very detailed, and it has taken twice as long to discuss compared to any of the other guidelines. This is because CHG #7 is really the blueprint for how your mind needs to think so you can create order in your outer environment as well as your inner environment. I love the response that I heard this past week in regards to the time we have taken with CHG #7. “CHG #7 helped me to move from a place of hope, to a place of faith, to a place that is now reality.” The change that had taken place inwardly was now being reflected outwardly. Material order had been achieved as well as an order that came from within.
Your SW this week is to gather the supplies you need to get your paperwork in order so you can begin to break down those large paper piles into smaller more specific piles and get a system established for yourself.
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