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I’ve spent the last two weeks feeling like a hypocrite. I started the Declutterathon to organize my home and hopefully have a few people join me along the way.
We started slow, did some soul searching, and then this week we finally started decluttering, and I’ve already blown it. I’m already off track. Maybe I shouldn’t even bother.
Those are the messages I’m fighting right now, and I need a new script because sometimes really legitimate things come up.
I think making progress towards any goal should be thought of as resembling a mountainside. (I frequently feel like I’m standing atop a mountain of clutter so it’s also extremely appropriate in this situation!)
Sometimes I see so many obstacles between where I am and where I want to be that I end up feeling defeated before I even start. A landscape full of bumps and boulders can be extremely intimidating, and I usually have no idea how I’ll tackle the entire thing, but I have to remind myself that it’s almost easy to succeed if we just take things one step at a time.
Things come up. They always will. It really doesn’t matter how hard we try; life loves to get in the way. I have been looking forward to starting this declutterathon and finally getting my house in order for quite a while now so to have the events of the last week happen now, right at the beginning, was extremely frustrating.
I guess I just have to remember that some rocks will take a little longer to climb over. They’re there, they get in the way, there’s usually nothing we can do about them, but if they throw us a tad off schedule or off course, that’s okay. This isn’t a sprint. We’re in this for the long haul, and as long as we keep tumbling downward towards our goal, stepping over each rock as we face them, it really doesn’t matter exactly when a certain task is completed as long as it gets done.
If you started this journey with the best of intentions, but find yourself in a similar situation, it’s okay. Today’s a great day to get started… or tomorrow… or maybe next week. I don’t say that to encourage procrastination (one of my strong suits, unfortunately). I say it because boulders don’t always cooperate. All too often, they roll in our way and won’t be triffled with. We have to do things on their terms so let’s try to tackle them as quickly as possible and just jump back on schedule.
It’s for these moments that we’re building margin time into our day, so hopefully, should something arise, we aren’t throw too far off course.
So here’s my new script, “THAT was unexpected, disappointing, and frustrating, but I’m proud of myself for rebounding so quickly. I took a temporary detour from my original plan, but I will not be derailed. I’m starting today, right now, to work towards having the home I want, and I can’t wait to see the transformation that will take place over the next 25 weeks.”
How has your journey been going so far?
I can SO relate to this! I started a walking challenge and haven’t even started but guess what, others have and they are loving it! You are motivating people and you will get yours done too! Thank you for creating this.
You are amazing! I absolutely love that you have been so honest with this. Despite feeling defeat, look at how many people you have inspired! I don’t know how many people are in this group, but you have lit a fire under my butt like no other. I really needed this! I’m really enjoying the group and the honesty of everyone. This is hard to confront! It takes as long as it takes. Hopefully, you will be able to move aside some obstacles soon and make a little progress. Even if it will still be awhile, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for inspiring me, my friend. Big hugs!
Thank you, Michele! That’s so sweet. I definitely don’t feel inspiring, but I’m glad my being vulnerable is helping people. I love all of those aspirational sites where the definition of clutter is like one too many rolls of washi tape, but I knew if I had a bigger struggle going on others probably did too. The facebook group has really taken off like wildfire, which cracks me up because I wasn’t sure anyone would be interested! I’ve been really inspired by what I’ve seen in there so this is definitely a two way street. I’m not kidding when I say we’re in this together! 🙂
I completely agree! I, too, had life happen, and I, too, need a new script! Thank you for doing this; thank you for being honest; thank you for sharing. You are not alone (and apparently, neither am I)!!!
It’s my pleasure. It’s keeping me accountable! 🙂
Add me to the list of those who completely relate to your post. My life’s motto seems to be “why do today what you can put off til tomorrow ?” That doesn’t make for a productive life, unfortunately. I am doing a lot of thinking about this aspect of my character and really want to change it. My new plan is to take the time to sit down, think about what I want/need to accomplish, & then break it down into 15 min segments. The idea is that a 15 minute project is less likely to be completely derailed than a 4 hour or all day project.
That’s a great plan. A 15 minute project is also a lot less overwheming, which is a huge bonus.
Wonderful post! I have copied the New Script to my phone to read and re-read as needed. Beautifully stated. I can’t understand why it is so hard to be compassionate with oneself. Thanks!
Hi Lynne, I’m so glad it resonated with you. I hope it helps you too. It’s already helping me, but that is a really good question. Why is that so hard?
Hi Emily, I’m afraid to say that you are not alone, and it takes my shame away to know that I am not alone, and that even you are wrestling with getting started. However in a weird kind of way, the very thing that was going to prevent me from doing this project has forced me to make some changes to make room for my niece who is arriving from Europe to stay with us for 4 weeks. In my case though little was thrown out to make room ……. more of a juggling act really – as I shuffled things around from cupboard to cupboard. I really do find it so hard to part with things!
It really can be hard to get rid of stuff. The good news is that the more I do it the easier it gets.
Thanks for that, Emily.