It’s one of life’s facts that our view gets obstructed from time to time. What’s funny about that is we don’t always realize when it has happened. Maybe we don’t notice because it happened slowly. Other times we are consumed by the cloudiness and find it challenging to see solutions or possibilities.

Our thinking enters the black and white or extreme zone where we feel as though things will always remain fuzzy. One thing I know is that life isn’t black and white, but a lovely mix of extremes with grays stretching towards both ends of the spectrum.

With autumn in full swing, this season perhaps more than any other emphasizes this idea. Days go from bright, sunny, colorful and crisp to gray, rainy, foggy, and damp. When it’s foggy, how can we break through to see more clearly or just appreciate the mist? How do we make room for possibilities?

The first step is awareness. I’ve identified seven ordinary opportunities for identifying cloudy situations. It is from this awareness that you can forge a path for different possibilities.

7 Ordinary Awareness Opportunities

Waking from Sleep

There is that beautiful moment in the morning when you first awaken. You’re still sleepy and snuggled in your cozy bed. Your alarm just rang or maybe you’ve woken naturally. You lie there and then slowly open your eyes. Things are blurry at first as your eyes adjust to the morning light.

Instead of jumping out of bed immediately, allow a few moments so that you can transition to wakefulness. Let your eyes acclimate to the sun. Take a few, deep breaths. Slowly elongate your body by stretching your arms and legs. Set a positive intention for the day. Notice the sounds, smells, and sensations around you. In this gentle way, you are preparing yourself for the possibilities of the day.

Cleansing the Face

In the morning and again at night I have my face washing routine. I’ve come to realize that this pattern is not just about having a clean face. It’s a self-care ritual that brings me calm and clarity. In the morning when I’m still sleepy, there’s something about scrubbing, toning, and moisturizing that helps me slowly wake up. It’s my cue that the day has begun and that opportunities are before me.

At night, the same routine helps me wipe off the day’s make-up and grime. Cleaning my face in the evening promotes a calm, gentle end to the day. The dirt gets cleansed along with any challenges or stresses from the day. The ritual creates an opening for a restful night. 

Wiping Your Lenses

Do you wear eyeglasses? I do. I need glasses for reading and computer work. While I try to be careful about only touching the frames and not the lenses, inevitably, I forget. I’ll pick up the glasses by the lenses, which makes them dirty. What’s funny about this is that I don’t realize when I’ve done it. I don’t notice that I’ve touched the lenses or that they’re smudged. I could use more mindfulness practice on this one, right?

Instead, what will happen is that after some time, I’ll realize that I can’t see so well. My first thought is, “Oh, no! My eyes are getting worse.” Then I realize that the lenses are dirty, so I clean them. When I put my glasses back on, it’s astonishing how well I can see. How often is our judgment clouded by a belief or assumption? By cleaning our lenses, we can see other possibilities.

Cleaning the Windows

Two of my favorite times of year are when our windows get cleaned. This fall, in particular, the windows had gotten especially dirty. We had the house power washed, and the residue dripped onto the windows. Since our house has a lot of windows, the darkened glass was noticeable. The obstructed view agitated me and negatively colored my day.

Similar to my eyeglasses, I just couldn’t see out as well. Then like magic, the window-cleaning day arrived. One by one, each window was restored to a bright, clear view. As the layer of dust lifted, my attitude became more open and positive.

Returning Home After Being Away

I like traveling, but what I really enjoy is returning home after being away. There are things we stop noticing when we’re around them all of the time. We take them for granted. Leaving and returning allows us to see again what has been hidden from our view. They include things like the comfort of sleeping in your own bed, enjoying your favorite foods, having your supplies at the ready, or being able to navigate in the dark.

When we travel, new environments open us to possibilities. When we return home, we can bring some of those discoveries with us. We can also return a renewed appreciation of home.

Opening Eyes After Mindfulness Meditation

It’s not a requirement to close your eyes when meditating. I prefer to because it helps me be more fully present with my experience. I meditate in the morning. Some mornings the sun shines brightly and other times the day is gray with diffuse shadows. The natural light varies depending upon the weather and time of year.

The experience, however, of having my eyes closed while awake for 10-30 minutes and opening them at the end of the meditation, remains the same. There is that first-moment post-meditation when I open my eyes. Calm floods my being. My physical sight is sharp. Internally I feel more open and accepting of what is before me. I am content in just being, and also ready for what the day will bring.

Appreciating Cloudy Skies

You might have figured this out by now, but I prefer sunny to cloudy days. I like bright colors over dull ones. I love sparkly instead of plain things. I know that all days can’t be glittery, sunny and pleasant. If they were, we wouldn’t fully appreciate them. Recently I was sitting by the river on an overcast morning. I saw a couple taking a walk when they bumped into their friends. They asked them, “Will the sun ever come out?” Without hesitation, their friends said in a sing-song-from-the-musical-Annie-way,“Tomorrow.” And then they all laughed. It made me smile too.

I thought about a few things. Life isn’t always cloudy. There’s always hope. There are still possibilities. The sun will come out eventually. When the clouds are here, they provide an opportunity for contrast, for gratitude, and for finding your way to clearer days.

I’m curious about your cloudy experiences. What resonates with you? What helps you to see more clearly and prepare for possibilities? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come and join the conversation!

We’ve all heard the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don't fix it.”  That goes along the same line of thinking as something being good enough. If it is good enough, is it worth disrupting to make it better?

However, what if something is broken? Is it worth fixing? Broken can include things that no longer work like that DVD player, missing pieces to a game, or favorite a sweater that is well (really well) worn. It can even include negative relationships that only bring angst.

There is also the proactive approach like Gerald Nadler’s. His philosophy describing breakthrough thinkers is,

“Fix it before it breaks.”

Of course, that isn’t always possible.

Our decisions and their effectiveness are based on the quality of the questions we ask. This is true while we’re going through the organizing process, when we’re making big life decisions, or when we’re navigating relationships. So what are the possibilities between good enough and broken? How do we weigh them? How do we know which path to take?

Just to be clear, I’m not advocating that we live our lives without striving. It’s a matter of selecting where our effort gets invested. There are times when good enough is enough and when broken things don’t need to be fixed. Being able to identify those situations can be freeing because it gives us the space to focus on what we feel is most important and meaningful.

I’ve put together a list of questions to get you started. There are no value judgments here. This is simply a guide to help you with decision-making. It can be applied to many different situations. I’m sure that you will think of other questions to add to the list. I welcome your ideas and additions. Please include them in the comment section at the end of the post.

How do we weigh the possibilities between good enough and broken? 

Questions to Ask When Things Are Good Enough . . .

• What will I gain from changing what’s good enough?
• Do I want to make those changes because I’m not satisfied with good enough?
• Do I have the time to invest in making things better than they already are?
• Do I have the motivation to make improvements?
• Instead of fixing what’s good enough, are there other things/situations/people that could benefit more from my attention?
• Where does my desire to improve things originate?
• Is perfectionism involved?
• What are my thoughts about good enough?
• Does the phrase continual improvement resonate with me?
• How does continual improvement relate to good enough?

Questions to Ask When Things Are Broken . . .

• Is it worth fixing?
• If so, why?
• How long has it been broken?
• What would happen if I let it go?
• Is there a value in repairing it?
• Is it worth the time, energy, and resources (financial and/or emotional) to fix it?
• What if I don’t know how to fix it or where to start?
• Would it be more cost effective, time efficient, or less stressful to start with something new, rather then to repair what’s broken?
• What old habits and behaviors might be preventing me from letting go?
• Do I want to invest my time in fixing what’s broken?
• Do I want invest my energy elsewhere?

As we enter this new season, revisit the things in your life that are just right, need fixing, require letting go, or beg for more attention and focus. You’ll find the answers in the questions you ask. Possibilities are waiting. What are you noticing? I’d love to hear your thoughts along with any questions you’d like to add to the lists. Come join the conversation!

Possibilities open up when your space is clear. I use the word “space” to encompass not just the physical spaces we live and work in, but also the mental and emotional space that we carry within. These past few months, I’ve been deeply involved in clearing out our family home of 56+ years. It has taken most of my time and energy. As you might imagine, it’s been an intense and emotional process. The home was filled with thousands of papers, photos, furniture, dishes, collectibles, artwork, books, music, family history and memories to process and decide about.

As a family we had to choose, what was being kept, donated, sold or let go of. Tons of decisions were made to clear the spaces and prepare the home for next. Even as things exited, the memories and positive feelings about our family home remained. Those memories go deep and are ingrained within, way beyond the “stuff.”

The clearing of the spaces prepares for memories, possibilities, and experiences that a new family will have in our beloved home. This extreme letting go of the things from within the family home and ultimately the family home itself has been preparing me for a new phase of life...one that is no longer anchored in this home that I grew up in.

So as the layers of stuff have been peeled away, as the floors are sanded and the walls are painted, possibilities open up not just for me, but for others too. What will be is yet to be understood or known; yet I’m feeling hopeful about how things will evolve and shift. And while it's been a highly emotional journey, it's also the natural course of things. We aren't meant to keep our things forever. They, like the people we love, are with us just for a time. 

What have you noticed when your space is clear? What has transpired within and without from your cleared spaces? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation.

Several organizing challenges commonly occur with my clients. A few months ago, I had the pleasure of talking with my friend, John Hunt, from Smead, about the top five organizing challenges and strategies for overcoming them. I’m thrilled to share these two podcasts with you.

If you’re stuck or overwhelmed or know someone who is, keep reading. You’ll learn how to shift your perspective, engage new strategies and possibilities, and confidently take next action steps forward.

Top 5 Organizing Challenges . . .

1. Transitions

Life transitions such as a move, new job, birth of a child, or loss of a loved one can create “situational” or temporary disorganization. Transitions can be overwhelming because they can involve something unfamiliar. Current organizing systems may no longer work and require adjustments. Watch the video (Part 1) to learn transition strategies like making a list of areas that need editing and organizing or recalling other past transitions that were successfully navigated.

2. Papers

While we live in a digital age, papers are still a big organizational challenge. Overstuffed and outdated files, unopened mail, and the management of paper can easily cause us to feel overwhelmed. Watch the video (Part 1) to learn paper management strategies including creation of a simple system to process incoming paper.

Organizing Challenges: Transitions and Paper, and How to Overcome Them (Part 1)

Linda Samuels' Smead interview with John Hunt - Part 1

3. Emotions

Organizing can be more challenging, especially when we have a strong emotional attachment to our possessions. This can happen when we’re experiencing grief or loss. Decision-making can be more difficult making it harder to let go. Watch the video (Part 2) to hear about possible strategies, which include engaging the help of a supportive, non-judgmental friend, family member or professional organizer and allowing your belongings to have “safe passage.”

“Organizing can be more challenging, especially when we have a strong emotional attachment to our possessions.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVPO

4. Maintenance

Organizing involves not just establishing workable systems, but also maintaining them. Maintenance is an often overlooked, yet integral part of the organizing process. Watch the video (Part 2) to learn some maintenance tips including building in regular daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly stopgaps.

5. Mindfulness

Distractions interrupt our focus and frequently disrupt the organizing process. When organizing, we can focus on the future or past instead of the present. Watch the video (Part 2) to learn some mindfulness strategies including using “Full Circle Thinking”, where you purposefully pay attention and are mindful of what you’re doing while you’re doing it. Focus on one “circle” at a time until it’s complete such as “I’m opening the drawer and closing it.” Or, “I’m unlocking the door and placing my keys back in their home.”

Organizing Challenges: Emotions, Maintenance, Mindfulness, and How to Overcome Them (Part 2)

Linda Samuels' Smead interview with John Hunt - Part 2

What is your top organizing challenge? Are there strategies that work for you? What are the possibilities? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation!