Watering Day and More

Watering Day is today. All the plants got a nice drink, dead leaves removed and then it happened. Another hindrance. I tried to move the plant in Max's room, but not being together physically I made a big mess when I dropped it. Dirt everywhere. It took me over an hour to clean up what I could since I'm so slow with back pain, but I did as much as I could and Max will have to move the shelves and finish up. Sorry Max for the added cleanup.

Everything is taking sooooo long because I can't bend over without a lot of pain and I move slowly, but I'm updating this blog and after getting up to move a little I'm going to finish my $ spreadsheet then write the plan.

Having a healthy attitude makes such a difference. I do hope the osteo dr has an opening later today. I might have to wait til next week. Heal me, Lord.

Hindered from Following the Plan, but Not Dismayed

Two nights ago I fell roller skating, my tailbone hit the hard floor. It didn't seem too bad until I couldn't sleep. I used ASP II for the pain, arnica orally and the gel topically, Bone Support and iced it before bed. Yesterday I continued the supplements and added comfrey poultice to my regimen. I realized I can't continue with my organizing plan as I heal. I can be productive doing non heavy activities.

I began the big job of organizing photos. We got a 5T backup hard drive so I've got the other external drives to work with. I started writing out the plan. Today I'll start a spreadsheet. I hurt all the time, but not too bad. I'm okay walking slowly and can sit for awhile, but it hurts to get up and down and bend over. I don't feel dismayed or discouraged, I'm going to keep going as best I can because I don't want to spend the rest of my life as I am and with what I have. This is not life, it's not even maintaining. I want life, I want to be productive, I want to be free to pursue what the Lord has for me with out this baggage. I know that the only way to overcome is to go through as the Lord leads and I ask Him to show me His way and help me finish it.

I'm back at it again. It's taking longer than I expected. This blog post by Michael Hyatt is really encouraging to me.

WHY YOU’RE UNHEALTHY, STUCK, AND MISERABLE

One Trick Anyone Can Use to Improve Their Circumstances Starting Today

I hear from people all the time who feel stuck in bad jobs, bad habits, and bad relationships. And when it comes down to it, I have one single piece of advice.

It’s pretty simple, actually. Ready? Here it goes: Stop thinking about it. No, I don’t mean live in denial. What I do mean is shift your focus.  

The Power of Shifting Your Focus 

I lived many of my early professional years under stress, out of shape, and behind on my to-do list. But I didn’t start changing things by focusing on what was wrong. I used what was wrong to help me pivot. Instead of using my position to dwell on my pain, I used the pain to shift my position.

Here’s what we know. When we focus on what’s wrong, it makes it more complicated to do what’s right. That doesn’t mean we ignore what’s wrong. Instead, we use it as an impetus for change, recognizing that it can prevent positive change if we dwell on it instead of next steps.

Nobody finds a better job by complaining about the bad one. No one quits overeating by resolving not to. No one improves their marriage by fuming about how bad it currently is.

What we need—and what researchers say actually works—is a replacement strategy.

 Out with the Bad, in with the Good

One of the best ways to use this these strategies is with implementation intentions. We talked before about how to use those here. An implementation intention gives us a positive response when we face a negative circumstance.

When we feel like overeating, for instance, it makes more sense to go for a walk than stand by the fridge hoping your will power holds. The implementation intention just formulates a positive response. So you might say, “When I feel like overeating, then I will go for a brief walk.”

“[W]hen it comes to reaching your goals,” says Heidi Grant Halvorson in her book 9 Things Successful People Do Differently, “you need to plan how you will replace the behaviors that sabotage your success with better ones, rather than focusing on only the maladaptive behaviors themselves.”

So how can we craft replacement strategies for ourselves?

Four Essential Questions

Here are four essential questions you can answer to start changing your circumstances:

1.    What don’t you like about your current situation? Whether it’s your job, your health, your relationships, whatever, ask yourself what’s wrong with the circumstances. How does it make you think, feel, and perform?

2.    What would you like to change about your current circumstances? Now that you’re clear on what’s wrong and why, it’s time to decide what would you like to change about it? Clarity on this point is essential because the negative feeling or situation serves as the trigger for positive action.

3.    How could you change it? It’s time to pivot. Once you know what you want to change, you’re ready to formulate your replacement strategy. Identify a positive action that you can take in response to the negative trigger. I say “could” because you might need to stay flexible and revise your response for maximum effectiveness.

4.    How much do you really want to change? Change probably won’t come easy. We drift into negative circumstances because drifting is easy. Shifting to something better requires intentionality and effort. So how much do you want to change? It all comes down to commitment.

Instead of using your position to dwell on your pain, use the pain to shift your position.                MICHAEL HYATT

The way to get out of a bad job situation is to find a better option. The way you stop a bad habit is to develop a beneficial one. The way to improve your marriage is cultivate and expand what’s working instead of dwelling on what’s not.

We get more of what we focus on. If we can’t pivot to something positive, we’ll get stuck in what’s negative.

Productivity

        

Productivity - effectively stewarding my gifts, talents, time, energy, and enthusiasm for the good of others and the glory of God.

How can I be productive for the Lord if I'm constantly organizing, tidying up and cleaning up my stuff, over and over...just saying.

Partial solution is to have less stuff! Working on that.

Determined to Finish

Had commitments and activities every day since Tuesday. Today after cleaning the house and preparing for dinner, back I go to finish up. I'm not discouraged because of the week's break, just determined to finish.

I got to do more in the evening, I'm getting close!!!

There's A Lot, but Feeling Motivated

Well, I'm in the middle of sorting and looking for a misplaced bill. I can't believe how much paperwork is here because I've let it go for soooo long. I'm making piles. Max and Micah won't be home till later tonight so I can leave it out till I get it done!

I am motivated to deal with this stuff and move on!

Record, Declutter and File ~ Bills and Receipts

Tea tastes good in the pretty fall mug Cynthia gave me.

Yesterday I dug in and began the task of finishing organizing months of receipts, recording expenses and filing.

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After I finish what I started, I need to get rid of clutter at the computer desk and roll top desk.

Then I'm going to decide what I really need and want and then designate a place for each item making it simpler to find things and take care of business.

Today I hope to finish this task.

Wow! I Already Have a Blog!

I've been thinking about blogging my process of becoming clutter-free, but what I just discovered was this blog I had set up over a year ago but didn't post. It's already for me to record my process of deciding what I've been doing, what I really want to keep, what I like, where to keep it and how. Also I want to keep a record of what I've done and why. This is a place to talk about what works, what flopped and what I've learned.

I'm looking forward to the end result of having a nice and pretty, functional, creative living space that it pleasing to the eyes and comfort to the soul...and frees my time, mental space and emotions to pursue more loving purpose.