Are you happy with your life and the choices you make?

Notice I said make, and not made?

What’s done is done. The past can’t be changed. But where you move from this point onward is up to you.

It’s all about personal power. What’s within us, motivating us and propelling us forward.

Today we are going to look within and tap into our personal power for getting organized.

Start making good choices and taking control. I often hear; “I wasn’t taught how to be organized”, or “I don’t have the ‘tidy’ gene” or “I wish I could do that but I can’t”. 

You have the power to be organized. Believe it and good things will come.

Steps To Identifying Your Personal Power

1. Be Honest With Yourself

Problem: Your actions and attitude need a revamp so you can change what’s not working in your life.

Solution: Take a deep breath, grab a few moments to yourself and start thinking. What skills or tools do you need that will help you make positive changes? Does your attitude need tweaking, as in, start thinking more on the bright side rather than the potential pitfalls. Do you need to accept who you are or who other’s are. 

Example: The kids are untidy after school and don’t listen to you. It’s time to toughen up and set some rules. Call a meeting to advise the new routine. Write up a list of checkpoints for them to follow. Set boundaries and stick to them. Try this for one week and see if you’re goal to live more simply is a step closer to reality.

2. Maintain Integrity

Problem: You’re easily influenced or distracted, and find excuses for not doing things.

Solution: Make a daily affirmation that you will take responsibility and commit to taking action. Give yourself a pep talk. I will stop questioning and procrastinating!  I will take steps to do the right thing & create a simple life.

Example: Your latest Netflix addiction is taking up way too much time. Treat this time as a reward AFTER having done your chores. Chances are you’ll complete your chores faster when you have something exciting waiting for you at the end. 🙂

3. Don’t Fear a Bad Choice or Decision

Problem: Fear of consequences or judgement.

Solution: Today’s the day you’ll make a decision and follow through. It might not be the best decision, but it is what you thought best at the time. After all, some activity is better than inactivity.

Example: You can’t decide whether to apply for a new job or not. You procrastinate and worry about downsides. After weighing up pros and cons you’re still undecided. Let’s flip the scene and look at it this way. Wouldn’t it be much better to have applied for the job and have the opportunity to turn it down if you decide it isn’t the right one, rather than not have the job offer at all?

4. Push Your Limits

Problem: You don’t know your limits and are too scared to find out.

Solution: You won’t know what you’re capable of until you try something new. Even if it’s a little bit scary!  Starting is often the hardest part when faced with inactivity. A small taste of success is a great motivator to keep pushing yourself more.

Example: You’re tired of working for someone else and want to start your own business. Start making a checklist of what you need to do to branch out. Research your industry and start making contacts, talking to groups and networks that can help you make the goal a reality.

5. Motivate Yourself

Problem: You lack motivation or physical strength to get started.

Solution: It’s time to make a date with yourself. Choose a time and day that works best with you & tackle that task you’ve been putting off.

Example: You want to sort out your photos. Albums, ad hoc prints and digital prints. You know your mind works best in the morning and you give yourself until lunch time to make progress on the task. You’ll commit to this task once a week until the job is finished. Turn up the music, invite a friend over to help, or enjoy the peace and quiet while you sift through memories.

6. Take Care of Physical, Mental and Spiritual Self

Problem: You have physical or mental barriers to achieving your goals.

Solution: Let’s simply call this “me time”. Invest more time in looking after yourself and your interests. Looking and feeling our best is a great motivator to achieving more than we think we’re capable of.

Example: You love meeting up with your craft class each week but don’t always feel well enough to go. Make regular appointments with your practitioner to stay on top of ailments. Rest well the day before so that you feel your best on the day. Be prepared to ask for help if you are unable to complete a task or need help getting to the class.

Facing self-doubt and breaking down the barriers that keep you from moving forward will help change your mindset.

You don’t have to aim for a life of high achievement. Living simply, choosing to be happy and staying organized is happiness in itself.