The Organized Life archives

New Year's Resolutions Made Easy

Dear Subscriber,

It’s the end of the year, time once again for New Year’s resolutions. I suggest that a change in this tradition is in order. We often use our resolutions to try and “organize” ourselves at the end of the year, but the way we set them up dooms them from the start. We make promises that we just can’t keep, only to end up feel badly about ourselves when we fail.

Our resolutions often strike a negative tone. They seem primarily designed to set very tight boundaries around us in some way – “Eat less, exercise more…”. By being so strict, and confronting ourselves with our shortcomings, we are unlikely to take more than a few steps towards keeping them.

For example, how often have you resolved to get your home or office completely decluttered and organized? My feeling is that it’s much better to make promises to yourself that you can keep. Replacing the stick with a carrot gives us the sense of accomplishment we all need to tackle the bigger challenges in our lives.

I’ll give you an example of how I managed to do this for myself one year and how it changed my life.

1. Buy more clothes,

2. Buy more makeup, and

3. Take better care of my shoes.

That was it. I bet it’s easy to believe that those resolutions were easy to keep, especially the first two!

But why did I need to tell myself to buy more clothes and makeup? Because I was not living in abundance at that time. I undervalued myself and didn’t believe at some deep level that I deserved clothing that was up-to-date and flattering, or makeup that enhanced my looks. My wardrobe had gone completely flat; I was sick of everything I owned – which was completely understandable since it was all at least five years old.

And my shoes! I knew it was smart to buy well-made shoes, but the fact that I wasn’t caring for them meant they didn’t look good for long. So I took my shoes in for repair, bought shoe trees, and set up a way to keep them neatly in the closet. I was rewarded with shoes that looked brand new for years – long enough to go out of style themselves!

I’ve been able to keep all these resolutions ever since, because they were really all about raising my sense of self worth. And by making promises that supported my inner self, I empowered myself to achieve some of the harder things I wanted to do. Like quitting a job I was unhappy in, and taking a risk on freelancing. If I’d forced myself to promise to do those things…well, I believe the outcome would not have been a positive one.

Five Resolutions You Can Keep
So what can you resolve for yourself this year? Here are five suggestions, positive actions that aren't based on self-criticism. These are resolutions that can support the deepest part of you.

1. Appreciate your taste by taking extra care of your most special belongings. We have a beautiful carpet that’s been in my family for over a generation. Last year we resolved to have it cleaned; we’ve been rewarded with a glowing heirloom that lights up our living room and is likely to last for generations to come.

2. Replace unhealthy plants with vibrant, beautiful ones that appreciate all the love and attention you can lavish on them. In Feng Shui, wonderful plants represent the Wood element, symbolizing growth and upward movement. A perfect way to start the New Year!

3. Clear out one single drawer, finding homes for the things you need and love and discarding the obvious junk. You’ll love the sight of that drawer every time you open it. Bonus for this resolution: there’s a good chance you’ll discover a hidden treasure that you’d forgotten all about. (And maybe it will inspire you to clear out more than one drawer!)

4. Take a thoughtful look at the art and photos in one important room – perhaps your bedroom. Does each piece of art lift your spirits? If not, simply remove it. It’s better to have an empty wall to ponder than to endure negative energy. If it makes you at all nervous to do this, give it a try: take it down temporarily to see how it feels.

5. Place a beautiful candle in your bathroom and light it at least once a week. It will balance the watery energy in that room and give it a very special feeling.

And if you like, buy yourself some new clothes and makeup, and take good care of those shoes! You’ll launch yourself into 2007 in style!

Until next month, Happy Holidays – and Happy Organizing!

Sincerely,

Ann Bingley Gallops
The Organized Life

ORGANIZING DISCOVERY OF THE MONTH

Have you been wondering what to do with technical equipment that’s no longer of use to you?  Check out Share the Technology, where you can browse listings of equipment (computers, modems, printers) that’s needed in your area, or post listings of items you have to offer.  And life is made even easier since pickup and delivery options are listed as well.

WHAT I'M READING

The Architecture of Happiness, by Alain de Botton

To quote the book jacket, “One of the great but often unmentioned causes of both happiness and misery is the quality of our environment…And yet a concern for architecture and design is too often described as frivolous, even self-indulgent.”

I’m loving this book because it articulates my feeling, and advances my thinking, about the critical importance of everything we surround ourselves with. In an intelligent and highly readable way, it shows just how much thoughtful design influences and inspires us.

COMING UP IN FUTURE NEWSLETTERS

GETTING IN TOUCH

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And please drop me a line with comments, questions, or suggestions for future newsletters.

Ann Bingley Gallops
The Organized Life
646-382-3878
ann@theorganizedlife.net
www.theorganizedlife.net

Copyright 2006, Ann Bingley Gallops