What becomes possible with a fresh start? I asked some of my wonderful colleagues (Peggy Pardo, Janet Barclay, Ellen Delap, Leslie Josel, Christy Lingo, Helena Alkhas, and Yota Schneider) to ponder this question and share their perspectives with us. Their insightful responses are filled with hope, possibilities, and understanding. My deepest gratitude goes to each of them for taking the time to reflect, and give us their positive, energizing words of wisdom. 

What becomes possible with a fresh start? . . .

Try Again

“With a fresh start you have endless possibilities. You have the opportunity to change direction, reinvent yourself, begin something new, undo a wrong, work smarter, and most importantly, the chance to try again.” 

Leslie Josel, Professional Organizer

Create Life You Want

“Everything is possible with a fresh start! A fresh start offers the opportunity for a new awareness and a clearer vision. Use the lessons you've learned from the past to help you create the life you want.”

Peggy Pardo, Interior Decorator, Professional Organizer, & Author

Clear Path for Success

“With a fresh start, you begin with optimism and release negativity. Fresh starts clear the path for success in any and every way.  It is giving yourself permission to begin again.”

Ellen Delap, Professional Organizer

Bring What’s Important

“A fresh start is an opportunity to eliminate the clutter. Whether you’re moving to a new home or simply breaking out a blank calendar for the New Year, you can choose to only bring over those things that are still important to you.”

Janet Barclay, Virtual Assistant, Web Designer, & Blogger

Apply Collective Life Wisdom

“Our daily fresh start provides a chance to learn a new skill, have a new experience, and apply our previously acquired skills and experiences to any challenges we are currently facing. Relish this chance to apply your collective life wisdom on a daily basis and perhaps even have a second (or third) chance to tackle life's challenges with new knowledge and perspective.”

Christy Lingo, Professional Organizer

Embrace New Experiences

“Fresh starts liberate us from limitations. They energize us to embrace new experiences and to have new perspectives in every situation. They serve as moments of transitions, rites of passages in our lives when we say to ourselves: this is THE moment I decide to...”

Helena Alkhas, Professional Organizer & Virtual Assistant

Take Risks Only Dreamed Of

“Just reading the words ‘fresh start’ makes me feel giddy. Standing on the edge of something brand new, a myriad feelings that range from excitement and nervousness to shyness and uncontrollable enthusiasm, may flood our being. We can rewrite our story and be the person we always wanted to be and see where this takes us. We can explore and try new things; take risks we've only dreamed of. Why not, after all? That's what new beginnings are all about. Stepping over the threshold of a newly opened door into the unknown and carrying the value of lessons learned, but leaving all that burdened us behind. I guess, what becomes possible with a fresh start is the chance to ‘shed our old skin’ and get one more chance at growing into our potential.”

Yota Schneider, Life Transitions Coach

Which ideas resonate with you? As this New Year is upon us, what are you thinking about? Come join the conversation and share your thoughts about fresh starts.

We’re in week two of the New Year. Are you feeling excited about the opportunity a clean slate presents? Maybe you’re starting to feel slightly less motivated than you did last week?

Being that I’m a big fan of the fresh start, “do-over” period, I began thinking about ways to get the most from this time. I’ve come up with a few ideas and would love to hear from you too. Read on and then please join in and add your thoughts.

7 Tips to Turbocharge Your Year

1. Clarify – Whether you prefer visual images, lists, or recorded messages, allow yourself time to figure out your “do-wants” for this year. Take time to dream and future think. Do you need more clarity? Enlist help from a trusted friend, family member, or professional. Consider using an accountability partner to share your progress and challenges.

2. Motivate – According to leadership coach, David Rock, we are most likely to perform well when we focus on solutions rather than problems. Solutions that we figure out ourselves in those “aha” moments as opposed to ones “offered-up” release a burst of energy. Motivation to take action is highest at this point. Know that you have the answers from within. Tap into your internal riches.

3. Laugh – There is nothing quite like having fun to make us feel as if we can accomplish anything. The joy and laughter that accompanies fun, promotes that “Can do” attitude. In the past few weeks, I enjoyed my share of fun activities, but perhaps more than any other, was when I visited the Ann Hamilton installation at the Park Avenue Armory. Laughter and happiness filled this huge space. Participants of all ages watched the billowing white curtain dance, as the oversized swings we were on, activated the movement of the fabric.

4. Organize – Don’t underestimate the power of feeling organized. While this can look very different to each of us, having a sense of control, clarity, and order in our physical environment can greatly enhance our ability to function well and move ahead. Suspend the notion of organizing perfection. Instead, figure out what organized enough means for you and take small steps to get there. Feeling more organized is a fresh start booster.

5. Develop – Perhaps some of your goals for this year include breaking old habits. Based on neuroscience research and concepts that David Rock has tested, they’ve discovered that changing habits are difficult because they are hardwired in our brains. What is far easier is to create an entirely new habit or wiring. Reframing your goals in the form of adding something new instead of taking away the old could be the key to successfully moving forward.

6. Challenge – What are your plans to move yourself out of your comfort zone? The idea of doing this, and then taking action steps forward to make it happen, can increase confidence, motivation and growth. What’s on your facing your fears list? I’ve got a few things planned, one of which is taking a comedy improv class. Someone asked me if I’m excited about it. I’m not excited, more like, terrified. It’s good for me. What’s good for you?

7. Surround – Focus on the positive. That includes people, spaces, objects, thoughts, and sayings. Release the naysayers and energy drainers. While it can be easy to blame others, we can be our own worst enemy. Suspend the negative self-talk. Acknowledge your strengths and potential. Move forward with positive expectation. As Zig Ziglar said, “Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.”

Energize the days and months ahead. Come join the conversation. Which ideas resonate with you? What will help you get the most from your year?

We’ve arrived together. It’s a new beautiful winter season, the beginning of the year, and the opportunity for a fresh start. Before we look ahead, it’s just as essential to reflect back on what happened, what we learned, what we accomplished, and where we currently are. We locate ourselves so that we can move forward with focus and enthusiasm.

For this amazing community of sharers, while all the conversations have been incredible, I thought you’d like to know which posts resonated the most with you this year. Your insights and thoughts have been invaluable. We talked with experts like Julie Morgenstern about time management, we had giveaways for books, organizing products and most importantly…chocolate. We shared ideas about clutter, change, enlisting help, and more. Enjoy the 2012 highlights!

10 Most Popular Posts of 2012 . . .

1. Ask the Expert

Julie Morgenstern – The “Ask the Expert” monthly feature, newly introduced in 2012 was very well received. Julie’s interview on time management generated an especially dynamic conversation. My favorite question was, “Why do some of us have so much difficulty managing our time?”

2. Giveaway

Fall Organizing Giveaway – Fall organizing tips on inspiration, relaxation, and organization were shared along with a giveaway including a $25 Starbucks gift card, Purse Perfector handbag organizer, and autographed copy of The Other Side of Organized to lucky winner, Rachel. More fun giveaways will be coming in 2013.

3. Wonderfully Human

Sometimes It’s The Little Things – Following on the heels of Superstorm Sandy, we shared our thoughts about gratitude.

4. Possibility Thinking

5 Tips to Eliminate Your Excuses – We looked at the top five excuses and tips for overcoming them in order to move forward and embrace the possibilities.

5. Success Secrets

8 Tips for Bouncing Back – Eight wonderful colleagues shared their best advice for handling life’s surprises and setbacks. Thank you Yota, Leslie, Geralin, Ellen, Janice, Janet, Sue, and Helena for your unique perspectives.

6. Enlisting Help

Top 10 Reasons People Ask for Organizing Help – As a professional organizer for over 20 years, I’ve noticed certain patterns that propel people to reach out for organizing help. Can you add other reasons to the list?

7. Getting Motivated

10 Motivation Challenges & Fixes – What de-motivates us and prevents us from moving ahead? We identified challenges and talked about tips for overcoming them.

8. Too Much Clutter

What’s Your Relationship to Clutter? – We talked about our views about clutter. We looked at if we were on a clutter hiatus, oblivious to clutter, or overwhelmed by it? After locating ourselves, we discussed next steps.

9. Embracing Change

4 Tips for Navigating Change – Procrastination can keep us stuck. This post, inspired by a pair of purple velvet slippers, looked at what to do when we’re struggling with change.

10. Fresh Start

Recombobulation Area – Transitions are integral to beginning something new. We shared ideas about the shift from a disconnected to a more balanced state.

Thank you for being part of this community and taking time to reflect back over the best of this past year. Did you have a favorite post? I’d love to know which one and what you liked about it.

I’m looking forward to the conversations we will continue to have this year. My heartfelt wishes go out to each of you for a happy, healthy, organized-enough, and joy-filled 2013!

There are some things that make me happy. Eating fortune cookies and reading the fortunes are some of them. There is something fun and silly about it, which is what I most enjoy. On a recent winter evening, my husband and I had Chinese take-out, which included one dozen fortune cookies, specially requested by me. At the end of our meal, we ate the cookies and shared our fortunes.

This ritual involves getting good fortunes, bad ones and those that don’t make any sense. No matter which variety, the sharing always provides interesting conversations and thoughts to ponder.

I’d like to share with you the best five fortunes from our dinner as they relate to organizing, starting over, and making the best of the time we have.

5 Fortune Cookie Organizing Tips

Fortune #1:  Gratitude

“You are very grateful for the small pleasures of life.”

Let’s begin with the basics. If you are feeling overwhelmed with the magnitude of editing, decluttering, and organizing that’s ahead of you, think about gratitude to help redefine your mood. Look for the moments that you’re thankful for. Be grateful for the one drawer you just organized or the fact that you were able to locate your keys or that you gave yourself five minutes at the end of the day to clear off your desk. Gratitude is there for you. It will enhance your daily experience and help propel you forward.

Fortune #2:  Let Go

“Forget those things that aren’t worth remembering.”

We know about physical clutter. There is also mind clutter. Sometimes it’s from all the “to do” items we are holding in our brains. Other times it’s the negative messages of past failures that we keep repeating. Release that stuff! Send the to dos to paper or an audio reminder. Stop the negativity from repeating. Find a new message that focuses on your strengths and accomplishments.

Fortune #3:  Small Steps

“He who climbs a ladder must begin at the first step.”

You are headed to great places. I see you in your organized, wonderful space. It’s supporting you and your needs. It’s working with and not against you. Be patient. Take one small step at a time and you will be successful.

Fortune #4:  Best Self

“Wherever you go, whenever you can, try to leave a gift.”

This is the gift of self. We all struggle and have challenges. As you move ahead in this new year, on this new day, bring the best of who you are to the party. Your positive energy and thoughts will attract others’ positivity. That will refuel your tank to keep you moving towards the organizing goals you seek.

Fortune #5:  Possibilities

“Be prepared to accept a wondrous opportunity in the days ahead!”

When we take the time to organize and clear our physical and mental clutter, we open up space for new opportunities and thoughts. It’s your time to move forward and get ready for things you may have never imagined. Your willingness to seek change and growth will draw possibilities towards you.

Which fortune resonates with you? What’s possible for you now? I invite you to join the conversation.