Let’s face it. Life gives us an abundance of wonderful, which gets served along with the not so wonderful. Intrinsically I understand that if things were only good, without any challenges, we wouldn’t fully grasp gratitude. It’s in the diversity of experiences and feelings that we appreciate what it means to be human.

Recognizing this doesn’t make it any easier to handle loss, sadness, grief, and struggle. Our challenges add necessary layers to life that provide possibilities for growth and perspective shifts.

Each autumn when the leaves whither and drop to the ground, I feel sad and a sense of loss. These feelings intensify as the trees become bare and the landscape colorless. The part of fall I love most is when the foliage is showered in vibrant reds, oranges and yellows.

Recently, I mentioned this feeling of “fall sadness” to one of my friends. Instead of her agreeing with me, figuring that we shared this sentiment, she expressed that fall was one of her favorite times. She loved seeing the empty trees. The simplicity let her distinguish the branch and tree trunk shapes, patterns, and negative spaces formed against the sky.

What a gift she offered me! Her observations made me consider fall differently. Maybe the emptiness will help me see past the colorful distractions so I can more easily examine structures and foundations that need to be repaired.

While I’ll always prefer bursts of color to neutral palettes, I’m curious to try this new perspective. The absence of color and adornment will be my cue for securing foundations. With an unobstructed view, I can adjust the basics and prepare for growth.

What's possible for you? What ways help you approach transitions? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation.

We’re all human, which means that worry is part of who we are. Some of us worry more than others, don't we? Perhaps that’s how we were born (nature), or maybe it’s due to how we were raised (nurture), and more likely it’s a combination of both.

There’s certainly plenty to worry about. We worry about the weather, the future, the past, what other people are doing, or not doing. We worry about our friends and family, our weight, our health, our schedules and appointments, being late or on time, and our full or empty plates. We worry about the things we have control over and those we don’t. We worry about what might happen and what didn't. There’s no shortage for the things we worry about.

One of my favorite phrases that my Uncle Lew says is,

“Let’s leave worry as a last resort.”

I love his philosophy that we don't have to rule worrying out all together, but let’s focus on the positive and only pull out the worry card if absolutely necessary.

In The Worry Cure by Robert Leahy, Ph.D., he sites one study where

“. . . worriers were asked to write down their worries over a two-week period and predict what would happen. In fact, 85 percent of the actual outcomes were positive.”

When I was in Toronto last month for the POC conference, I explored one neighborhood that was filled with artistic graffiti. I came across the “Don’t Worry!” sign spray painted on one of the buildings. I loved the strong message.

On my desk, I have a small purple eraser from the whimsical office product company, Poppin. On the eraser, printed in white letters it says,

“work happy.”

So I leave you today with these thoughts…let the worries flow elsewhere and allow the happy to come your way. I’d love to hear your thoughts. How do you manage the worry and happy in your life? Come join the conversation.

We are wonderfully human beings. Sometimes we listen well to internal and external input, and sometimes we don’t.  There are a few essential ingredients for improving your listening skills. Do any of these resonate with you?

Quiet

There are times we just can’t hear because there is too much noise or clutter within and without. This can be mind clutter, physical clutter, or actual sounds. Our focus becomes distracted by the chaos. To improve your ability to “hear,” find a quiet space with no interruptions. Close your eyes. Quiet your mind. Let it wander until your voice is audible.

Pause

When we’re over-the-top-busy, running from place to place, appointment-to-appointment, it’s more challenging to listen to those around us. We’re distracted by our “to do” lists, errands, and next things, and find it difficult to slow ourselves down long enough to have relaxed conversations. Take a pause. Acknowledge the frenzy. Breathe deeply. Taking a break will improve your listening skills.

Sleep

When we deprive ourselves of enough sleep, our concentration decreases rapidly. Being able to listen well requires focus and concentration. Getting more sleep will have a positive effect on your ability to listen.

What are you listening for? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join our conversation.

In the organizing industry, there’s one trait that is regularly mentioned as a desired quality for professional organizers to possess. It’s compassion. Recently I read a Real Simple article that talked about compassion. What’s encouraging is that we can increase our “CQ” at any time. It begins with awareness.

3 Ways to Be Compassionate

Small Gestures
People are hurting all around us. We can’t fix every situation, but simple acts of support can make a difference. One of my friends stopped by with a container of chicken soup and chocolate bars to lift my spirits during a rough time.

Power of Touch
When someone is distressed, we might not always have the right words. Dr. Helen Riess, suggests that if appropriate a hug, pat, or hand squeeze can be another way to show your support and compassion.

Acknowledgement
We might not always agree with our loved ones, but acknowledging how they feel, and being able to see their perspective is what compassion is about. It’s the glue that holds relationships together.

What resonates with you? How is compassion present in your life? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join our conversation.