The latest installment (v26) of the “What’s Interesting?” feature is here with my recent discoveries that inform, educate, and relate to organizing and life balance. I’ve included unique and inspiring fresh start-related finds, which reflect this month’s blog theme. You are such an incredibly engaged group. I am grateful for your presence, positive energy, and contributions to this community.

I look forward to your participation and additions to the collection I’ve sourced. What do you find interesting?

What’s Interesting? . . .

1. Interesting Read – Fresh Start Goals

Hot off the press is the insightfully written organizing book, Organizing and Big Scary Goals – Working With Discomfort and Doubt to Create Real Life Order by my colleague, Sara Skillen. I am a big fan of Sara’s blog and enjoyed reading her “how-might-you?” book, where she uses her organizer and coach lens throughout. While she includes a few how-tos, Sara weaves engaging, relatable stories throughout, including overcoming one of her challenges, the fear of bike riding. These stories help readers understand that finding solutions to their organizing challenges can be done in a relaxed, exploratory, and uniquely personal way. Sara concludes that “…big change can happen for anyone…by letting go of external messages, embracing their fear and discomfort, and asking for help when they need it…they can achieve unexpected results and stay consistent.” If you’re struggling with getting organized and reaching your goals, read Sara’s book, which offers you a compassionate fresh start.

2. Interesting Product – Fresh Start Papers

If your desk or kitchen counters are piled with papers, and you can’t find the ones you need, consider using this stylish desktop file, the Arc basket. You’ll be able to organize your VIP papers in an instant. It is spacious enough to accommodate the essential items, yet not so large as to overwhelm you or your space. This U Brands open file box is shown in green and also comes in white and pale pink. Give your desk or counters a fresh start with this sleek hanging files bin.

3. Interesting Perspective  – Fresh Start Clarity

Gordon Hempton, an acoustic ecologist, spent his life preserving the world’s silent places by traveling the world and recording sounds. Many of these places are endangered due to the encroachment of modern life. In this short video, Sanctuaries of Silence, Hempton invites you to experience the preciousness of these beautifully captured explorations.

“Silence isn’t the absence of something, but the presence of everything.”

— Gordon Hampton

Life can be noisy. We have busy thoughts within combined with external physical distractions. It has become more challenging to hear our own thoughts, let alone experience quiet. Activities such as daily mindfulness meditation, yoga, and nature walks help me to create periods of silence. With a clarity of mind and calmness of soul, I am better able to be open, aware, and grateful for each moment, and a fresh start.

4. Interesting Season – Fresh Start Organizing

Winter can be more of an indoor season, at least it is for me. With this extra time inside, you might be feeling disorganized, overwhelmed, and unsure of how to move forward. Take this opportunity to reset your organizing goals, declutter the extraneous, and create the calm you deserve. Change is possible, especially with support. Enlist help from a compassionate and non-judgmental friend, family member, or professional organizer like me. You’ll be amazed at how much more you can accomplish when you work side-by-side with an organizing buddy. I’m ready to help. Let’s talk. Call 914-271-5673 or email me at linda@ohsoorganized.com.

5. Interesting Thought – Fresh Start Time

What is that phrase, “Attitude is everything?” When it comes to how we feel about a new day (or Mondays,) your approach to new can make all the difference with how you do or don’t do next. The start of the New Year gives us an attitude boost for a fresh start and new beginning. Yet the excitement can quickly fade. Remind yourself that you can embrace a fresh start any week, day, hour, or moment. Let go of what you didn’t do, cut yourself some slack, reset, and begin again. 

What are your interesting finds? Which of these resonate with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Join the conversation!

Have you ever been disappointed by an experience you’ve had? If so, you’re not alone. Would you like to learn some ways to turn an unsuccessful experience into a successful one? One small change can make an enormous difference. I was curious about my colleagues’ ideas, so I reached out to this fabulous international group – Seana Turner, Nacho Eguiarte, Jill Robson, Diane Quintana, Ellen Delap, Janet Barclay, and Cris Sgrott-Wheedleton.

I asked them, “What is one essential ingredient needed to have a successful experience?”  Their responses are unique and inspiring. My deepest gratitude goes to each of them for sharing their wisdom with us.

What is one essential ingredient needed to have a successful experience? . . .

Flexibility

“Life is rarely 100% predictable, so I believe the key to having a positive experience is flexibility. This doesn’t mean failing to make plans. Quite the opposite! Having a scaffold of structure in place allows me to nimbly respond to the unforeseen, to keep going when I hit a roadblock, and to enjoy (rather than dread) surprises. So often we are discouraged or disheartened by unexpected developments, but some of the best times I’ve ever had were when I showed up prepared, but also open to whatever the next step might be.”

Seana Turner – Professional Organizer, Blogger & Public Speaker

Attitude

“No matter what recipe you’re making for dinner you’ll always need some salt. That would be a key ingredient. So the “salt" in having a successful experience for me is attitude. With a good attitude you can overcome every possible bad situation, and with a good attitude you can upgrade a good situation into a fabulous experience. No matter what, attitude is a must.” 

Nacho Equiarte – Professional Organizer, Architect, Grieving Counselor & Blogger

Acknowledgement

“How has the experience made you feel? Did you feel heard? I think most of us have a successful experience when we feel we have been listened to. How often do we need help or advice and we feel that the person is not really listening, just giving a stock answer? I know in my occupation, I have spoken with other organizers on how we communicate with our clients, and it is our listening skills that are just as important as our organizing skills.”

Jill Robson – Professional Organizer & Blogger

Positivity

“One of the most important ingredients to having a successful experience is your attitude. Think about it this way, you’ve set your goal, you know the steps to take to achieve your goal, and you’ve decided that it’s going to be difficult to achieve. Your attitude is such that from the outset you’re predicting failure. So, your journey towards your goal will probably be beset with bumps in the road, which turn into mountains because you’ve doomed yourself from the start. However, if you switch the channel deciding that this goal is worthwhile and that you’re going to achieve it your attitude is positive. There may be bumps in the road but you will overcome them and the journey itself will be a positive learning experience.”

Diane Quintana, CPO®, CPO-CD® – Certified Professional Organizer, Author & Speaker

Readiness

“A successful experience begins with a readiness for new perspectives. When a client begins our work together ready for change, it makes change happen. They are alert and aware of possibilities and reflect actively on this as well as during our session and after we conclude.  Success comes in baby steps with small changes they make as a result.”

Ellen Delap, CPO® – Professional Organizer & Productivity Consultant 

Confidence

“To achieve success, I have to believe in myself and my ability to accomplish that which I’m trying to do. Reminding myself of similar challenges I’ve overcome in the past can be very helpful, so I file complimentary messages I receive in a special folder in my email program and re-read them whenever I need to boost my self-confidence.”

Janet Barclay, MVA – Web Designer, Blogger & Virtual Marketing Assistant

Willingness

“I think any successful experience starts with a willingness to make a change and experience something new. I personally, never like to go through any change.  I am very resistant to doing things differently. It is part of my personality. However, I have learned over the years, that my personal growth and success can be directly attributed to making life transitions and embracing change. Now, I just acknowledge to myself that I don’t like to change, but I also acknowledge that there is a possibility that it will be good for me. I give it a try, and most of the time I embrace it, and it becomes habit. I recommend my clients to try small changes, one little one at the time.”

Cris Sgrott-Wheedleton, CPO®, CPO-CD® – Professional Organizer & Blogger 

Having a successful experience can feel illusive. With the wonderful concepts that my colleagues shared, you now have some new ways to approach your experiences. Whether you choose to adjust your attitude, be more flexible, or embrace the changes, a successful outcome is possible for you. For me, one ingredient that colors all others is my attitude. If I go forth with optimism and positivity, it flavors my experiences with exactly that. So even if the outcome differs from the plan, I can view it as a learning experience instead of a failure.

Which ideas resonate with you? What is one essential ingredient you need to have a successful experience? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation!

El Anatsui, artist“Change is the hallmark of transition.”     – Alexander Levy

Transitions can be prickly as we navigate change. Have you ever experienced that uncomfortable feeling when you’re in the midst of a transition? You don’t feel quite like yourself. It’s like wearing a favorite pair of pants that used to be great and now the fit is off. Are your pants too tight?

Most of us don’t like being uncomfortable. However, trying something new, going in a different direction, or changing in any way will most definitely bring with it those awkward feelings. Let’s get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Let’s accept that it’s part of the change process.

Doubt can also accompany transition and change. This is normal. We are moving into uncharted territory and we aren’t sure about how we’ll manage. If you think back to other times of change, what strengths did you draw upon? What successes did you experience? Access those now. In the interview I did with Judith Kolberg, founder of ICD (formerly NSGCD,) when asked about change strategies for overcoming the fear factor, she said, “My favorite is to draw on their experience. If they are an adult, somewhere in their lifetime they’ve made a big change and survived it.”

Change is a process. You have abundant choices in both your attitude and actions. If your pants are too tight, you get to decide if you’ll keep wearing them or if it’s time for a new pair.

Come join in the conversation and share your ideas. What are your thoughts about change, transition, or those pants that no longer fit?