As seen in the Dayton Daily News on September 12, 2015.
The first step I take when helping someone get organized is to find out how they want to move forward with their life.
We discuss challenges they are experiencing, past failures they have endured, dreams they hope to achieve and what is keeping them from reaching those dreams.
The information we glean from this discussion influences the decisions of what possessions should be kept in order to help them move toward their goals.
Many of you are feeling overwhelmed, because you own things you think you “should” own instead of having things that reflect your authentic self.
You keep scrapbooking materials, even though you don’t enjoy crafts, because others will see what a good mother you are.
You own gourmet kitchen items, even though you don’t like to cook, because good wives are supposed to cook.
You store tools in your garage, even though you take your car to a mechanic, because “real men” have expensive tools.
You keep books because they make you look smarter, exercise equipment for activities you don’t enjoy and items for entertaining, even though you hate playing host.
You hold on to items you think others would approve of, instead of having only those that support the real you.
I have done this myself.
When I first became a professional speaker, I purchased items that helped me fit into the corporate world: black suit, pointy-toed pumps (that hurt my feet) and a leather portfolio complete with an expensive pen.
I looked the part of a corporate, professional woman, but these were masking my casual, friendly personality.
During my speech I was nervous, often tripping over my words. I was so worried about what I looked like I had no time to pay attention to my audience.
After my talk, people would thank me for sharing my organizing ideas and inspiring them to tackle their homes and offices.
I loved this one-on-one time with audience members. I was never nervous or searching for the right words during these exchanges. I wasn’t playing professional speaker, I was myself.
One day, I decided to stop trying so hard to look like a professional speaker. Instead I walked on stage as my authentic self, the person people encountered after my speech.
I donated my suit and ill-fitting shoes and replaced them with professional yet casual, attire. I replaced my expensive pen with freebie pens with no worry of losing them.
Letting go of these items was freeing. As I became myself again, my audience became my focus.
Are you holding on to things because you think you should? Let these things go. Get back to your authentic self and shine as the real you.