“The quieter you become, the more you can hear.” – Baba Ram Dass
I have learned that to grow, I must clear space for my inner wisdom to flourish. In my physical world I must clear the clutter, and in my mind, I must quiet what I call the noise in my head. This practice, which began simply as my frantic attempt to tame the chaos in my life, evolved into Baby Step #4 – Clear Space & Quite the Noise, in the 12 Baby Steps Foundation Formula I now teach to others.
Removing anything that no longer serves me is vital. Instantly, I begin to experience more calm when I eliminate some of that “stuff” that is blocking the flow of positive energy around me.
I’m not sure what it is about creative thinkers, but somehow most of us are clutterers, too — and I’m no different! I gather lots of stuff that I think is critical to my environment for the moment. Part of me still wants to believe that it supports my creative stimulation.
But truth be told, that stuff is really blocking any new inspiration from getting through. It’s distracting, not stimulating.
All that busy-ness doesn’t help either. When I fall into old patterns, trying not to miss an opportunity to learn something new, I end up exhausted, never able to explore the possibilities evolving.
So how is it that you find some peace?
Practice The 12 Baby Steps Foundation Formula Baby Step #4…
1. Turn off the TV or computer for 15 minutes each day. Sit in quiet, listen and reflect.
2. Tackle a simple clutter task first. Maybe you have a favorite countertop that is your dumping ground…clear it off.
3. Clean out your closet a little bit at a time. Rarely used belongings can be lovingly donated to your favorite non-profit thrift store or reuse center ( check out mine at http://www.trash2treasurefl.org).
4. Set a rule that says if you bring something new into your space, something old has to leave.
5. Get rid of excess paperwork. Information gathering is a clutterer’s excuse to hold on to things that are no longer relevant. One or two folders worth of information on a topic is enough.
6. To ease up your scheduled responsibilities, pick one thing to eliminate. Give yourself permission to say “No”. Still struggling? Send me an email with a list of everything, I’ll help you gain clarity. This is my no-cost, no obligation gift to you, OK?
7. Embrace the power of affirmations. Simple positive statements short circuit the negative noise and remind us that “we can and we will”, no matter what.
Here’s my bonus tip: Even if the only alone time you have is while you’re showering, turn your attention to the quiet water running and try to tune out anything else for a moment.
So when you feel your life spinning out of control. Stop. Take a minute to look around and pick one of these tips to use as your starting place and begin now to change your environment and your sense of well-being. You’ll be glad you did! Please celebrate your success by sharing your new found peace in the comments below.