Recently I had a golden opportunity to collaborate with a group of talented professionals during a seminar geared for women facing divorce. As you probably know, clutter has a few best friends and one of it’s closest allies is divorce. So it makes great sense to post this article to you, my readers. Many of my clients are up against this challenge as I write this post.

Remember, no matter what type of trauma you face in life, you are never truly alone! There are professionals like myself and Laura that are here to serve and help you rebuild your life after you experience big setbacks.

“We know what happens to people who stay in the middle of the road. They get run over.” Aneurin Bevan

Kathi Burns coaches women how to stay organized even during a divorce

Could there be a time in a woman’s life that she is more likely to be paralyzed by chaos than during a divorce? Perhaps, but if you are in the midst of a divorce you are likely nodding your head in a way that says: “wow! I have never been this overwhelmed and disorganized, NEVER!!”

And then your “I can’t” thoughts start to take hold of your head and the nod of agreement quickly turns into a sideways twist, twist, twist, as you say to yourself “. . . No way! I’ve got things to do!! I don’t have time to organize my life. I’m just trying to survive it!! And you stop imagining the bliss of returning to a clean home and resume your anxious search for that document you know you put somewhere, while the clock exclaims: “you’re late! Again! Hurry!!”

Well you are not alone, but just because misery loves company, doesn’t mean you’re going to feel better hanging out with it!

As a divorce Coach I have the opportunity to be an “Agent of Change.” But I also know that before I can hope to help you create lasting change you have to believe that an expenditure of money or time, or even some of both will bring you so much value that you feel compelled to take action.

Okay, I know you’re busy, running late, can’t recall the last time you had a restorative sleep so I’ll just get to the point. Clutter, hoarding, and disorganization will bury your best intentions alive! A person who stashes and hoards and refuses to let go of the stuff is operating on with one or more of these assumptions:
1. I need this stuff because it says something about me. (translation: I need to obtain your approval to feel worthy)
2. I live in a world of lack, and if I don’t hang on to this stuff it will never come again. (Translation: I need it for my security, I am not capable of providing)
3. It’s my stuff and I’m doing it my way. (Translation: I m not interested in what might be best for me I’m only interested in staying in control so back off!!)

When you make space in your life, you make space for real change, new beginnings, peace, growth, and harmony. Try this “pro pro” test as a way of beginning. Ask yourself: “what are the pros of keeping this in my life? And “what are the pro’s of removing this from my life?”

If you find yourself clinging to the stuff, ask yourself a few more questions: is my fear of letting go coming from a lack or need for: approval, security or control? And could I let that go? Would I let that go? And then finally: “when?”

Don’t expect you will be able to do this alone, take off your cape, sit down, take a breath and call an agent of change. You are not alone any more.

Laura McGee
www.LeaveStrong.com
www.Facebook.com/LeaveStrong

Laura McGee is a divorce Coach who supports women at every stage of their divorce process.

This scenario is common in many instances of folks with hoarding tendencies. The bed had only a very small area on which to sleep and the rest of it was covered with papers, books and other items.

The scariest part of this situation for me was that there were several electrical items including electric blankets and heating units also in and around the bed. Most were in disrepair and therefore a very dangerous fire hazard. I am very glad that the family intervened and helped this client move into a better living situation where she could get the care she needed.

This is what the bedroom looked like after addSpace,  my colleague Mishele Veiera and The College Hunks cleaned it up to be put on the market for sale.

I was invited to appear on CBS 10Connects News last year  as part of my Florida book tour. Here are a few tips from the news segment:

Hoarding is muck taken to the extreme. This is what I, as a Professional Organizer, have seen over the past 6 years and what has led me to write my new book How to Master Your Muck.

In my book How to Master Your Muck, this is how I address muck situations.

Like everyone else. I went through a period in my life where I had a lot of muck. Everyone has some type of muck in their life, even the most organized.

What is muck?

Anything that makes you feel stuck, unproductive or overwhelmed. Also:

1. Any old habits that no longer serve you
2. An over booked schedule
3. A closet that is too full to close the doors
4. Uncompleted projects

To help move forward it always help to let go of some of your possessions. It add space and automatically brings clarity to your situation.

How to Master Your Muck Tips for What to Let Go:

1. The item no longer serves a purpose in your current life
2. There is not enough room or space to store it
3. It requires more energy to keep than it gives

How to Master Your Muck Tips for What to Keep:

1. It serves a purpose
2. You have space to store it
3. You enjoy looking at it and it makes you happy

Why Master the Muck in Your Life?

1. It makes you feel good
2. Provides a sense of accomplishment
3. It allows you to live your purpose
4. It will pave the way to more prosperity

by

Margaret Harmon

There was once a woman who had trouble getting rid of anything she’d ever liked.  As a teenager, when she outgrew clothes, she put them in suitcases and saved them in the attic.  In her twenties, she rescued toasters, irons, vacuum cleaners, lamps, and Read the rest of this entry »