Clearing The clutter and counting your blessings

This past year has been one heck of a journey! It is hard to believe we are already coming up on the holiday season! When I think through all the things that have happened since Thanksgiving of last year I am blown away. It has been a year of unprecedented territory for me in so many ways: living by myself for the first time, a new relationship with new dynamics, COVID and navigating a social new normal, finishing a master's degree and starting a new master's program, getting a full-time job in insurance... WOW. I will be writing another post about thankfulness in a few days, but I will say it here: Despite the craziness of the world right now, I have so many things to be thankful for.

One of those things that I am grateful for during this season is that I have come to learn how much I love organizing and creating space. I love helping people gain back a sense of peace and control over their life, and this happens both in physical spaces but also in our mental spaces. How are you utilizing your time and cultivating a life rooted in your values?

Part of what I love about organizing and the process of unraveling what matters to people is what I learn by doing it. I still struggle to find my own peace and balance each day. It is hard work! The world moves so quickly, people have lots of expectations, balancing work and social circles is challenging, social media makes it seem like everybody else has it all together, and I, personally, need my sleep. Learning how to find that sweet spot and feel empowered in our lives is not easy, but it is so worth the effort.

Over the past few months, I have helped clean out and organize my mom's garage and attic and also helped clean out my boyfriend's entire house from the garage to his kids' rooms. It has been a blast and both of them have expressed how much lighter they feel when they gain back their space! My boyfriend now has the physical (and mental) space to project and create in a space that before felt overwhelming and limiting.

And there is more. All of this goes beyond just organizing a space. Having an organized/clean space helps ease and declutter the mind. You gain back mental space to think about things that really matter and get clear on the direction of your dreams.

As I have been reflecting on my own work-life balance and needs, I realize I would love to help people find this mental freedom. If you or anyone you know would like help organizing or de-cluttering a room or rooms in your home or apartment, please let me know!

I am also looking to start a small cohort of people in January who want to spend 6 weeks with me going over various aspects of our lives together to find more peace, balance, and joy! These 6 weeks would include a deep dive into what motivates you, what values you live by, goal setting, organizing/clearing your physical spaces and encouraging you in whatever area of your life you are striving for change.

More details to come, but please let me know if you or anyone you know is interested!

I hope that everyone has a lovely and warm Thanksgiving!

Emily Clark (email me at emily@ourbeautifulmessylives.com)

Controlling the chaos

Everybody feels like their life is a mess sometimes. Even the people who appear to have their lives together on social media and always post beautiful photos have places and things they are hiding from view. Nobody is going to get it perfect all of the time and perfection should not be the goal.

The goal is balance and peace of mind.

The kitchen will get dirty, laundry will pile up, and the calendar will be bulging with activities and deadlines. The question is not whether your life a mess or not; The question is does the mess control you or do you control the chaos?

What I have learned the past few months is that simple and small changes can make a huge difference. All it takes is stepping back and finding what is working for you and letting go of what isn't.

Here are a few simple tips to start:

1. Think through your values and what matters to you - are you living a life that is aligned with your ideal self?

2. Create an hour each week to go through loose papers and clutter in your home -- I love this blog on having a "Sunday Basket" (https://organize365.com/the-sunday-basket)

3. Start small -- what step can you take today to move you in the direction you want to go?

4. Remember, the goal is not perfection, but it is a sense of balance and peace of mind

As the year is coming to a close, I have some major things coming down the pipe-line! Stay tuned!

What We Can Choose

These past few months have been... well, you know... unpredictable, unprecedented, and unfamiliar.

2020 will go down as one heck of a year.

Personally, I have gone through a whirlwind of emotions and self-discovery over the past few months. COVID disrupted my "normal" pace of life, slowed everything down, and allowed me time to reset my priorities and rest. Yet, these past few months have also created new opportunities and opened doors that I could not have predicted six months ago, and probably would have found rather amusing.

Since March, I have become a licensed insurance agent, started a full-time counseling degree, and straddled two different jobs. I realize how privileged I have been during this uncertain season, and I do not want to take that for granted. These past few months will probably define and shape each of us and our futures in profound, unique, and significant ways. One consistent theme that has been on my mind a lot lately and I hear being thrown around in conversation is self-care and rest.

Typically, I live on over-drive. If you look at my calendar for the coming weeks, it is apparent. Yet, even though my calendar is bulging, I am working to incorporate the lessons COVID has taught me. My goal is to integrate self-care and rest into the fabric of my time. COVID has taught me to live in the present moment, slow down, re-examine where I spend my time, and recognize what matters; I am by no means an expert at any of this yet. Just ask my boyfriend, who deals with my constant ups and downs, and it will be evident that I still have a lot to learn. But, hey, I'm trying!

I have also seen how COVID has created space for other people in my life. My mother, a full-time physician, has finally found time to cook and spend quality time with my nephew, both of which would have been difficult to prioritize when balancing regular work schedules and activities. For her, self-care and rest look and feel different, but we have both started to explore new spaces and rhythms during these past few months. Part of the process is learning and trying new things to see what feels most life-giving and refreshing for you! Be gentle with yourself.

I, personally, am learning how I need to unplug, recharge, and create space for myself. Every. Single. Day.

I am fortunate enough that I have been able to escape the city and get some fresh country air, but even when that is not possible, I have learned the value of taking daily walks in my neighborhood! Finding what feels right for you and what works in your day is what matters most. There is no perfect system! Play around with it. :)

What have you been learning this season?

What does self-care look like in your day to day life?

Where do you get energy and recharge?

How can you cultivate rest into your daily habits?

Please comment below or let me know if there is something you want me to explore more in future posts!