Monday, September 27, 2010

Getting In The Flow

Achieving flow? What does that mean to you? To me it means gaining momentum, getting beyond the beginning and feeling content where you are. Being in the flow is what makes projects and pursuits satisfying and enjoyable.

There are two ways to look at your complex tasks. It is a potential flow activity or is it a non-flow activity?  Knowing what types of projects have "flow" in your life is a beginning. Conversely, knowing what projects or efforts are usually non flowing may aid you in accepting the lack of flow.By acknowledging your activities this way, you can begin to shape and design flow diversity to your day or week.

On occasion your frequent flow activities may wane. This could be due to a block or external factors influencing your ability to achieve normal achievement or processes. Writer's block is a good example of when the "flow" goes astray.  Getting back into the flow is a topic for another post. Stay tuned.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Blank Books

Have you ever considered journal keeping or maintaining a notebook of ideas?

There are lots of "blank books" available to purchase and utilize as the keeper of your memories, dreams or aspirations. Using a book instead of a computer may be beneficial for those who process their thoughts while writing. The blank book is portable and does not need power or a battery to sustain itself. The "blank book" can be a great escape after spending hours at the computer screen. 

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Stuff That You Own

I have been thinking about stuff, getting prepared for my upcoming NSGCD teleclass. While some chronically disorganized people are likely to have an emotional attachment to their belongings and would find this exercise very difficult, those with normal organizational abilities might find it useful or thought provoking.  

One could use the categorizing concept of Hot or Cold - hot being more inclined to using or wanting it. Cold being more likely to be discarded.  You could also use the Love it,  Hate it approach. Loving it being a keep and hate it a toss. Another option would be the Numbers 1 - 5. One (1) being a keep it, and five (5) being a toss it. 


Those mid-value "warms" and "3's" are likely to be difficult, but to take it further - would they be among your take with you items if you left your environment due to an impending flood or raging wildfire approaching your neighborhood? 

Many years ago I read the story by T. Coraghessan Boyle (T C Boyles) - Filthy with Things. The New Yorker (February 15, 1993): 76-87., where a woman came in and worked to declutter a fully packed household  - and declared that her client's needed to clear out their home, get it inventoried and could only have 100 things brought back in.

What would your 100 "stuff" things be?

Would they be practical or creative?


Practical List
Bed
Table
4 chairs
2 Arm chair
2 Ottoman

Creative List

4 loved works of art
1 guitar
1 bottle of favorite perfume
5 favorite books

or would you put together a mix of both?

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

September - Green and Growing

Many years ago, a mentor of mine gave me a plant and said "Keep Green and Growing". This advice seems to speak to me especially at the start of each September. September, after all, is the month of sharpened pencils, fresh notebooks and the fresh start drive to learn something new.

Make education a part of your life by reading, exploring new ideas and trends. Sharpen your writing skills by evaluating your past written materials. Can you upgrade your writing or be more concise? Evaluation is as much a part of learning as is exploring new things.

This September, I plan to be learning more about how we acquire, hold on to stuff and let go of stuff. This is part of my getting prepared for a presentation in October on The Possession Cycle.

What are you planning on learning this month?


This is a revisit of a September 2007 post.