Life edit

"The first step in crafting the life you want is to get rid of everything you don’t.”

― Joshua Becker

Spring clean. Life edit. We do it with our wardrobes, our cupboards, notebooks, but how often do we do it with our thought processes?

It's something Anna Mosley refers to it as a "life audit", a good old clear out of all those thoughts and "things" we don't need in our lives. My "Breakthrough Day" experience with Anna will always stay with me. It was pivotal. And if you're unsure if coaching is for you, Anna offers a consultation beforehand.

https://annamosley.com

Imagine a possible wardrobe edit:

1. CLEAR OUT - the opportunity to understand what works and what doesn't & thinking about how much we hold onto unnecessarily

2. MOVE ON - no longer hanging on to those that don't serve you

3. CHERISH - attributing real value to positive memories and that which we need to remember

4. FRONT FOCUS- putting all of those things that are fundamentally you, right at the forefront so they speak to you loud and clear

It's a similar process with thoughts and behaviours.

Clearing out the things you know should go, the old and worn; Moving on from things and thoughts that don't fit; Cherish the pieces filled with good memories and important moments; Front focus all the pieces/skills you can rely on. There's a lot to be said for successful storage of thoughts and behaviours and knowing where to look for them and how to tap into them.

"Clutter is caused by a failure to return things to where they belong. Therefore, storage should reduce the effort needed to put things away, not the effort needed to get them out.”

― Marie Kondo

If we put the hard work into the sorting we spend less time tapping into those things that don't help us. Anna explains that we need to get rid of those thoughts and recurring patterns of behaviour that don't serve us too. We need to spend more time on positive behaviours that will help us time and time again remembering that what we own is different to any one else. The more time we spend on these the more effective we can be.

This is the power of coaching with Anna. We had a whole day of dedicated time, to reflect and explore the present and past clutter versus where we want to go and what we choose to take with us. In her 'Life Audit’ she demonstrates how every unhelpful behaviour is an unhelpful belief. Things click. I'd magnified situations and words to feel and believe the worst rather than de-magnify, step back and audit. Anna calls it "a reboot for the mind". Basically a good old clear out.

The power of self-reflection is immense. After several experiences I have come to realise more about who I am, what I want to do, and how I want to serve myself and others. I've learned some brilliant techniques from Anna that allow me to (mostly) never swerve. That clean closet/whiteboard/page of a notebook is mine to write anew.

Deep down I already knew I needed to stop the magnification, take more control, learn to keep being bold when I sense threat, trust my gut and only pursue that which feels right and aligns with my values. It was just about making the declutter happen and Anna's Breakthrough Day made that possible.

Going back to that wardrobe analogy. Somehow there's more post spring-clean clarity as you look at it and it's super easy to know what you're looking for. There's a sense of organisation that's arisen from the clutter. Some things are packed away not to be forgotten. Some things are left behind. And some just stand out speaking volumes about you. They serve.

Sometimes a spring clean is just what you need. Write your story from a different perspective, clean, clutter-free and purpose driven. And my word it makes a very big difference to where you're going. As you take a step back from that clutter free closet and take it all in, there's an overwhelming sense of satisfaction, mental well-being and a big dose of clarity. The trick is never letting that closet fill up unnecessarily in order to maintain ongoing consistency and clarity. Otherwise you have to repeat.

A good old fashioned list is a great starting point.

1. What do you need to "clear out"?

2. What's stopping you from "moving on"?

3. What is it about yourself you "cherish" and value

4. What is the one thing that makes you stand out, that perhaps you don't put at the "front focus" enough?

Once a year is not enough....

"Edit your life frequently and ruthlessly. It’s your masterpiece after all.”

― Nathan W. Morris

Be well.