3 Forms of Clutter That Block Clarity
Three Forms of Clutter That Block Clarity
The first step in setting any goal or making any dream a reality is clarity. Because if we don’t know what we really want, it’s hard to make a plan to get it.
I find this a lot when I start working with new coaching clients, and it has been true for me too. When I felt stuck in a life and job that I had outgrown, the main problem was that I didn’t even know what I wanted.
I had been living life in a default mode for so long, doing all the things I “should” do, that I had never even taken a pause long enough to consider the question, “What do I want my life to be like?” “What do I really want?”
And I find this to be true for so many of my clients. Setting a goal seems simple in theory. Here’s how we think it is supposed to look:
1. Define Goal 2. Make it specific 3. Set a time frame 4. List the action steps in order. 5. Take action
But this doesn’t work for most people who don’t even know what they want.
The clarity part is essential. If you don’t have clarity about what you really want, the entire goal setting process becomes super stressful and overwhelming, and it can make you feel more stuck than ever before.
So before you set any goal, I recommend getting as much clarity as possible in your life, and then it will be easy.
And one of the best ways to get clarity is to start by getting rid of all the things you don’t want. So here is a list of 10 forms of clutter that you may be carrying around that may be blocking your clarity:
1. “Shoulds”
Most people live their lives in “shoulds.” A should is anything and everything we tell ourselves we should do, even though our heart is not completely invested.
2. Tolerations
What are you tolerating that you wish you didn’t have to tolerate? Is it true that you have to tolerate these things? Tolerations could be something as simple as allowing someone to constantly interrupt you when you’re trying to concentrate. Or it could be something like a dim lightbulb that you’ve been meaning to change but haven’t had the time. What have you been tolerating that you wish you didn’t have to?
3. Ambivalence
Ambivalence creates a lot of clutter. We all know what we love and we know what we hate. But what about those things that are just ok? If you just got rid of all the ambivalence, what would your life look like? This could be anything from a sweater that you keep in your closet because you don’t hate it but you don’t love it either, so you hold onto it “just in case.” Or it could be all of the ambivalent people you stay connected to on social media just because you have known them at some point in your life, but you aren’t necessarily friends. All this ambivalence takes up your energy, and it takes up your space.
Imagine for a second, that you 1. Only do what you want to do, not what you should do. 2. Stop tolerating everything you think you have to tolerate, and 3. Choose only to give your energy and attention to what you love rather than the ambivalent, wishy-washy stuff. How would you feel? Would you have more clarity and less clutter?
If you’d like my help finding clarity in your life so that you can create the life you want, I highly recommend scheduling a consultation with me. Here’s the link to book one.