AwakeningBy: Janet L. HallWaking up to chaos and clutter can instantly drain you ofyour energy and put your spirit in a foul mood, even causingyou to become depressed.As a professional organizer, I'm ... AwakeningBy: Janet L. HallWaking up to chaos and clutter can instantly drain you ofyour energy and put your spirit in a foul mood, even causingyou to become depressed.As a professional organizer, I'm often asked, * Where do Istart? * I always suggest one of two areas, your bedroom oryour important home or office files. Many have disagreed, stating that they would prefer to startwith a room that others may see when visiting.But I'm here to tell you, don't worry about those areas... yet. My saying is, * you can drop by anytime to visit me but if youwant to visit my house to see how clean it is, make anappointment! * (there is a difference between clean, neat,and organized, but that's another article ).Organizing and cleaning those areas will only make yourSpirit soar temporarily. Those areas will NOT feed yourSpirit in the way it needs to be feed in the morning, BEFOREyou get out of bed! (unless you sleep in one of those areas).So why not start decluttering and * OverHalling * the room inwhich you awake every morning? Take care of you boudoirfirst! It's the first room you see in the morning and the lastroom you see at night.Your bedroom can set the stage for your day and how yourSpirit will feel, react, and cope throughout the rest of the day.EDITORS TIP: After reading this article, place it next to yourbed with a pencil and before you get out of bed reread andanswer the following:Now, look around you. What do you see? Chaos and clutteror calm and organization?What beauty can a new morning bring you? What is yourvision of your day?Listen. What do you hear? Bickering, * Can't find....*, orlaughter and a birds song?Start this new day by listening to nature outside yourwindow. Sing, whistle, hum, or play music that lifts yourspirit and refreshes. (I sing to myself, * You've got to wakeup every morning with a smile on your face and show theworld all the love in your heart...Carole King)What do you smell? Dirty socks, moldy * stuff * or a freshcut lawn, sun dried sheets, or the fragrance of flowers?Inhale and infuse yourself with power for the day with freshclean scents around you. A scented candle, fresh flowers onyour nightstand, scented soaps, lotions, or oils.What do you feel? Overwhelmed, depressed, drained, orrejuvenated and renewed?Renew and elevate your Spirit by embracing the day uponwaking, take a big stretch, read an affirmation, your spiritualbook, or a daily inspiration. Pray or meditate.Write down what you would like to see, hear, smell, and feelwhen you first awake. What do you have to do to feed yoursenses and your Spirit?When you start clearing the clutter out of your senses, youwill begin to become open and aware to receiving thosethings that can feed your body, soul, and spirit.If you feed your spirit and your mind upon waking, you'll daywill run smoother. You'll become more aware of what'sgoing on around you and within you.Alan Cohen, author of A Deep Breath of Life, writes in one ofhis daily inspirations for heart-centered living:*...Each day is like a life unto itself, and so the first minutesof each day are the formative minutes. We must takespecial care to sound the keynote that will set the tone forour entire day. How do you begin your day? Do you spendit with God, in peace, in attunement with yourself? Or doyou pop out of bed and immediately dive into the busy-nessof the day, postponing your soul's needs in favor of lesseractivities? *He goes on to say, * Take at least the first 20 minutes ofyour day to meditate, pray, read an inspiring book, practiceyoga or tai chi, walk in the woods, sing, dance, or engage inany practice that links you to a higher power. Establish yourcenter, and the day that follows will reflect clarity, strength,and love. Any time you spend with Spirit will be returnedthroughout the day. Even a few seconds of closing youreyes and remembering the presence of love will make a bigdifference. At the end of your day, be with God beforeentering sleep. The formative minutes will build theconsciousness that makes a productive life. *If you'd like to learn to mediate or need help in this area,John Edward, author of Understanding Your Angels andMeeting Your Guides, has a wonderful audio tape with someamazing exercises.I love the mediating exercise in which Mr. Edwards teaches;how to * breath in Universal positive energy and force outany negative energy you are holding in your body. Givingyour body permission to surrender your negative energy.I'd like to give you permission to rid yourself of all thenegative clutter and stuff in your bedroom. If something reminds you of how much weight you'vegained, get rid of it!If something makes you sad or unhappy, get rid of it!If something brings back bad memories, get rid of it!If something makes you feel dated, get rid of it!If something is broken (you'll never use it again or will costmore to fix then replace), or irreparable, get rid of it!If something from your past would embarrass your lovedones after you gone, get rid of it!If something doesn't mean anything to you any longer, getrid of it!Wall by wall, inch by inch, surface area by surface area, allthe clutter and stuff that you've STUFFED into the one placeyou should be able to go to to relax, reflect, make love,sleep, and meet your Spirit in the morning can be sortedthrough using my TEASER technique. (For a FREE copy ofmy TEASER, click: mailto:[email protected]?subject=tohaveclutter ) This isan autoresponder; you will receive the TEASER via emailwithin seconds of hitting the send key.Nine Additional Steps to Get Started:1. Decide how much time you have or are willing todedicate to creating your own personal paradise.2. Set a timer for the length of time you have set aside todeclutter.3. Take the phone off the hook.4. Turn off the computer and TV.5. Don't answer the door.6. If you have children, make sure they have an activity todo or have someone watch over or play with them (or maybethey can help ).7. Stay focused by NOT leaving the room.8. Do NOT bring anything else into the room you'redecluttering that doesn't belong there.9. Do NOT run out and buy storage items until AFTER youhave sorted through your stuff!Remember it's not about being neat; anyone can straightenor tidy up. It's about utilizing your bedroom and space forwhat it's meant to do - a place to rest the soul and Spirit.For more Organizing Tips and Exercises for your MasterBedroom, click http://www.overhall.com/masterbedroom.htm Look to this day!For it is life, the very life or life.In its brief courseLie all the verities and realities ofYour existence:The bliss of growth;The glory of action;The splendor of achievement;For yesterday is but a dream,And tomorrow is only a vision;But today, well lived, makes everyYesterday a dream of happiness,And every tomorrow a vision of hope.Look well, therefore, to this day!--Kalidasa (Translated from the Sanskrit)Look for ways the Universe spoils you today and everyday.For additional help: The Organizing and Feng Shui Wizard,Janet L. Hall, FSII has a FREE newsletter, OverHall IT! athttp://www.overhall.com/newsletter.htm and manyorganizational products for your office, home, and computerat http://www.overhall.com/products.htmJanet is a Professional Organizer, Certified Feng ShuiPractitioner, Speaker, and Author and can help you regaincontrol of your life, your time, your stuff, and yourenvironment. Copyright 20001 by OverHall ConsultingP.O. Box 263, Port Republic, MD 20676All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce, copy, ordistribute so long as article is kept intact, this copyright notice and fullinformation about contacting the author is attached Article Tags: Those Areas, It!if Something Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com ABOUT THE AUTHOR For additional help: The Organizing and Feng Shui Wizard,Janet L. Hall, FSII has a FREE newsletter, OverHall IT! athttp://www.overhall.com/newsletter.htm and manyorganizational products for your office, home, and computerat http://www.overhall.com/products.htmJanet is a Professional Organizer, Certified Feng ShuiPractitioner, Speaker, and Author and can help you regaincontrol of your life, your time, your stuff, and yourenvironment. Article Tags: Those Areas, It!if Something Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com