“Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.”
-Eric Fromm



















"There is a power for good in the universe and you can use it."
-Dr. Ernest Holmes

Self-Compassion - A Stepping Stone to Healing

In the book Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind, author Kristin Neff, PhD, writes that we realize improved health and happiness when we convert self-criticism to self-compassion. The former keeps us mired in mess and the latter releases us to a feeling of empowered motivation.

Neff suggests three steps to self-compassion:

1.  Mindfulness - Be aware of what you are feeling in the moment. Identify the feeling(s).
2.  Common humanity - Realize that you are not alone.  Remember that everyone has their own battles.
3.  Kindness - Decide to treat yourself with kindness instead of harsh judgment.

Research shows that self-compassion promotes happiness and health, specifically: lowered rates of anxiety and sadness; improvement in competence, problem solving, the ability to learn and wisdom; greater resilience, social connectedness, initiative and curiosity; better physical health and psychological comfort (including happiness, optimism, autonomy, life satisfaction and emotional intelligence).

However, implementing self-compassion may not be easy as it means transforming a pattern of thought and behavior. Clutter To Comfort is able to help people bridge this transformative process.

Willpower

Willpower can work for us or against us, depending on our beliefs. Research shows that the harder we try at something, the more exhausted our neural circuits become, undermining our attention and motor control and ultimately our motivation. But studies conducted at Stanford University discovered that when one has a sincere belief in unlimited willpower, they are much more successful at overcoming procrastination, reducing negative behaviors, and meeting their goals. The point is that it is our beliefs that strongly influence our outcomes.

 What is helpful to empower our beliefs?

1. Set a realistic goal - one you can believe in for yourself. Write it down.
2. Create your own unique action plan - be specific with steps, target completion dates and rewards for success. Write this down.
3. Daily affirm through meditation or prayer your ability to meet your goals. Visualize your goals met.

Clutter To Comfort can help you begin this process and work with you to monitor its progress, keeping you on track in the fulfillment of your desires.

Affirmations

People who clutter are usually accustomed to pounding themselves with negative messages. These do nothing to help instill confidence, but rather continue the mental trappings which keep one stuck in their current behaviors. It can be helpful to, instead, begin a neurolinguistic reprogramming of the mind toward success with messages of affirmation.  Depending on one’s spiritual life, prayer and meditation work well.

Examples of affirmations:

I am kind to myself in thought, word and deed.
I am capable of positive change and I am making positive change.
I am moving in the right direction with every step I take.
I feel spiritually aligned when I live according to my values.
I am healing and feeling better about myself and my life.
This space is becoming cleaner, organized and functional.
My house is becoming a home.
I enjoy how my life is better organized as my space is better organized.
I am safer and happier as I create comfort in my environment. 

 

More Advice:
What is Clutter?
How to Get Started
Shopping Guidelines
Helping Others