Organizing is about making choices and creating habits. I recently talked about aiming for balance, not perfection. As much as I believe in this, there are times when I fall back into my old habits of perfectionism. When and why does this happen? It happens when life sends me a challenge. Ironically, my perfectionism, which is a lack of self-control, seems to reappear whenever I feel a need for greater control. This is when I revert back and focus on the things that I believe I can control. I guess it is my mind’s way of saying: parts of my life may be in chaos, but at least my towels are perfectly folded!
Marilyn Paul, Ph.D. said "When we lose a precious item, we tend to look in places outside of ourselves. We become reactive and do things that create an illusion of engagement.” In a sense, I believe I am looking to outside "things" to give myself an illusion of control, make me feel engaged in my life. But what I really need to do is focus on the inside – first, to understand what is really going on and then to focus on my goals. Only by looking inside myself and drawing on my strengths will I then be able to regain control over the choices I make in my life.
The lesson here: there will be times when life throws you a curveball and you will slip back into old habits. That’s life. But again, it is important to remember that organization is about making choices. And it is about being reasonable and flexible when making these choices. Choices are one thing you can always control. And choices can be positive or negative. Focus on making positive ones.
How do you get back on track? You remember what is truly important, remember your goals and remember that Your life is about Your choices. Shift those bad habits into the choices that achieve your goals and allow you to take back control of your life.
