Other people seem to do things so much easier than we do. They accomplish goals with aplomb. Or as Judith Kolberg puts it, they have a way of getting “from here to there” with ease while we Messies struggle to finish up multiple half done projects leaving the pieces cluttering up our homes and offices.

But why the difference?

Judith Kolberg, expert on chronic disorganization, shared some of the reasons in a recent teleclass with me. In a nutshell she suggests that those who accomplish goals easily do so because they can:

• Organize in an efficient and systematic way.
• Can plan and achieve a goal.
• Have a working memory

Among the suggestions we discussed is to get outside help when necessary, write and refer to steps crossing them off as you go, posting priority goals in a prominent place until achieved, and, of course, using the Messies Anonymous battle cry habit of STOW AS YOU GO!

(See Judith’s article available on SquallPress.net)

For more help in accomplishing goals, go to www.messies.com and sign up for a daily encouragement from me, Sandra Felton, The Organizer Lady^®.

“God give us the grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed; Courage to change the things that should be changed; And the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.”
Reinhold Niebuhr (Original Serenity Prayer)

Let’s look at this prayer, the original from which the shorter version used by most Anonymous groups was adapted. Let’s start from the end and work back to the beginning.

In this prayer we ask for three things:

1. First we need WISDOM of discernment as we look at our struggle with clutter. What actions should we take? What should we accept as a part of the situation which will not change, at least for now?

2. Perhaps most of all we need COURAGE to change the things in our life that bog us down. Sometimes that means changing ourselves. Concentrate on those things that we can alter.

3. Finally we need GRACE or SERENITY to accept things that are out of our control. Don’t waste time and energy on these.