compliments of
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creating sustainable results in growth and performance
Clutter: a tribute to indecision:
If you think that the chronic accumulation of clutter is
nothing more than the problem of a disorderly or overextended person, I have
a surprise for you: clutter isn’t a problem for you. Clutter solves a
problem for you. Clutter in the background gives the illusion that you’re
surrounded by projects just waiting to be done. It makes you feel that life
is full of potential. The things that crowd your corners and shelves and
closets may look like junk to other people, but to you every single item
represents opportunity.
A magazine article could give you information that would
change your life. That broken near-antique chair would look beautiful in
your living room if only you had the time to get it fixed. It also might be
worth serious money. What if you just threw all those things out? It would
be such a loss of opportunity. You could be sorry later on.
So why don’t you read the magazines or find out where to
fix the chair? Because you’re too busy? Don’t believe it. The fact is,
reading that magazine and researching that chair are very far down on your
list of priorities, and if you don’t believe me, ask yourself a question:
what do you do when you have a free hour?
The answer is written all over your house. You use that
time for anything besides getting rid of clutter. No, being too busy isn’t
your reason for keeping clutter in your life. Uncomfortable though it may be
to have so much unfinished work surrounding you, you keep those magazines
and broken antiques because all that potential feels nice. Now take one more
step in your thinking and what you’ll find is a tiny but powerful fear of
commitment.
Clutter is like a modern sculpture you’ve assembled all
around you, a monument that pays tribute to indecision. With all those
projects waiting you can’t possibly choose anything important to do. Clutter
may be loaded with potential but it kills any chance of setting up an easel
and painting or starting your own home business. Not only is there no floor
space, there’s never any time. After all, you have to take care of all this
clutter first, don’t you?
Now why would anyone stop themselves from making a
commitment to something they might love to do? After all, the people you
envy most are those who have done just that. Well, for one thing, you might
not know yet what you want to do. And for another, commitment changes your
life. That’s scary for everybody. You’ll be getting all kinds of help for
that as you go through these lessons, and by the end of this book, you’ll
begin to do it.
But first, you have to make room for that wonderful day.
What makes clutter so tenacious?
