I'd love to hear your thoughts, insights and understandings. deb@portagecoach.com

I've been decluttering in July. You see, August and September are my favorite fishing months and I've got a few fishing trips to Canada coming up. So while most of you were at the beach, on vacation, camping, boating, and generally taking summer head on, July was my month to make changes in preparation for play. This year I decluttered myself and the house. I took a 5-day detoxification teleclass from Coach Mary Kay DuChene. I've been doing detoxification eating for years but Mary Kay took my habits to a whole new level and I'm definitely feeling the difference.

Next, I grabbed Karen Kingston's book, Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui and I tackled the house. Last time I read Karen's book, it was February, 2001. It was time to read it again! I'm happy to report that after the month of July, I'm living lighter than ever!

Here are a couple of past articles on the topic of Living Light.
 

Living Light

Clearing Clutter
I live in what I have always considered a pretty clutter-free home. But after reading Karen Kingston's book “Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui,” I've realized I can still do with less. I started last week. The little clutter I have already cleared has had a surprising affect on me. Karen is ruthless in her suggestions (empty the trash every day!) but gentle and convincing in her approach. I have managed to give away and throw away several boxes. I truly didn't believe I had that much! The things I didn't toss, I started using again.

Karen defines clutter as:

• Things you don't love
• Things that are untidy and disorganized
• Too many things in too small a space
• Anything unfinished

The problem with all this clutter is what she calls “stuck energy.” As clutter accumulates, energy around your space slows. And as that energy slows, more clutter accumulates. The result? You become what you see; tired, confused, in disharmony and disorganized. Your life is literally put on hold. There's just no space for anything new.

Here's the good news. By clearing clutter, you change the possibilities in your life. On Sunday, I cleaned out my jewelry. On Monday, I received a totally unexpected gift in the mail, a beautiful silver bracelet. No, it wasn't my birthday. The giver just thought I’d like it. And I do! Hmmm. I think I’ll clean out the garage this week.

Time and Space
Often people tell me they want to “find” more time; more time in their day, week, month, year and life.  The usual approach to this dilemma is to start structuring and organizing our day. We think that by becoming more efficient, structured and focused, somehow our days will get more organized and we will find the time to do the things we love.

Here's a different approach. Try focusing on space instead of time. Take a look around you right now. Is your space cluttered? How does the office desk look, the bedroom closet, the kitchen cupboard, the dreaded basement, your car, your head? Space we can do something about. As my space becomes less cluttered, time opens up for me. No time to create space you say? Delegate it! Hire it out! Through space comes clarity. Through clarity comes better actions and decision. Through better actions and decisions comes time.

Time and Space are directly related. Why not create some space in your life today and see time magically open up for you?
 

Quotes

“Eliminate something superfluous from your life. Break a habit. Do something that makes you feel insecure.” ~Piero Ferrucci

“You can live to be a hundred if you give up all the things that make you want to live to be a hundred.” ~Allen

“Barn's burnt down...now I can see the moon.” ~Masahide
 

Resources for You

Some Good Reading
Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston

The Little Money Bible by Stuart Wilde. In this short read, Wilde gives us ten Laws of Abundance that are easy to understand and quick to initiate. If you're taking on the challenge of clearing clutter, this book is a great complementary read as Wilde reminds us that abundance is our birthright!

Just For Fun
"Bugging You" Just because...

A Note About My Recommendations
I provide links in this newsletter to products and services I am offering or I have personally found valuable. With some of them, I have an affiliate agreement. If you are ever disappointed with one of these recommendations, please let them and me know. If they don't make it right, I will.

Peace and much love
Deb
 

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