Ok, so I've been decluttering my life consistently for 3 years now.
However, that's not to say that I didn't have to face any hurdles or roadblocks along the
way.
For example, decluttering my mind was particularly hard for me because I struggled with the bad
habit of holding onto things a bit longer than I should have, plus I'm a certified overthinker
at times.
But as you can see through me documenting my journey through all of this, I've managed
to push through it.
I'm continuing to push through it as a matter of fact.
Or should I say, I'm cementing my own path in life that's directing me over those hurdles
and around the roadblocks.
Now I'm able to do this because I've figured out how to tap into a realm of self-motivation
that I didn't know I had.
I was feeding this internal flame that burns in the belly of my soul, with a fuel that's
also sourced internally.
This drive to reinvent myself, to live more intentionally and purposefully.
In a way, this deep rooted self motivation feels like a super power.
Tapping into it gives you a level of control you've never felt.
A sense of direction you didn't realize you had.
And a consistent action plan that seems to never run out of steam.
See my goal for this conversation is to give you some actionable steps you can take and
apply towards defining your own path that's tree lined by self motivation for intentional
living, purposeful living and decluttering.
Now to do that, we're going to break this conversation up into four sections.
First we're going to define why we struggle with self-motivation.
Then we'll talk about breaking through mental blocks, finding a big enough why and lastly
some actionable steps that we can take and apply to this journey we're travelling.
Ok, self-motivation, as I mentioned earlier feels like a super power.
And tapping into it, changes the game completely.
Now this motivation we seek is something that thrives and flows outwardly from in here.
Our heart, our soul, our gut.
In a since it's part of our foundation for consistent action towards anything we do in
life.
For example let's take training our bodies, a daily action I take consistently in life
because I'm motivated to do so.
And that motivation is fueled by my core reason why I'm choosing to maintain an active lifestyle.
Now with that said, that brings me to why we struggle with self-motivation in the first
place.
And for me, I believe it's due to one of two reasons.
Number one, we don't have a big enough why.
Simply put, we're attempting to feed our internal flame with the wrong fuel.
We're seeking continued motivation or deep rooted motivation in others or in pinterest
boards, rather than in ourselves.
Number two, we're facing some sort of mental block.
There's this mental clutter we've yet to deal with.
And this clutter is crowding and clouding our mental state.
Now when our mind isn't with it 100% it's makes it extremely difficult to build any
sort of momentum or motivation, externally.
Alright, let's talk about breaking through mental blocks and mental clutter for a second,
because as I mentioned earlier decluttering my mind was particularly hard for me and being
a certified overthinker at times didn't make this process any easier.
But I managed to push through it using an interesting three step process: Uncover, Remove,
Restructure.
Uncover simply means to define or determine what it is that's crowding and clouding your
mind.
So taking a step back and observe yourself.
Your habits, your routines, your values.
What is it that's causing self-motivation to be challenging for you.
Is it, comparison, is it self-doubt, uncertainty about this journey you're travelling as whole.
What is it?
Uncover what that thing is for you.
Remove means to take away its power and ability to control and clutter you mind.
So whatever that things is for you, that you've uncovered.
Now you have to kill it from your life.
Take away its power.
For example, let's say comparison is something you've uncovered as being a mental block for
you in your life.
How do you take away its power?
By understanding the effect comparison is having on your life.
See comparison will constantly keep you in a state of flux, panic or on edge let's say
because no matter what there is always going to be someone who is better skilled, "further
ahead", or seemingly has a more aesthetically pleasing home.
But see if we allow comparison to be at the forefront of our actions then we'll quickly
find ourselves on a hamster wheel in life without much substance or meaning behind those
actions.
Restructure is where things start to get interesting, because this is where we start to change the
way we think.
The way we respond and the way we act.
Using the comparison example again, we can restructure the way we think, respond and
act by changing the way we view and think about our surroundings.
And I actually talked about this idea in a video I did titled "In Case You're Feeling
Behind In Life" where I use the childhood story of the Tortoise and the Hare and I use
it as a metaphor for how we think and then how we interpret how we're acting, so I'll
leave a link to that video down below so you can check it out.
So how do we find our why? and how do we ensure that it's the right why.
Now I've talked before about the importance of having honest conversations with ourselves.
And for me, I believe this is the perfect time to do that.
See you find your big enough why, through self-reflection, self-honesty and internal
conversations that just hit differently.
And those conversations should include asking ourselves a specific question, in a format
that also hits differently.
Let me explain what I mean.
There are two different ways we can phrase the questions:
Number one is, "what will this give me that I don’t currently have?"
Number two is simply "why?"
Here's an example.
So...
I think I want to practice minimalism and declutter my life.
Ok... why?
Because part of me feels like I have too much stuff and owning less is really starting to
interest me a little bit.
Why?
Well... bro to be honest, I'm starting to feel stressed out and it's not fun.
Well why are you feeling so stressed?
Because I'm starting to feel like I don't know who I am.
I'm overwhelmed.
The little things a frustrating me and it never seems like I have enough time for me.
And you think decluttering is going to help you with that?
Yes, absolutely!
Why?
I guess, so I can finally relieve myself of this stress and start enjoying my life.
Plus it gives me a chance to discover who I really am.
Can I have your shoes?
Super simple example, but I think you get the point.
Basically what I'm saying is we have to ask questions during those conversations with
ourselves that dig deeper than surface level.
And really start to pull at our core so we can recognize the why that's really our reason
why.
Alright now once our mind is clear and we have our solid why, a big enough why.
We can start implementing some actionable steps towards building and maintaining self-motivation
when it comes to this journey we're traveling, specifically decluttering our lives.
Number one, is envision what a clutter free life looks like for you.
When you know and can see what you want to accomplish and also know why you're doing
it, it makes it so much easier to not only figure out the how, but to also maintain motivation
throughout the process.
Number two is find ways to make it fun.
It's hard to stay motivated to doing anything in life if you straight up don't enjoy it
or find it fun.
So when it comes to decluttering find a way to make the journey enjoyable and fun.
You can turn it into a game for yourself, something you can track and create rewards
for.
Or you turn it into a family event of storytelling and reminiscing, if you're going through boxes
of old photos or items of a lost loved ones.
Either way find a why to make this experience feel less like a burden and more of an enjoyable
and fun experience.
Number three is set realistic expectations and goals.
Don't try to declutter your life at lightning speed for the sake of trying to keep up with
someone else's simple life, or because you think it's going to change your life overnight.
It's not and it's not worth energy either.
Remember this journey is not a race and progress for you, regardless of how small, or slow
moving that is, is still progress.
Again when you know what you're trying to accomplish and why you're doing it.
The how, the motivation and how fast it progresses will take care of itself.
Number four is find an accountability partner.
Find someone to travel this journey with you and use each other to help you stay focused.
Now this person can be a friend, a spouse or partner, it can even be someone in this
community we have here.
The comment section is always full of positivity and stories and I actually love interacting
with everyone in the comment section as well, so if you're looking for some added accountability
definitely comment below and get connected.
Now if you're new here and you haven't subscribed, make sure you hit that subscribe button down
below and tap the bell so you'll get notified and become apart of this growing community
as well.
Number five is avoid distractions.
Now tell me if I'm lying about this.
Any time you want to avoid something you know you should be doing, suddenly everything else
around you becomes more appealing and interesting.
You know I should be sorting through that box that has been sitting in the corner for
months now but for some reason I'm rearranging the furniture in my home because I don't want
to deal with that box, so let me see how I can hide it with this plant or this table.
See we have to avoid distractions, both physically and mentally if we want to make progress with
any project on hand or journey we're traveling in life.
I hope I shared something that resonated with you and if I did give this a thumbs up for
me.
If you're looking more encouragement around decluttering or this journey as a whole I
have a complete playlist and other videos I'll link to down below as well.
Always remember to stay true to you and I'll see you in the next one.
Peace!