Creating Organization in Your Relationships
Clutter comes in many forms. It is more than just a closet full of stuff. Relationships can bring some clutter and we can add some clutter to them. Relationships have an impact on all areas of our lives. Much of what is going on inside projects externally. It is time to get some order and have less chaos in our relationships.
Recognize what clutter looks like.
Clutter is anything you feel negatively about. It can be feelings, thoughts or words. These could be inside you or have come from other people.
Focus on high priority relationships.
To truly get a handle on the relationships we have, we have to determine the most important ones. It is necessary to give them an order of priority. You only have so much time and not everyone is going to be at the top of the priority scale. Friendships are great but depending on where you are in life they may be down in the priority scale. That is not to say you can’t have them, it is to say that this is a place you will devote less time and energy. Perhaps, this is something you can work on by getting together to catch up once a month or however that fits into your life.
- TASK: Write down all of the current relationships you have and assign them a priority, 1 being highest and the other numbers subsequent priorities.
Take an inventory.
Go through your lowest number in terms of priority, take an honest assessment of where you feel that relationship is for you.
- Is it great?
- Does it need work?
- Are you the one who needs to do some work?
- Is it the other person?
- Why is the relationship in need of work?
Time.
Time is most often the biggest part of a relationship. How much time and what is the quality of time being spent on the relationship? Do you need to make time?
Be your best self.
When we are in a relationship it can be very easy to be complacent and dare I say, lazy. I want you to ask yourself this question. Am I taking the “take me as I am” approach or am I genuinely working to be at my highest level in this relationship. What steps do I need to take to be at my highest level?
- Take care of yourself: Good quality sleep, healthy eating and exercise enhance your ability to be in a good frame of mind. Make adjustments to these areas one at a time.
- Have support- Do you have a trained Professional to help you with any mental struggles?
- Seek God-Do you pray? Is a relationship with God important to you? God is the ultimate healer and can help you get to that incredible version of yourself that he created you to be.
- Declutter any bad habits from your life:
- Bad attitude-practice gratitude
- Unhealthy habits-replace with the healthy version (Ex: if you’ve become a couch potato, get in a walk before you sit down. This is good for the whole family!)
- You really love to shop, it gets you fired up when you get a deal. How about shopping for those less fortunate with your skill? This way, you have less stuff and your talent blesses someone else!)
Relationships are stronger when the people in them are healthy. Likewise is also true. Clutter is born of unhealthy connections. This clutter starts internally and works its way out into the external spaces of our homes, jobs, other relationships. There is no reason to live unhealthy once you have the information needed to create order. As soon as you get on the other side of the clutter you will find a whole new outlook on life. The fun part is that there is this domino effect that carries over into everything.
