Spring Cleaning and Failure to Launch

Let me preface this by saying, I’m sharing this for you to use, when and if you feel yourself wanting to do something and you’re just not. It’s very normal to feel resistance right now, but the truth is, there was resistance before.

So, this is a good time to see where you were already experiencing resistance to something you know you want, but just aren’t allowing or creating. If you already had this happening in your life, chances are, it is now being magnified.

Notice it. Don’t judge it. Judging shuts you down. Like immediately. Curiosity opens you up to see, hear and learn what you might not have seen, heard or learned without stopping to ask deeper questions.

Curiosity is a compassionate way of asking hard questions and being ok with the answers, without judging them.

Lately, I’ve been waking up every day and looking at my closet. I can’t really avoid it because I need to go into it every day. So there’s that. For months, I’ve had the thought, “I want to clear this out. I want to donate everything that no longer 'sparks joy' for me and create space."

Then I walk away and do the things that I actually would rather be doing, which is anything else than clear this closet out! Ha!

I don’t operate on “should’s” because I believe they are based on shame and often rooted in someone else’s idea of what must be done. However, in this case, I actually WANT TO CLEAR THIS SPACE OUT. I’m just not doing it.

So, since I’m not going anywhere and I know I want to clear this clutter and I’m clear I want to make this choice, what process can I use to stop procrastination and begin?

First, I’m checking in and dialoging with the resistance I feel.

I’m asking myself what am I dreading about this project?

This is what came forward.

“It feels hard, lonely, boring and hard. Lots of hard." Ha!

Ok, what feels hard about it?

“Too much time spent doing this, when there are more important things to do and things I am passionate about doing.”

Ok. What else?

“It has to be all done and perfect in one day. I want it done. That feels hard.”

Ok.

So what do you want this process to feel like?

“I want to create a sense of fun and not have to feel like it has to all be done in one day.”

Ok, we can work with that.

What can I do to add joy to cleaning out my closet and ditch the expectations that are making it feel super hard?

Here is what I’m choosing:

• Turn on fun music and diffuse an uplifting citrusy oil.

• Turn on my timer for 90 minutes. That is what I will spend on the project each day until it’s done.

• Open the shade on my closet and let the sun in.

• Listen to a favorite podcast or book while I work.

• Celebrate with an act of love towards myself every time I keep my commitment to myself. (this could be a 5 min. dance party :)

Now it feels doable. Even somewhat pleasurable.

So what did I do here?

1. Dialogued with the feelings and resistance coming up.

2. Asked myself what would I like to be feeling instead while doing this project?

3. What would I need to let go of in order to do it this way?

4. Bring in the external elements and internal beliefs that support me in my choices and get started.

5. Tell someone and claim that this is what I’ve chosen creating a sense of accountability.

6. Consistently and persistently apply the next right action toward my new belief.

Notice, I wanted to feel a sense of fun and pleasure so I brought in elements to support me to do that, smells, music, light.

Then I let go of it needing to be perfect, i.e., done all in one day. I let go of the belief it was going to be SO hard and take SO much time.

My new belief is I can create a sense of fun and ease while doing something I don’t love to do, but want to do to create a space I love to be in.

I get to choose how I show up and how I create the experience I desire.

So, my dear friend, I’m not going to sit here and tell you, during this time of being home for longer than you ever thought possible, that you better get to work on all the things around the house and make the most of every moment of every day by accomplishing something.

I will invite you to use this process when you choose to and desire to get something done, but feel a sense of dread or overall failure to launch.

This can work for getting your emails out for work, setting up a marketing plan, meal prep and cooking for your family, creating a plan to release weight, moving your body daily, getting a creative project out into the world that you desire to share, but just can’t seem to take the steps forward.

Let me know what you desire to create, do, finish or share and how you might use this process!

I’ll keep you posted on how it goes with my closet!! Ha!

Sending you so much love and light during this month of April.

Much love to you! You are not alone!

Laura

PS. If you are not in a place of “doing” or “creating” right now, but need to just be with your feelings and show up for yourself and your family, honor that and tuck this away for when you do need it. 🙏💜🙏

PPS. By the time this email actually gets to you, I want to let you know my closet is complete! It took less than 2 hours and by the last half, I was actually enjoying it! Anything is possible my dear friends!!! Love you!