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Kindle Notes & Highlights
Clutter is deferred decisions. It’s the physical manifestation of procrastination. It’s overcommitment in the form of stuff.
I’ll keep these five surplus spatulas just in case. Just in case I’m cooking five batches of pancakes at once? Just in case this one spatula that I use every single time suddenly becomes unattractive to me? Just in case I lose my spatula and all the stores no longer sell them?
Instead of focusing on the entire task—even if it’s small—try focusing on the tiniest first step you can think of. Instead of finishing your assignment, pick up your pen and open your notebook. Instead of tidying the whole garden bed, go outside and pull one weed. Instead of assembling an entire LEGO set with your kids, open the instructions and find the first three pieces.
I need this as a tattoo.
What do you want at the center of your life? What fills you up? What makes you strong? Write these things down on a separate piece of paper or personal journal, and keep them in mind every time you look for balance (no matter how wobbly).
Questions to ask yourself if you start to feel overwhelmed: How are you feeling? Why are you feeling like that? What’s changed? What is there more of? Stress? Commitments? Disconnection? Resentment? Hitting snooze? Eating crappy foods? Mindless consumption of social media, opinions, magazines, terrible TV, trends, fashion? What is there less of? Sleep? Meditation? Deep breathing? Drinking water? Saying no? Taking on the problems of others? Real connection? Empathy? Compassion? Kindness? Smiling? Those little pockets of slow?
