This Breaks My Heart…

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I find it amazing that the extraordinary women I get the privilege to work with, bring me both the greatest joy and the greatest heartbreak.

In many ways they’re like you.
Smart.
Strong.
Capable.
Determined.

They’ve had their share of ups and downs but their faith and positivity gets them up morning after morning.

Without them?

Friendships, meals, schedules, emotions, commitments and happiness fall apart.

I recently worked with a Lifer with superpowers. At least from my perspective.

What I Saw:

  • Incredible loving mom
  • An outstanding professor (with two Masters!)
  • Compassionate friend
  • Involved community member
  • Nurturing wife

How I Felt:

  • How does she do it all??
  • How can I be more like her?
  • How has she accomplished so much and still have no airs about her?
  • How could I possibly help her be better?

What SHE Saw:

  • A failure in her home
  • Unorganized and chaotic mess
  • Not a good role model
  • Bad mom

What SHE Felt:

  • Exhausted and anxious
  • Always overwhelmed
  • Embarrassed about her shortcomings
  • I’ll never get organized
  • Not confident I can get past this phase

Wow. So incredibly different, right?

It’s amazing how others see us and how we see ourselves.

Although we can see the beauty and character-building imperfections in others, we hold ourselves to higher, unrealistic standards.

One of the keys to getting organized is to start with your mind.

I know this doesn’t sound as exciting as a new paper system or as sexy as a goal tracking app, but it’s critical for long term success.

You’ve got to change your thoughts from what you’re doing wrong to what what you’re doing right (and where you’ll improve).

So it goes a little something like this:

:: Negative, low-confidence thought enters your mind.
:: You grab it, squash it and replace it with an improvement

Here’s how to make that happen in a simple step-by-step way.

Step #1:

Make a list of all the things you’re doing right. Yes, you do a lot right. More than you think.

Write them all down and don’t hold back. This is your opportunity to brag (and don’t worry, no one else will be seeing this list). But more importantly, it’s an opportunity to spend ten minutes on recognizing what you do.

I’m talking about everything from clearing the counters, to getting that grimey stuff off the shower door, to making executive decisions (at work and at home) to maintaining relationships, to hosting the holidays, to biting your tongue during the holidays. 😉 EVERYTHING.

Step #2:

Make a list of one specific improvement area in your home or life related to getting organized. Like, your master closet, kitchen counter, office desk, family room or schedule.

Step #3:

Every time you have a negative thought about the state of your home or life, reel yourself back in and pull out your list. Recognize everything you do right and remind yourself of your commitment to making your one space or system better.

And change your thinking from “I’m a hot mess” to “I’m committed to doing one thing better.”

Say it to yourself over and over. Especially as you begin to take action on this space or goal.

Easier said than done? Yes, probably.

But you are a powerhouse of inspiration, love and motivation. And it’s up to you(and a gentle reminder from me) to stand by your magnificence and honor it.

There is always room for improvement but remember, you’re doing a lot of stuff RIGHT.

Rather than trying to please everybody on the planet, instead, I ask myself, “What am l doing right, in this moment?” and “How can make one small improvement so that I can continue to feel uplifted?”

That’s all I can do, and that’s what I will continue to do.

It goes without saying, I encourage you to do the same.

With love and appreciation,
XO,
Mridu

Mridu Parikh

I help time-strapped go-getters who are overwhelmed by their demands and distractions, get more time and feel less stressed. I'm Mridu Parikh, Productivity Coach, Consultant, & Author. If you want to focus your time and energy on what matters most, you've come to the right place.