My desk is a mess. It’s covered in papers that need filing, acting on. Post it notes to remind me of things to do and people to call.

Outside, my garden is also a mess. I didn’t make time to do the usual autumn clearout so there are remains of dead plants and leaves everywhere.

So it’s no surprise to me that my mind is also jumbled. It’s reflecting my physical environment. (Or is it the other way round?)

My head is full of exciting project ideas, people I want to work with, ideas about a book I want to write, plans for my future but also old projects that I don’t enjoy, things that I need to do that are a chore. And I notice how I am hopping from one thing to another, unable to settle on one thing at a time.

It’s difficult to be effective when everything is cluttered.

And yet…. I wonder if there is another way of looking at this. As I look at the garden, covered in frost, I notice that there are more birds around this year who are enjoying the seeds from the flowers I didn’t deadhead. Almost certainly in the next few weeks they will also be coming back for material to build their nests with so I can expect their visits to continue for some time.

As I start to clear up my desk, I notice that there is a lot of work associated with a particular project that I am not really interested in. I’ve been letting it pile up because it has been too much of a chore to deal with it as it comes in.

So I wonder if the mess is part of the process. Part of highlighting the things that no longer serve us, part of letting go of the old and allowing the new to emerge. Not knowing what that new is… until it appears.

Now I am clear about the projects I am letting go of and that is creating space for the new projects to sort themselves out.

And I wonder if there is a way of allowing things to sort themnselves out naturally, a way that clarity appears from amongst the chaos without having to search hard for it?

What chaos is in your life and what is it telling you?

What clarity trying to emerge?

Putting it into practice

1. Notice where things are chaotic, a mess or jumbled… either physically or in your head.
2. What is the message in the chaos?
3. What are you wanting to let go of and what does that create space for?

Allow the chaos to be what it is. Let it rest and trust that clarity will emerge when the time is right.

Oh… and if you must have a New Year’s resolution, how about: Quit feeling guilty about the mess (or anything for that matter)!

With love,
Jude. x

Related posts:

1. Quieten the mind
2. Creating fun from chaos
3. Finding your natural rhythm of life