Life changing rhythms and new possibilities!

Despite my hardworking and organized mother trying her best to teach me how to keep a clean and tidy living space, my bedroom was always a disaster. It wasn’t that I was lazy (well, sometimes I was), but rather that my type B brain has always struggled with procrastination, organization, meeting rigid deadlines, or paying close attention to detail. These struggles followed me to college and then right into adulthood, resulting in overwhelm and insecurity. 

In my late forties, God brought me two amazing mentors who broke a decades-long cycle of giving up and giving in to my limiting beliefs and negative self-talk. Cynthia Damaskos and Pres. Stacey Dorrance challenged me in a stretching but empowering way to persevere through my setbacks and doubts, creating a realistic system to tame the chaos that works with my unique temperament and circumstances. I’ve learned to appreciate the brain God gave me, along with my distinct personality, gifts, and perspectives. I will never be naturally organized or analytical, and that’s ok! But learning new skills, mindsets, and tools for keeping the chaos at bay creates room and energy for leaning into my strengths and growing in fruitfulness! 

I will always need community support to get back up when I stumble and keep moving forward. I need people in my life who are also actively stretching themselves and overcoming obstacles to grow in courage, faith, hope, creativity, and the sharing of their God-given talents. I need women in my circle who are strong where I am weak to inspire me. I need frequent conversations about living with intention, being led by my core values, and staying vigilant against perfectionism and distractions that snuff out light and peace. I cannot stay the course all alone, so I proactively seek out and create opportunities for uplifting connections. 

All that to say, if you are having difficulty managing the chaos in your own life, I GET YOU! I understand! I don’t care if you are 16 or 70, I believe with all my heart that a little intentionality and encouragement can go a long way toward making a new beginning at any time! For inspiration, here are a few of the resources that have really and truly helped me get unstuck from long-standing destructive and self-sabotaging patterns:

• THIS BOOK  

• THIS COURSE 

• THIS PODCAST

• THIS EVENT 

• THIS COMMUNITY

• THIS PLANNER

• This CHORE CHART:

After my 2019 decluttering journey and tackling the real issue of having accumulated way too much stuff, I created this little checklist for myself. I had tried and failed a million different systems to keep my home somewhat tidy, but this one finally stuck. Home (apartment/bedroom/dorm room) management is like weeding. When you do a little every day, it doesn’t grow into something you can't handle, which can lead to avoidance and stress, and then seven hours of crazy cleaning on the weekends when you’d much rather be hiking.

These daily routines have become a non-negotiable for me. When my environment feels calm, I also feel calm and stable. The payoff far outweighs "the hard" of chipping away at the mess throughout the day. “ABT” (always be tidying) has become a new way of life for me: Putting stuff away immediately, never leaving a room empty-handed, wiping down the bathroom counter while I brush my teeth, doing a load of laundry daily, washing dishes as I use them. This rhythm of productivity mirrors the rhythms of positivity I try to nurture through prayer, stillness, journaling, and edifying content. Intentional living is not a one-and-done endeavor but a new way of being. 

It doesn’t matter where you start! The most important aspect of transformation is having a desire for growth and a meaningful, beautiful life, along with the belief that change is always, always possible. Begin with small steps and seek out resources and people who can support your efforts! Becoming better stewards of our time, health, homes, and opportunities to grow and serve sparks unshakeable joy and is an act of gratitude and obedience to Christ.