Biggest Barriers to Organization

The Biggest Barriers to Organization

It’s those critical little voices that constantly be-devil you:

Change seems overwhelming – I don’t know where to begin
Why did I make such a mess?
Look at all the damage I did
I never make anything better.
Whatever makes me think I can solve a problem like this?
What’s the matter with me?

… and 100 variations on these miserable themes.

ALL of these thoughts and feelings are useless – there is nothing beneficial about listening to or believing statements like them. They are only impediments to change, barriers that become larger the more that you listen to them. You cannot make good decisions about what to keep or discard, how to make your space more functional or best use your time, or to have decent quality of life when your mind is clouded with recrimination. Without thoughts like these, you would calmly identify solutions for the real-world needs around you. The truth is, you do not need to resolve any personality issues to move forward – you ‘just do the next right thing’, whatever that is. If you can’t see which task is best to do next, just do whatever is closest to hand.

What to do? You have to stop believing that any of those thoughts are real or worthwhile.
What is the best way to stop believing in these mental goblins? Poke fun at them! Those who have read my book, Overcome Hoarding and Transform Your Life, know about the ‘riddikulus’ technique from one of the Harry Potter books. Imagine each of those critical thoughts as a demon, a dastardly creature that wants to keep you down, to run your life and have power over you (as long as you listen to them, they do). Now transform that demon into something utterly silly. Then identify the proper use of the energy of that demon (such as, turning fear into practical precautions or ambivalence into motivation).

Use the exercise below to transform your demons so that they no longer have any power over you. This works for any harmful thought or emotion that makes you suffer and keeps you from being productive. This exercise was designed for hoarders but will work with any condition that causes upset or distress.

TRANSFORMING DEMONS EXERCISE

In J.K. Rowling’s book, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”, the students learn to overcome their fears by imagining the thing they fear most taking on outlandish and ridiculous forms. Ron imagined the spiders he feared trying to chase him on roller skates and falling flat on their faces; Neville imagined Professor Snape wearing his grandmother’s hat and clothes. The ensuing laughter then banishes the demon. Using the same principle, visualize the fears or other emotions that keep you hoarding in the form of a demon and give the demon a humorous twist.

Name Your Demon _______________________________________________________

Description ______________________________________________________________

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Transform your demon with laughter _________________________________________

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Transform your demon by channeling its energy ________________________________