Guest post by licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitator Laura Burns
Fall is finally beginning to make an appearance here in Texas, and I’m thrilled to start seeing and feeling the changes that come this time of year. Cooler temperatures, changing flora, and a renewed desire to snuggle up inside and nest are my favorite parts of the fall transition. I love back to school excitement, crisp air, and falling leaves. Even more, I love taking advantage of this natural transitional time to take a little inventory of my life so I can figure out if there are changes that need to be made before I curl up inside my cozy house for the winter. It’s much easier for me to relax and enjoy the hibernation aspect of fall and winter if I’ve cleared out any baggage, both emotionally and physically. Fall inventory time is a great way to take a look at what’s working for you, what’s not, and what could – if you just tweak it a little.
To start I like to spend some time thinking about my relationships, all the various types in my life. I try not to limit myself to just my romantic relationship – I include my friends, family, and work connections. I aside some time and ask myself the following: What relationships are enriching my life right now? Which ones are draining me and contributing to negativity in my life? I’m often surprised when I examine my relationships and realize that one or more has become a source of anxiety or stress. Sometimes those relationships are worth saving, and sometimes they’re not. Only you’ll be able to answer that question, but without an inventory it’s possible that you won’t even realize that you need to ask yourself the question in the first place.
While you’re taking the inventory, focus on the beliefs and behaviors most prevalent in your life. Are these still serving you well? Often our beliefs and behaviors change over time and we don’t realize how drastic this change is. Sometimes it’s a positive change and sometimes it’s not, but examining them is the best way to begin to decide if we want to make changes or not.
The last part of the inventory I love to include is about clutter – emotional and physical clutter. I find myself accumulating both kinds of clutter each year, and this inventory is a great way to dig through it all and figure out what’s serving you and what’s not. This month I’ve undertaken a semi-intense clutter cleanout in my house. It feels good to get rid of furniture, books, and clothes I don’t use or wear. Those things start to feel like weights around me, and the space I create by getting rid of them adds to a relaxing and peaceful home life. If the idea of removing the clutter from your home is overwhelming, try setting a time for 10 minutes. You can do anything for just 10 minutes. After the time is up you can choose to keep going or stop – it’s up to you and how ‘in the zone’ you get. Try doing 10 minutes a few times a week to start seeing some results!
After you’ve taken your inventory, it’s time to make some changes. Figure out what exactly you’d like to change and make an action plan. Figure out if there are people, jobs, beliefs, behaviors, and clutter you want to change and/or let go of. Whether big or small, change is good! Without change we become stagnant and dull. No matter how small your changes may be, they’re helping you to get to the next great part of your life. However, it’s important to recognize that making changes in your life can be more impactful than you might imagine. Be sure to give yourself permission to say goodbye to those people, beliefs, or material possessions that no longer serve you. It’s possible to honor their role in your life while still acknowledging that you don’t need them anymore. You may find that you need some sort of ritual or form of closure in order to say goodbye and let go. Allow yourself that closure – after all, change can be difficult and anything you can do to ease the transition is good.
I help heart-forward businesses create thoughtfully crafted plans for growth and sustainability. I love to inspire people to think critically, dream big, and clear out the cobwebs to let in the light and the joy! Wanna leave your soul-crushing job to start your own business? Check out my new book, Work Life Revolution! Laura Burns is one of our licensed Right-Brain Business Plan® Facilitators.
