Marie Kondo and an Olympian Walk Into A Bar….
I’ve been thinking about what it takes to do hard things.
How do we find the energy, enthusiasm, and focus to get things done?
How do we achieve our goals when we feel stretched too thin and burnt out?
How do we manage the distractions, restrictions, and clutter (physical and mental) in our lives?
These questions bring me to the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing.
(And eventually, we will connect it all to decluttering…I promise…keep on reading!)
With the Winter Games just ended, I’m left thinking thinking about “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat” (as Jim McKay used to say on The Wide World of Sports as the ski jumper crashed) that transpired in Beijing.
I tend to get excited when the Olympics come around. As some of you know, I competed for the Canadian gymnastics team at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles (here’s some floor routine proof!), so displays of athleticism, artistry, and sportsmanship remain inspiring.
I’ll be honest, with Covid-restrictions, demonstrations, boycotts, and ongoing commercialization, it was challenging to be in 100%.
However, just thinking about throwing down a quad cork 1800, hurling down sheer ice at 130 km/hr, or trying a quad axel, makes my head spin and I wonder, “how the hell did they learn, and do, that?”
(I suppose people watching gymnastics think flipping upside-down on 4 inches of wood without falling is a bit crazy…and honestly, it’s a bit of a mystery how it’s done or how I did it. For me, that was in a land - and body - far, far away!
Back to Beijing, where I saw:
Athletes determined to push themselves to the max to reach their personal best and elevate their sport
Coaches, officials, families, friends, and supporters channeling their energy, enthusiasm, and expertise into every competition
Olympians taking risks, facing their fears, and trying to be the best versions of themselves on the world stage
So what do the Olympics have to do with decluttering?
What would happen if Marie Kondo and an Olympian - me - walk into a bar?
We’d have a great conversation AND realize that determination and a supportive community are two crucial elements leading to success in both arenas.
The skills needed to commit, focus, overcome, and create are the same for elite sports as they are when tackling physical or mental clutter.
To be successful decluttering our physical spaces and minds, we must:
Manage competing priorities, demands, and responsibilities
Trust that we know what to do when given space and time
Find the energy and motivation to pursue what’s hard
Commit to doing the work (thanks Steven Pressfield) no matter what
Just like Olympians.
But when clutter is piling up, stress is increasing, and disappointment is mounting, it’s important to remember that…
Doing hard things alone is, well, hard.
Just like Olympic sports.
Imagine preparing to ski down the Olympic course at 140 km/hr all alone? No way! There’s support behind every athlete at the Games.
If someone is feeling overwhelmed, defeated, and frustrated by physical or mental clutter, the first question I ask is, “do you have any support?” as going it alone as a team of one makes things so much harder. You need someone in your corner cheering you on!
What I know as a decluttering coach is this:
My job is to channel determination into focused effort AND inspire, motivate, teach key skills, and be the accountability needed to succeed.
As a decluttering coach and organizer, I’m determined to help clients overcome the obstacles that get in their way, just as an Olympic coach sets up the best conditions for their athlete to be succeessful.
As an athlete, there’s NO WAY I could have reached the Olympics without support from my coaches, parents, friends, school, and community.
As such, when I work with clients, I see myself as part of their community, tackling what comes up together.
Determination and community are essential - we need both to succeed.
As the last of the medals are handed out in Beijing and national anthems reverberate through the stands, let’s remember this:
Determination can get you to the hill, but it’s a supportive community that gets you to the finish line – at the Olympics and in a clutter-free life.
As you continue to create an organized life you love, don’t forget about support through community - they are essential to your success!
*If you’re looking to join a community of determined go-getters that are co-decluttering in real time, visit Clear Your Clutter in Community.