One Little Word That Can Help You Succeed at Anything

By
It's always a little scary to try something new, including minimalism.


Let's say you decide to curate a capsule wardrobe, navigate a city you've never visited, or learn how to play Minecraft from your 6-year-old grandson.  You're about to gain information and learn skills that are different from what you've done before, and you're going to access abilities that may be rusty or undeveloped.



Here's the problem.


At the beginning, or at some point along the way, you're going to feel unsure of yourself.  You may even feel like the whole process is too detailed or too hard.


News flash – this is what growth feels like.  Growth is exciting, but it's also uncomfortable.  You won't know if you can do the new task until you do it.  But once you get to the other side, you're going to wonder why you waited so long to try.





Choose your mindset.


When you embark on a new project – before you get to those uncomfortable moments of growth – you need to decide who you are.


If you consider yourself to be someone who has a spirit of adventure and likes to try new things, you'll be prepared to encounter those nervous feelings.  Otherwise, when your brain spews out negative thoughts (and it will, because no path to learning is ever completely smooth), you might listen to it.  Your brain will say, "I don't get this.  It's too different/detailed/hard."  And then you might say, "I quit."


But as an adventurous learner you'll think, "I don't get this... yet.  But I will."



Ready to declutter?

Keep reading to find out about my free printable resource to help you get started.



Practice is powerful.


Instead of feeling dumb because we don't know how to do something we've never done before, we need to feel free to be beginners.  We don't have to feel afraid, stupid, or incompetent.  We can be curious and ready to learn.


When I was teaching first graders how to read (and when I taught my own children in our home school), my mantra was, "No one, not even Albert Einstein, was born knowing everything."  As Harry Potter says when he's teaching other students defensive spells, "Every great wizard, no matter how talented, started where we are today – as students."


Students need time, patience, encouragement, good explanations or demonstrations, and the opportunity to practice.  Practice may include a lot of "failure" – situations when the attempted skill doesn't happen, when things don't go right.  Practice leaves plenty of room to try, over and over, tweaking and adjusting, until you can do it.




How one word makes a difference.


That's why this one word can get you back on track when you're feeling defeated.  When you find yourself thinking, "I don't get this," add that one little word, "yet."


By adding this one word, you build confidence, because it conjures a vision of the future when you do "get it."


This isn't just a trick, because your thoughts influence everything.  Focus on past failures or difficulties, and your thoughts will limit your ability to accomplish a task.  Focus on future mastery and ease, and your thoughts increase your likelihood of success.


As you try that new recipe, start your own blog, or let go of all your backups and "just in case" belongings, decide to have this attitude:  "I just haven't learned that yet... but I will."  Letting yourself be a beginner frees you from your perfectionist tendencies and keeps your mind young.  It helps you move beyond moments of self-doubt until you master the new skill.


Now I'm off to learn how to build my first shelter in Minecraft – before the Mobs get me!


Related article: 11 Common Traps to Avoid When Decluttering



Ready to declutter?

Subscribe to receive my free printable

The Declutter Dare

and declutter 100 items (or more) in just one hour!



Updated July 2023

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Beat 3 Blocks that Keep You Cluttered

By
Image
You may not realize it, but you could be harboring some beliefs that make it difficult (or even impossible) to declutter and stay that way.  These are common mindsets that can hold us back.  If you're struggling to declutter, it's time to identify the thoughts that are making it so hard. Decluttering block #1: I hate tossing things out. I think we can agree that throwing things out feels wasteful and bad.  Especially if your parents or grandparents lived through the Depression or the World War II era, this mindset runs deep.  The urge to keep everything (even things that are broken) will be stronger if you or your family have a history of trauma or hoarding.  You might not even be aware of how strong this inner compulsion is until you start trying to declutter. If you find it hard to get rid of broken, frayed, outgrown, neglected, or otherwise unused things, see if one of these reminders can help: 1.  The reprimand might not be coming from you. Your aversio...
Read more

Why You Should Try Wearing the Same Clothes Every Day

By
Image
Wearing the same clothes every day would get boring, wouldn't it? A long time ago, I had a job that required a uniform, and I have to say it did make life easier .  I had three copies of my work outfit, and there was never a question about what to wear.  I never worried whether my clothes were stylish or "right," because everyone else wore the same thing. The same argument has been used in public and private schools in favor of student uniforms.  Rather than constant worries about fashion and comparisons and dress codes, a uniform makes everything simple.  It's one less thing to think about in the complex life of a student. Many people argue that clothes make a statement about who you are.  "I express myself through my clothes" is a comment I've often heard, usually from women.  The idea of a uniform scares them, because how will they make themselves noticeable or unique ? I think we might be imagining some sort of Handmaid's Tale society, where we...
Read more

Why You Should Make "Less is More" Your Mantra for Life

By
Image
Maybe you've heard the saying popularized by architect Mies van der Rohe in 1947:  "Less is more." It's an oxymoron – a phrase that seems to contradict itself.  Others include "old news," "open secret," "unbiased opinion," and "awfully good."  Or the lament, "Parting is such sweet sorrow." What does "less is more" mean?  It's wonderfully open-ended.  Answers to that are as varied as the people who reply.  Consider: Less anxiety, more peace. Less debt, more savings. Less busywork, more substance. Less clutter, more space. Less comparison, more contentment. Less sugar, more vegetables. Voluntary simplicity Back in the 1990s, a fair number of Americans realized that the continual quest for more and better was stressing them out and keeping them from creating lives of purpose.  After the consumerist binge of the yuppie-era 80s, some started wondering if the big house, flashy car, exotic vacation, and Rolex we...
Read more

Share the Joy - Giving the Gift of Hygge

By
Image
The international interest in the Danish lifestyle hygge (pronounced "hoo-gah") has been co-opted by retailers who want to sell to us.  Of course, we do need items to make life more comfortable, such as beds, tables, chairs, clothing, and food.  I happen to think we also need books, flowers, and candles.  No one – not even a minimalist like me – can stop consuming while they're alive. But what we can control is how much we buy that's unnecessary, and how much we waste.  And since hygge is an experience you can create, not a thing you can buy, we don't really need to purchase anything to have a more hyggeligt life.  A sunrise, a crisp and juicy apple, birdsong, the scent of rain, or a long, strong hug can provide that. 13 great hygge gifts So how do you give the gift of hygge?  What can you offer a loved one that will truly add to their stock of  comfort, joy, and life satisfaction ?  Here are some ideas, large and small, that shouldn't add to yo...
Read more

6 Quick and Easy Steps to Declutter Before the Holidays

By
Image
The holidays are just around the corner, and as you shop for and cook your Thanksgiving feast and prepare to put up Christmas or Hanukkah decorations, you'll enjoy it all even more if you do a quick clear-out while you have the chance. Not only can you make room for the Christmas tree, but you can help the whole family feel less overwhelmed by holiday bustle, and give yourself more space to savor what the season has to offer.  You'll feel better prepared for holiday guests, and more ready for a fun and relaxed celebration. I know you're extra-busy, so this is not an intense purge.  It's a quick, refreshing chance to set the stage, with the added benefit of beginning the New Year with less clutter and more freedom. So set aside 15-30 minutes for each step in the process, and let your success in one area carry you to the next with renewed energy! The quick clear-out 1.  Start in the kitchen. Many holiday traditions involve food.  Crowded counters and crammed, hard-to-a...
Read more