While I was away...

While I was away from blogging I planned to clear out the clutter in my house and my mind. I have not accomplished all that I wanted to, though I did make a dent in both. I ran into every single crafty, creative person I know in this town since I made the decision to stop gaining in the idea arena...why is that??? It did keep me motivated to meet a few goals so that I was able to accomplish a lot on my list each day and have time for some crafty reprieve in the coming weeks. One thing that will help greatly in this process is to take an hour or two each week by myself to get it all down on paper and create an actual hardcopy plan of action. This was suggested here by Crystal in her book review of Getting More Done in Less Time. Read the comments for more insight. Due to my husband's busy work schedule right now, it may mean getting up an hour or two earlier one day each week. I think it will be more than worth missing some sleep.

I have come to realize something else about myself in this process as well. Not something entirely new, but a new connection of two realizations I suppose. You know how some people only see the big picture, can come up with lots of ideas but no idea how to get from point A to point B, and others only see the details, having lots of difficulty coming up with a creative idea but go crazy with it once someone sends them in the right direction? Well, I am one of those people who can see the big picture and the detailed steps to get there, and get lost somewhere in the middle. I have taken an honest look at what is behind all of this and think it is a combination of self-discipline and fear of failure. Anyone with any insight, please feel free to chime in! I have the ideas, I have the tools/supplies, and then...I stop, or procrastinate, without completing the task or taking much longer than needed. We have been covering diligence here in the home with the littles and I think I need a heavy dose of training myself!

Diligence: constantly in effort to accomplish something; attentively and persistently doing anything; done or pursued with persevering attention; painstakingly

Truth be told, when something is painstaking for me (like facing the fear of failure) I don't run toward it with persistence or pursue it. What if somebody doesn't like the window "mis-treatment" I am going to post later, or thinks my "I love chocolate" basket for the silent auction in lacking in some way? It is so easy for me to tell the children: "Just work through it. Take your time and keep plugging along." and then praise their efforts in the end. Why do I not think my father in heaven is any less pleased with me when I put my best effort into something? Who else am I really trying to please anyway? This whole leading by living out the example can really throw a wrench in one's complacency!

Graphic courtesy of Allposters.com