Hasta La Ideas

All while I was reading Chris Guillebeau’s book, a quote from Orison Swett Marden kept running through my mind:

The golden opportunity you are seeking is in yourself. It is not in your environment, it is not in luck or chance, or the help of others; it is in yourself alone.

Or, more directly: “If you want to make a change, you are the only one who can make that change happen.”

At the heart of uncluttering, organizing, productivity, and all the issues we discuss here on Unclutterer is personal responsibility. If you don’t change your behavior, if you don’t take responsibility for your actions, you will continue on the same path you’re dreading. As long as you are of sound mind and body, only YOU can change your life.

• You can get to work on the project and meet the deadline.
• You can put your clothes in the hamper at night.
• You can sort through the clothes in your closet and keep only the items that fit, look good on you, and represent the person you want to be.
• You can create a meal plan and stick to it.
• You can organize your linen closet.
• You can return e-mails within a timely manner.
• You can sort through your mail immediately when you walk in your house.
• You can use a calendar and plan your day.
• You can take a risk.
• You can be happy right now.
• You can follow your dreams.

In The Art of Non-Conformity, Chris makes a similar point:

You must take responsibility for what happens in your future, good or bad. Our past may be somewhat responsible for defining who we are at present, but it does not need to define our future. If you had a terrible childhood or someone deeply hurt you at some point in the past, here is your chance to prove them wrong. If you had a nurturing childhood and have never known deep hurt or social disadvantage, you’re better off that the rest of us. Where much is given, much is required, so it’s time to step it up.

Regardless of where you fall in that spectrum, from here on out, win or lose, you must be willing to take responsibility for yourself.

Good luck, and remember that I believe YOU can do it.

Like this site? Buy Erin Rooney Doland’s Unclutter Your Life in One Week from Amazon.com today.