Too Messy or Too Long – See. Perceive. Act.
More objections that move us to procrastinate are popping up. Let’s admit, objections don’t make us procrastinate, they influence us. We get to choose whether or not an objection has any power. Who’s in control, ladies?
Quickly, let’s acknowledge that we sometimes put off messy things that are fun. Finger painting, a fort in the living room, teenagers making pizza make a mess. But happy memories and enjoyment are worth it. Being a “yes, we can do that” mom builds relationships that make a mess of no importance in comparison.
Sometimes we put off tackling much-needed work because it would make a mess. That’s often a reality. We wade through the yuck to achieve order, function, and freedom. Otherwise, we are continually hampered by the present mess and continue to make it worse.
Cleaning a closet, going through documents, painting a room, cooking for the freezer, can make us cower and retreat. Instead of resenting the mess, rejoice in improvement that makes life better.
Tackle a portion of the job instead of the whole thing at once. Reviewing files, slide a colored paper between folders to show how far you’ve gotten, and pick up there when you return.
Consistently devote time and attention to completion.
View the mess as motivation to be wholehearted about getting the job done. “I want the dining room table back!”
For decluttering without mess, check out Dana K White My No Mess Decluttering Method Demonstration – YouTube and Minimal Mom How to Declutter WITHOUT Making a Mess!
Potty training is a messy thing, but we do it – order, function, freedom.
Closely related to a mess is the objection “It takes longer than one session and I can’t leave it out.”
My absolute favorite example of victory over this objection comes from a book I read. A mom of nine children enjoyed sewing, but you can imagine her limitations. She figured out she could take 20 minutes a day to sew. There was no place to leave her sewing out where she could return to it as able. The 20 minutes included setting up the machine and project and putting it all away. At the end of the year, she had made something like 15 garments and mended 9. Wow!! Literally, a few minutes a day. A little bit consistently. Ever since reading that, I’ve been reluctant to sing the “I can’t” song.
Paperwork may need to be spread out on the table for two weeks. Let’s have picnic meals outside or on a plastic tablecloth on the den floor. Needing the table compels me to action with the papers.
We see a mess. We see limited circumstances. We choose to resent and retreat or we perceive opportunity to trust God for guidance and creativity. Diligence will give us victory.
What mess do you want to avoid? How can you break down a multi-session job? What simple creative way is the Lord showing you to try?
