It's All Too Much...

I'm currently in love with Peter Walsh's books... if you don't know who Peter Walsh is - he's the guy who is on Clean Sweep (or was... not sure if that show is still on, I've never actually seen it before)... he also comes on Oprah for her organizating segments.

I read his book "It's All Too Much"... it's about home organization...

This book is so good... very easy reading, helpful tips... etc... the book was so good I decided to check out some of his other books...

I'm currently reading... "Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat" - I'm still at the beginning of the book but what he's saying make sense to me so far... he says that home clutter and body clutter is a similar problem... (body clutter - being overweight)... you eat and you over buy mostly for emotional reasons. I can't give the whole book away, you'll have to read it for yourself... but I have a feeling I will be sharing quite a bit from this book.

The following is from the book:



ORGANIZATION FOR HEALTHY LIVING

The move from chaos to calm is not impossible. When it comes to decluttering homes, I find myself telling people the same things over and over again. Common sense and a trust in your "inner voice" should be your guide. The same is true for weight loss.

CLUTTER PRINCIPLES

1. Decluttering your home is the first step toward living your ideal life.
2. Imagine the life you want and hold that idea in your mind as you work through the process.
3. Figure out what your goal is for a room. If an item doesn't serve that goal, get rid of it.
4. If you don't love it, use it, wear it, or have room for it, get rid of it. It's clutter.
5. That clutter didn't appear overnight and won't disappear overnight.
6. Live firmly in the present, not the past or the future. If you're holding on to things you don't use, figure out why. Memory? Home? Gift? Fear?
7. Break decluttering into small, manageable taskes.
   
8. If you don't make decluttering a way of life, the stuff will creep back into your home.
9. Decluttering teaches you how to verbaliaze what's important to you and to make choices based on those priorities.
10. Recognize and celebrate every aspect that's decluttered. It will motivate you to keep going.

Now check this out... it's the same list except for we switched the words clutter and decluttering with weight and weight loss...


FOOD-CLUTTER PRINCIPLES

1. Imagine the life you want and hold that idea in your mind as you work through the process.
2. Organizing where, how , and what you eat is the first step toward achieving your ideal body.
3. Figure out what your goal is for your body. If a food doesn't serve that goal, don't eat it.
4. If it isn't healthy, colorful, and part of your meal plan, don't eat it. it's junk.
5. The fat didn't appear overnight and won't disappear overnight.
6. Live in the present, not the past of the future. If you're eating for emotional reasons, figure out why. Anger? Despeair? comfort? Fear?
7. Focus on enjoying the next meal. don't let one mistake make you give up.
8. If you don't make mindful eating a way of life, the fat will creep back onto your butt.
9. Taking time to think out your meals teaches you how to verbalize what's important to you and to make choices based on those priorites.
10. Recognize and celebrate every meal you enjoy. It will remind you of the great things a meal provides, beyond just the food.

It's interesting to see the similarities between a cluttered home and a over weight (cluttered) body. I think Peter Walsh is on to something here...

Want more info about Peter Walsh or his books... check out his website at PeterWalshDesigns.com (http://www.peterwalshdesign.com/)