72 www . AspireMAG . net | October / November 2018
The best way to handle your critic , no matter how persistent or bratty she gets , is with love and compassion . When you join forces instead of fighting against her , there ’ s no stopping you . You become a powerful team !
To best partner with your critic , focus on welldefined steps . “ Winging it ” doesn ’ t work for her . She is easily distracted , and therefore so are you . Eliminate as many distractions as possible and work within the parameters you set . To help her get comfortable with change , take things in super small steps .
If you find yourself procrastinating , break down the action you ’ re trying to do ; chances are it ’ s still too big for your critic . She needs evidence that she ’ ll be safe to get on board , so don ’ t expect her to take big leaps out of the gate .
The other thing she needs is to feel heard — hence the persistent squawking . This part is key . If ever she feels dismissed or ignored , chaos ensues . This chaos can take many shapes — more clutter , a nasty head cold that knocks you down for a week , a distracted mind , aches and pains , a family member or friend telling you not to get rid of this or that , or a sexy invitation for the exact time you had scheduled your clutter clearing — anything that will stop you in your tracks and throw a wrench in your clutter-clearing plans so she can continue on her merry way and not have her status quo disrupted .
When you do finally settle in to tackle your first bit of clutter from this perspective , you ’ re likely going to feel a lot of pushback from her . Instead of ignoring it and diving in , take some time to acknowledge what ’ s coming up as you consider starting the sorting or clearing . The first clutter you may need to clear is your resistance .
Sit with it . Journal about it . Speak to someone safe . Give it a voice . This is what helps her settle down .
You may be the one doing the heavy lifting in the relationship , but that ’ s not to say you ’ re in charge all the time . You need each other . Your inner critic needs structure , commitment , and strategy , and you need her creativity , playfulness , and inquisitiveness , so when she ’ s raising the red flags , take a moment to acknowledge her . Doing so will make you much more successful in your clearing .
In fact , I suggest you make it a regular part of your clutter-clearing routine . Each time you get ready to sort physical clutter or take steps to address emotional clutter , take a couple of minutes to check in with your resistance and see what ’ s going on .
Oftentimes , that check-in is all you need to remove the current block .
© 2018 . Kerri Richardson . An excerpt from What Your Clutter Is Trying to Tell You : Uncover the Message in the Mess and Reclaim Your Life .
Kerri Richardson - Kerri is a lifestyle designer , coach , and the bestselling author of What Your Clutter Is Trying to Tell You : Uncover the Message in the Mess and Reclaim Your Life . In more than 17 years , Kerri has worked with thousands of people helping them quiet the noise and clear the clutter so they can stop playing small and start living big . You can find her online at www . KerriRichardson . com .
72 www . AspireMAG . net | October / November 2018