Judith's Jottings » Blog Home Page
Are your ducks in a row? - 4th August 2020
Are you familiar with this phrase? It's really just another way of saying "have you got your act together?" So if you tell me you have all your ducks in a row, then I assume you've spent time planning and that you are now ready for whatever comes next.
The question is, do you always need your ducks in a row before taking action?
I used to be that person! I planned things to the extreme and was not good at being spontaneous. In fact I would spend so long on the planning sometimes that I never really completed the task. My ducks weren't just in a row, they were in a straight line and equally spaced! Don't get me wrong, I still plan things when it feels right to do so and I'm not knocking being organised in the least. I mean, that would be rather hypocritical in some senses, wouldn't it? These days though, I am better able to know when to plan, and when to jump in. I also know that at some point the time for planning must be over - despite the internal voice that tells me I am not prepared! That voice isn't me of course, it's the voice of my conditioning.
Find the happy medium
Looking back on my younger life I am sure I missed out on a lot of opportunities because I thought I wasn't ready. This is what those ducks are really about. I was formerly someone who had very little self-confidence and hence I convinced myself I always needed to do more, or learn more, or whatever, before I could make that leap into the unknown. In truth I spent so long arranging and rearranging my ducks I ended up stuck in an uncomfortable rut.
I'm not asking you to throw caution to the wind and just dive into everything in a reckless fashion! I may have changed over the years, but trust me, I'm a long way from being reckless! What I am suggesting is that sometimes you need to take a leap of faith and trust the ducks to line themselves up accordingly. They can and will do this, all you need to do is listen to your inner wisdom, your intuition. We all have it but so often it gets ignored.
Every time you put the brakes on your intuitive wisdom you are denying yourself something better
The first time you do this it might feel like sky-diving without a parachute! I remember that feeling all too well. But you know what, that first brave step will be the first of many more. The first one might just be a bit of a shock to the system.
How does this relate to decluttering?
In a practical sense this intuitive feeling might be about getting some support with your decluttering. If you're a regular reader of my blog you know that I'm happy to chat. Could you make that first step today, perhaps? Send me an email, I would love to support you with either your home clutter or your head clutter. Or both.
Also, when you rely on your intuition a little more and let those ducks take care of themselves you are decluttering resistance and more than likely a whole load of your conditioning! You will feel so much lighter as a result. My conditioning has been gradually peeling away and I'm still working on it. A lot of mine was about staying safe and not taking risks. For example my mum felt that it would be dangerous if I had a bike because we lived on a main road. Even when we moved to a quieter area she still had visions of me being run over - so, still no bike!
Think about your conditioning. Were you reared to play safe in the extreme? The good news is you can change! It takes practice to identify your conditioning and to begin to question it. It also takes practice to identify your intuitive voice. This is another area where I can offer support so if you feel your conditioning has you in a vice-like grip then please do get in touch.
Keywords: beliefs, habits, self-worth
Click here to go back to the blog index