As we shift solidly into the fall season, leaving summer memories behind, we open our minds to many choices and possibilities for next. In thinking about the future, we might be focused on something big or small.

How do we decide how to match our energy and situation with our focus? Have you noticed that there are times of inspired dreaming and other times of total overwhelm? Let’s explore how our our situations influence our choices.

Deciding When to Think Big

If you’re in a thinking-big-mode, you have large blocks of uninterrupted time. You have time to breathe and to take care of your basic needs like sleep, exercise, and nutrition. Your brain is in high gear and you aren’t feeling preoccupied by a million and one other things that need your attention. You either have the time or have carved out the time to focus on the bigger picture. Thinking big requires enough quiet to sift through and capture ideas. Thinking big demands enough mental energy and space to allow the seed ideas to surface.

Of course there are times when we’re super busy and stressed, and big ideas will surface. This is a normal occurrence. But to truly act on those ideas, we need that quiet space to sort, process, and marinate them.

When are good times for thinking big? Scheduling personal retreats, vacations, or days off are great ways to carve out some thinking big time. If you want to focus on BIG, make sure you create the environment to allow big to flourish.

Deciding When to Think Small

If you’re in a thinking-small-mode, you’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Your time doesn’t feel like your own. Your schedule doesn’t have much empty space. The number of to-dos and responsibilities you’ve committed might be keeping you up at night. You’re managing life, but feeling like you’re on that continually moving hamster wheel with no stopping in sight. Does this sound familiar? If so, thinking small will help.

It doesn’t mean that you won’t future think or allow a big idea to be captured. It does mean that in order to move on at this moment in time, using a different approach will help. Taking small, next steps will encourage forward movement while reducing overwhelm. It will help you move on so that you can eventually focus on thinking big when and if you’re ready. But it’s hard to get to that point when you’re in the high stress, high overwhelm mode.

These are fluid phases. Having an awareness of where you are, locating yourself on the energy and overwhelm scale will help you to better navigate. What have you noticed for yourself or others? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation!

We need self-trust in order to make decisions. When we make choices using our best, authentic self we have the opportunity to grow and seek exciting possibilities. Having just returned from the Professional Organizers in Canada (POC) conference in Toronto, I noticed a theme of decisions, growth and possibilities during my journey.

Colleagues

Colette Robicheau, Linda Samuels and Karen SencichOver 22 years ago, I decided to become a professional organizer. Because of that decision, I’ve had the opportunity to develop wonderful relationships with my organizing colleagues. When I was in Toronto, I conversed, laughed, and learned with some of my long-standing and new colleagues from Canada and the United States. While classroom settings are fine, there’s something special about the impromptu learning that happens when engaged in direct conversations. In addition to the colleagues I featured in the following paragraphs, I also treasured the lively conversations I had this week with Colette Robicheau, Karen Sencich, Marie Potter, Leslie Josel, Regina Lark, Georgina Forrest, Jennie Vlietstra, and Christine Janes.

Leaders

Linda Samuels, Stephanie Deakin and Ellen FayeOne of my greatest joys in Toronto was spending time with POC, NAPO, and ICD leadership. Making the decision to accept a leadership role as ICD President has given me a seat at the table with some of the most brilliant, compassionate leaders in our industry. There’s nothing more growth and possibility provoking than talking with inspiring leaders like Stephanie Deakin, POC President and Ellen Faye, NAPO President. It's been so rewarding to connect with them at our industry conferences. Congratulations, Stephanie on your successful conference! What a fun, engaged group.

Social

Jill Robson and Linda SamuelsNo matter how we connect with people, there’s always a social aspect. In the case of one particular group, our connections began through social media and blogging. My decision to join this community about five years ago brought me in contact with wonderful people from all over the world. At the POC conference, I had the opportunity to mesh the virtual with actual by having a chance to see some of my Canadian friends in person like Jill Robson (first time ever!), Heather Burke, and Janet Barclay. There’s nothing quite so special as being face to face. What amazing conversations we had (this time in person) about family, organizing, blogging, mindfulness and more.

Possibilities

Laurene Livesey-Park and Ruth Betz-EssingerAside from my choices that resulted in growth opportunities and enhanced my possibility thinking, I wasn’t the only one making positive decisions this week. When it was announced at the annual meeting that there weren’t enough POC Board members as per the Bylaws, three POC members stood up to self-nominate. This ignited the energy in the room. The volunteers that stepped up made choices that will bring positive results and possibilities for POC and for them individually.

Linda Samuels and Alison LushIn addition, there were many POC attendees that wanted to learn more about ICD’s education about chronic disorganization. At the Expo, the ICD booth had lots of enthusiastic visitors. For ICD’s Basic CD class, the room was packed. As a result, many POC members decided to join ICD, take teleclasses, research info on the ICD website, and purchase publications. They’ve made education a priority so they can better help and understand their chronically disorganized clients. Special thanks to Ruthann Betz-Essinger, Laurene Livesey-Park, and Alison Lush for talking with potential ICDers, organizing the ICD booth, and helping with the class. It was a bonus to have time to hang out with you!

Making authentic decisions based on what we value leads to growth, opportunity, and possibilities. What have you noticed about decision-making and possibilities? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join our conversation.

I’m heading to Toronto this week to attend the Professional Organizers in Canada (POC) conference. I’m looking forward to traveling, learning, seeing colleagues and meeting new ones. Mostly, though, I’m excited about the possibilities and new ideas that traveling inspires.

For this week’s post, I offer you a single idea to enjoy and ponder. A quote I collected a while ago was relevant to this month’s possibility thinking theme. For you . . .

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”

— Anne Lamott

What becomes possible when you unplug? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation.

Often I write my posts on my desktop computer. I've created a quiet, comfortable "Linda space," complete with favorite colors, shapes, textures and images. Today, however, I'm taking advantage of this gorgeous fall day to write outside. Accompanied by my iPad and ceramic periwinkle-glazed cup of Earl Grey tea, the ever so slight breeze and rustling sound of the leaves set the stage for my weekly writing ritual.

Before me is a 40-acre woods, topped by a cloudless, blue sky. Ideas and possibilities abound. I'm grateful and happy being in this place.

I've been walking more lately. This is a good thing. My body and mind reap the benefits. The walks are about connection - connecting with self, nature, and my loved ones. They provide a pause in my day to reflect, move, and just be. Each walk has a beginning and ending point with no agenda in between.

Especially during this time of year, I look forward to seeing the autumn colors when I walk. This fall like the ones before brings a bold, awe-inspired, changing landscape. Bright patches of red, orange and yellow interrupt summer's greens. I never tire of the display.

It makes me think about the tension we have between establishing simple habits and pursuing daring possibilities. We have the need for both. There are times when we focus on creating basic routines. Getting back to basics helps us regroup and create a sense of calm and order. This is especially needed when the chaos and stress of life causes overwhelm. There are other times when we feel stuck by those patterns we worked so hard to establish. We might even begin feeling antsy or bored with our routines. At those times we start imagining possibilities. Thoughts about starting with “what if?” fill our minds.

“Tension exists between establishing simple habits and pursuing daring possibilities.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®, CVOP™

While I recognize the pros for creating habits and patterns, to me this season is about transformation, thinking bigger, and being inspired by nature's display.

I glance to my left and notice a fiery-red colored tree. The sun illuminates the leaves, making the reds look even brighter. The tree took three seasons to change. The time for this magnificent reveal is here.

What possibilities are percolating? What changes might be possible? Is this your season?  I'd love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation.