The current installment (v14) of the “What’s Interesting?” feature is here with my latest discoveries that inform, educate, and relate to organizing and life balance. I’ve included unique and inspiring next step-related finds, which reflect this month’s blog theme. You are a wonderfully engaged group. I look forward to your participation and additions to the collection I’ve sourced for you. What do you find interesting?

What’s Interesting? . . .

1. Interesting Read – Curiosity Next

Curiosity is one of the traits that I value. When I discovered A Curious Mind – The Secret to a Bigger Life by producer and author Brian Grazer, I had to read it. Grazer suggests that the power of curiosity can change your life. He says, “For me, curiosity infuses everything with a sense of possibility.” Consider this in the context of taking next steps. Curiosity involves asking questions, lots and lots of questions, without having a preconceived notion of what the answer will be. It’s about keeping a certain amount of openness for the possibility of discovering what you don’t know. Grazer realized through thirty-five years of having “curiosity conversations” with all types of people, that “…curiosity was the way to uncover ideas, it was the way to spark them.” These conversations became the seed ideas for many of his films and TV shows including A Beautiful Mind, Parenthood, Friday Night Lights, and Splash. When you’re stuck, get curious and ask questions. The idea for next is waiting for you.

2. Interesting Gadget – Fidget Next

Do you find it challenging to focus sometimes at work, home or school? If so, you’ll love the Fidget Cube. This small six-sided toy offers different types of activities on each side to play with including flip, glide, click, spin, roll and breathe. It will keep your hands occupied, your mind focused, and your stress levels low. Fidgeting could just be the best possible next step.

3. Interesting Resource – End Procrastination Next

There are so many reasons why next can elude us. One of the most common is that we might know what to do next, but we procrastinate. Fortunately, there’s a new kind of help available exclusively for procrastinators. Dr. Christine Li, clinical psychologist and procrastination coach, is a recovering chronic procrastinator who can help you “understand your struggle with procrastination and share useful strategies to help you make the important changes you want to make in your life.“ End the procrastination loop with strategies and support so that you can get to next.

4. Interesting Product – Play Next

One of the cleverest products I’ve recently discovered is Nimuno Loops, a Lego-compatible tape. It’s currently being crowd funded through Indiegogo and is not yet available to purchase. The tape lets you turn any surface into a Lego-building base. This inspired product unleashes your ability to play anywhere at anytime. When you’re feeling stuck and are not sure what your next step will be, consider the power of play. Toss a ball, build with blocks, or swing on a swing. Embrace the play-mode to unclog the mind.

5. Interesting Thought – Be Next

Sometimes in thinking or ruminating about next, we can lose sight of the present moment. Now is what’s here. Notice where you are, what you’re experiencing, and what you’re feeling. Be mindful. Be in this moment. Next will arrive soon enough.

What are your interesting finds? Which of these resonate with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation!

Are you smiling? It’s the first day of spring. The gift of hope and anticipation is in the air. Even though in New York we still have quite a lot of snow covering the ground, knowing that the new season (and one of my favorite ones) has arrived, makes me happy. There’s a joyful flutter within and a lightness that is present.

“Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush.”

 – Doug Larson

Yes, I know that life isn’t just sunshine and happy days. We have times of stress and sadness. We have days of challenges and despair. Yet we also have times of joy, of growth, of delight and hope. Let’s celebrate now. Let’s be on the lookout for and be mindful of all that we’re grateful for. Let’s acknowledge that we have the strength to face the challenges ahead and the insight to make the changes that we desire.

“I am going to pay attention to the spring. I am going to look around at all the flowers, and look up at the hectic trees. I am going to close my eyes and listen.”

 – Anne Lamott

What will be next for you? Do you need some time centering yourself in the here and now? Will you shift your focus to what you’re doing, feeling or thinking at this moment? Do you need to take care of the basics by eating something healthy, taking a walk outside, or getting some rest? Is it time to face a problem head-on like getting help with your organizing challenges or addressing your calendar and time clutter?

Here’s the beauty of this season. It’s a chance to reset. It’s a chance for a do-over or even a makeover. Access this moment, which will in turn improve your next step.

In the process of being, remember to pause and breathe in the wonders of spring. Where are you now? What are you feeling hopeful about? What is one challenge you’re facing? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation!

There are times when we aren’t at our best. Our energy is low. We feel mopey. Our motivation is zero. When that happens, it’s hard to move forward, let alone figuring out our next step. Insight for deciding what’s next comes from the most surprising places. My inspiration came a while ago when I was visiting my colleague’s blog.

I left a comment on her blog…or at least I tried to leave a comment. Before accepting my comment, the blog requested that I first complete an action to verify that I wasn’t a spammer or robot. It wanted me to complete a simple mathematical equation or identify specific objects within a group. Dutifully, I accepted the challenge. To my great surprise, a pop-up screen appeared with a message saying,

“You did not pass a human test. Please try again.”

I burst out laughing and accepted the challenge. This was one discerning anti-spam filter. It took me several attempts to succeed. I finally passed. Phew!

So how does this relate to my point? There are times when we aren’t up to passing the “human test.” We feel less than human. So what do we do when that happens? Consider these simple strategies when next eludes you:

Find the humor. In most situations, humor is there if we let ourselves embrace it. It’s OK to laugh at yourself and not take everything so seriously.  I delighted in the humor of the blog’s security message. It helped me move forward rather than get stuck in non-doing behavior.

Keep on trying. It took me more than one attempt to leave my comment. I could have given up when it didn’t work on the first try. Instead, I didn’t let one failed attempt stop me from pursuing a next step. Finding next often takes less effort than you think it will.  Don’t be discouraged.

Accept acknowledgment.  As humans we need to feel acknowledged and that we matter. It wasn’t affirming when the blog told me I wasn’t human. However, when it finally did acknowledge who I was, it felt great (as in doing the happy dance!) Acknowledgement is often bestowed on us, yet we don't accept it. Instead we make excuses about why we aren’t deserving of that message. You are deserving. Feel the power of that positive reinforcement. Let it nudge you to next instead of keeping you stuck in negativity.

Find a human. If I hadn’t been able to get past the spam filter, I would have connected with my fellow blogger to get help. Remember that you have people you can reach out to for tossing around ideas for next, for cheering you on when you’re at a low point or for helping you to get unstuck. You’re not alone.

I’m assuming that just by reading this, you have passed the human test. I’d love to hear what resonates with you? How do you approach next, especially when you've experience a challenge? Come join the conversation!

Do you ever get stuck? I’m guessing that you said, “yes” to that question. We get stuck for so many reasons such as we aren’t sure what to do next, or that next step seems too big, or we lack the confidence to experiment, or a million and one other reasons why we are treading water, but moving nowhere.

I’ve been holding on to a wonderful list of life lessons, written by author Regina Brett on the night before her 45th birthday. When she turned 50, she expanded the list. Every so often I read it over and by the end, I always feel inspired, grounded and energized. As I read her list again recently, I noticed the connection between her sage wisdom and how much of it related to becoming unstuck.

If you’re grappling with how to clarify your next step, dive into Regina Brett’s wonderful life lessons. Number two seemed particularly apt . . .

“When in doubt, just take the next small step.”

Regina Brett's 50 Life Lessons

1. “Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry. God never blinks.

16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If want to be a writer, write.

19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years, will this matter?’

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

35. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative – dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

41. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

49. Yield.

50. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.”

We get stuck. We experience doubt. We have challenges with figuring out what to do next. Which of these ideas resonate with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I invite you to join the conversation and share one of your life lessons with us!