06.24.2016

EmbarrMESSment

People feel the need to clean their house before people come over to clean their house. The ridiculousness of that sentence sheds light on a massive societal problem- we need help with tasks, but are embarrassed of how much we need the extra hand. If we somehow make things appear less dire than they actually are, then maybe people won't judge us for our shortcomings- even though we are the ones who enlisted their help. This paradox has become very apparent through my work of professional organizing.



When I tell people about Joyful Organization, most of them have the same response of, "Oh my gosh, you should come to my house. But you would be horrified of all the stuff I have everywhere." What these people may not realize is that I wanted to become a professional organizer to help everyone on the organizing spectrum; from a single mom who needs a little bit more order in her household to the habitual hoarder who realizes they can't continue living in their present condition. I know their comments come from a place of self-consciousness, but their disclaimers do not make me feel any less prepared or willing to take on the job. In fact, it tells me there is a great need that should be addressed.

It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that we, as humans, are fallible. We specialize in our jobs because certain people are more adept at some tasks than others. For example, I am a terrible gardener. My attempts at gardening leave me scratched and irritable, frustrated at my lack of a green thumb. I've tried looking up articles on how to plant perennials and how to till soil for flower beds. Even though the information is at my disposal, I still have an incredibly difficult time in this area. Therefore, I recently came to the conclusion that I needed help- a person who could walk me through the gardening process. My mother-in-law is a wonderful gardener, so I asked her to come help me sort out my mess of a flower bed. It wasn't easy to ask for help, but I knew she would guide me in the right path. It was so encouraging to have her guidance, and I feel as though I now have the tools and knowledge to keep my garden running smoothly.

In the same way, many people recognize their need for organization, but feel a hesitancy to ask for help. It's easier for them to believe that people are either born organized or not, and give up hope of a lasting change. Or, they put forth futile efforts on occasion to declutter, only to amass a collection of even more items in a short amount of time. One way to combat this ongoing struggle of yo-yo organizing is to ask for help from someone who will guide you on your journey. This is not a sign of weakness, but an opportunity to receive strategies and tools that will change the way items are perceived. Also, organization is a state of mind that can be learned, so my goal with Joyful Organization is to empower every client with organizational systems that can be maintained throughout every stage of life. Furthermore, there is no silent judgement or condemnation when asking for a helping hand. Every client I have is protected by a confidentiality agreement so that they feel comfortable opening up their home to me. Working with belongings is a very personal thing, so I recognize the necessity of building a trusting relationship with clients.

Finally, disorganization is a reality that can steal time, joy, and peace of mind. It is a real problem that needs to be addressed, not swept under the rug of shame. Joyful Organization can give the disorganized individual the support and knowledge they desperately need to make a lasting change. Be brave. Don't let embarrMESSment keep you from a decision to transform your life.