Photo Source: krossbow

Along with any major transition in life comes a time of self-reflection and soul searching, especially when caught off-guard by unwanted or unplanned change. So, needless to say, with all the changes that have been going on in both my personal and professional lives over the last few years, my brain has been pretty darn busy! 😉

And, this month has been no exception. I’ve been back at it again… full force… trying to determine exactly what my big picture looks like. Particularly for my business. I’ve found myself so consumed by the precise details of the ‘how’ that I’ve really lost focus of the ‘why’ (as in why I’m ‘doing this’ in the first place)!

Indeed, I am a professional organizer. But, I am not here to help you ‘get organized’!

(Yes… you did read that correctly!)

I am here to transform the way you live. I am here to ask the tough questions. I am here to help you refocus on your big picture. I am here to challenge your thinking. I am here to help you make choices that are right for you. I am here to ensure that what you own does not own you. I am an agent of change… a catalyst of sorts…

So, let me ask that question again… What does your big picture look like?

A goal without a plan is just a wish.

— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

I so love this post by fellow professional organizer, Megan Spears, founder of Disorder2Order!

Here’s a little taste…

Photo Source: misstrixie

I like to think that there is good in the ordinary. If look at this picture for example… it’s just a rock on the beach, right? If you look a little closer you might see an elephant drinking from the ocean.

Seeing potential in things that are ordinary is one of the best parts of my job. I see things that others don’t (or can’t) in themselves or their cluttered spaces. The interesting thing is that when I started my business, I had no idea that was going to be so important.

When I started my business it was scary. Really, what did I know about running a business? Was I really going to be able to make money? How was I going to balance babies and a business?

There were moments in that first year that I truly thought I had lost my mind. Now, six years later I am so thankful for my decisions and the obstacles that I have overcome. Not only do I have the best job in the world but I make a difference, and that makes me feel good.

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Ladies, why are we so broken? What consistently brings us to that all-consuming black hole of self-deprecation? How is it that we can so fervently profess the extraordinary value that lies within our closest female friends and, in the same breath, allow ourselves to be beaten utterly senseless—emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually—by everyone around us, including ourselves? How do we get to ‘that place’?

These are questions that have weighed heavily on my heart for as long as I can remember, and more recently, having publicly shared about my experience with postpartum depression, lost and then gained treasured friendships with like-minded moms of young children, unwillingly undergone increasingly challenging life changes, and watched countless episodes of ‘real’ reality shows like Hoarders, Intervention, and Snapped, my desire to find the answers has grown at an increasing rate, gaining a sense of urgency along the way.

Why do we find it such a challenge to love ourselves? And, how do we change our ways? What can we do to ensure that we treat ourselves with the love and respect we so richly deserve?

My Simple Solution: Think of my daughter. What kind of role model do I want to be for her? What beliefs do I want to instill in her about her own self-worth? My greatest desire as a mom is to teach my daughter how to be a strong, confident, self-sufficient, and kind-hearted woman. So, that is exactly the person that I must try to be.

Now, what about you? Who are you today? What lessons are you teaching those around you? Remember, you deserve nothing less than the respect and love that you would bestow upon your best friend in a heartbeat. In fact, this is the perfect moment for you to be your very own “perfectly imperfect” best friend.

How do you affirm your self-worth as a woman, a wife, a mother, and a friend? Are there times when you struggle to see your own value? What tactics do you employ to get yourself out of ‘that funk’? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

The Holiday Helps series was so popular that I think I will continue to share my favorite printable freebies with you throughout the year! So, as you take a step back, look at the big picture with a critical eye, and plan out your goals for the new year, these tools should come in handy… Enjoy!

	Goal List from Buttoned Up
	Goals Cheat Sheet from The Home CEO
	Resolutions Planner from Martha Stewart
	Goal-Setting from { simple mom }
	My Personal Goals from momAgenda
	My Specific Goals from momAgenda
	Goal Chart from The Project Girl