My one word: CLARITY (giveaway post).

by

Do you recall when the six word memoir was all the rage?

(How sad is it I’d forgotten what my memoir was until I did the site search? The happy part is, just as when I wrote the memoir, the six words I’d picked still made me smile.)

Man did I struggle to wheedle my verbose-memoir down to six simple words (ala this fave quote).

Which is all the more reason why it surprised me that, after only five days on my Clutter Challenge, one word has continually come to mind: CLARITY.

I’ve been struggling lately to find my path.

Ive been struggling lately to discern which road to travel and precisely what I need to rejuvenate my spirit.

Ive been struggling lately to clear away all the unnecessary stuff (metaphorically) & to reclaim what lies beneath.

Ive been struggling lately to clear away all the unnecessary stuff (literally) and have realized that, with loss of things, emerges clarity of purpose.

Ive always believed in the notion that the more you give (metaphorically) the more flows back to you (or, to paraphrase the Great & Mighty Oprah, if you’re holding on tightly with both hands then G-d cant give you anything more).

I realized this week that the same notion holds true for worldly goods.

The more the Tornado & I have given away the more CLARITY Ive had in my head (& in my home).

And, because we all know I like to wear my mantras, I choose to assume you do as well.

I had the opportunity to get one of these for myself (very cool, huh?) and, in the spirit of less(stuff) is more(clarity), wanted to pass that chance along to you.

Have you joined in the 30 Day Clutter Challenge?

Have you had any moments of I get it. I get it. as I did?

Has one word continually come to mind as you sifted through your stuff deciding STAY, GO or MAYBE?

Has one word continually come to mind as you’ve pondered the notion of mental & physical decluttering this week?

You can be entered to win the unisex bracelet below for the low, low price of one single word.

il_430xn71488528

(Winner can be WORLD WIDE/announced Monday)

POSTS BY EMAIL

Never miss a post. Enter your email to get my latest posts delivered to your inbox.

Comments

  2. One word repeatedly flashes in my mind: ‘Good’, every time I shift something I don’t need or want anymore. I agree the clarity of purpose is clearer and stronger.

    It’s not easy doing the 30 day challenge but the pleasure is obvious.
    I like the personalised handmade jewellery – excellent idea

    Thanks
    Jens

  3. Growth–> always to strive for personal, physical and spiritual growth. Clearing things out means there’s room for more! Filling the void of the material with knowledge and power that is immaterial.

    I really loved this week on mizonline! It seriously helped me to de-clutter my thoughts and refocus in on what I want and what direction I want life to take me from here. So a huge THANKS, a million times over 🙂

    Hope you have a great weekend!

  7. I don’t want to be entered. As you know my sister makes the bracelets, but I want to play! Quiet! or Peaceful! That’s the sense I get when my home isn’t cluttered. As I look around I see all these piles of stuff that clutters my mind. When those piles go away and I can see the tops of counters and tables, I feel quiet and peaceful inside!! Love this topic Miz!

  9. I joined you this week and plan to stay with it thru the month and beyond.

    One word?

    Not sure I have one.

    If I had to pick I’d say LOSS as a reminder that a LOSS can be a good thing.

  10. My one word is determination.

    Determination got me off my crutches and walking unaided 6 months ago. Determination helped me lose 27lbs and determination will see me get my brown belt (1st belt) in Kung Fu in 10 days time and run in a 14km fun run in August.

    In fact I am thinking of getting determination tattooed on my arm in Chinese characters as a permanent reminder of what I can achieve if I am determined to achieve it.

  11. Rolemodel.

    I am one in the classroom and I want to live outside the class in a way which would also inspire.

    You’ve chocked me up, Miz!

  16. Whatever. Because in the grand scheme? None of this shit matters and when your friend’s husband’s cancer comes back you will sit there and drink and match her cookie for cookie and damn your ever expanding ass.

  17. Many words…

    “Gratitude” that I have so much good in the way of intangibles that I don’t really need all the material stuff

    “Peace” in the space I create to “Focus”

  23. Love Tina’s stuff and don’t enter me but as Nat said, we want to play along.
    And I’m not doing a very good job decluttering with this annoying cat situation.
    So my word would be:
    compassion.
    I have known this from the beginning. I just need to practice more.

  24. My word is always “believe”. Because I need to be reminded to: believe in myself, believe that things will work out and life will be great regardless of the bumps, believe that I’m working toward something good, believe that I can do what I set my mind to!

  26. While I’m not in the declutter challenge I’d still like to play.
    My word for mental, emotional, spiritual, etc. decluttering is a plain and simple “No.”

  27. Don’t enter me. I’ve got a birthday coming up, and may drop BK a few hints about the bracelet (okay, I’m going to drop hints, he may pick them up).

    But I’m going to play.

    My spring cleaning was disrupted to the troll on last Friday’s post on my blog identifying herself as Angela, which is the name I gave my oldest sister when writing about her. Given that said sister found my blog (and mailed me a copy of said post about her), and took a class where she had to write a blog (which would make her “well versed” in copyrights regarding blogs and free publication sources), I don’t think it’s too paranoid to assume it’s her. (Sorry I unburdened myself here, but I needed to announce it somewhere).

    As a result of that week, I’m going with “free” or “badass”. And wish I could go with “only child”.

  30. SPARK.

    I am finding mine. It sounds as though you are looking for yours, too.

    Take care.

  32. STOP.

    Stop running, stop collecting stuff (both literal and metaphorical), stop holding on so tightly. Just STOP.

  34. STRENGTH

    I have been thinking about getting that tattooed on my wrist but this would be less painful 🙂
    I need a reminder that my physical and mental strength are more important than how my clothes fit.

  35. SIMPLIFY.

    That is a word I have trying to live by for a few years now, and I realize that the clutter may be the last frontier I need to conquer in simplifying my life!

    And, BTW, I came home from a trip out of town and ATTACKED the paper piles in my house, and I didn’t even ‘remember’ your challenge. (I’m sure it was deep in my brain though.)

  42. Hey there!!

    Was directed to your blog in my ongoing effort to find people willing to help! (Didn’t realize you were giving something away today! Won’t enter in hopes that you will instead, help me out!)

    Hop over to my blog if you have minute. It will explain what I’m trying to do and how you can help.

    http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwonderfulworldofweiners.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fspilling-beans.html&h=500267e629998cab52e8669290a9b49e

    You can cut and paste the above link or just click over to my blog and scroll down to yesterday’s post.

    Thanks!

    Hallie

  43. how cool! i was contemplating something along these lines recently.

    i think i decided on “consistency”. 🙂

  48. FOCUS.

    Incidentally it is my word of the year for 2009. Adapt and enthusiasm (my last two years words) could have easily fit as well!

  50. Equanimity.

    For me letting go of physical objects and clutter helps me cultivate the ability to let go of some of the internal clutter inhibiting my ability to move forward with equanimity. It’s a concept I got hooked on in some of my yoga classes and is easier (for me) to practice on my catch-all draw than my mind. 🙂

    what fascinates me is how all our -ities (and other words) are connected…

  52. SEEKER

    I thought long and hard as to what my ONE word would be! I though of so many ~ as an educator I instantly thought of TEACHER as my word but I am more of a LEARNER – but in reality and in all aspects of my life I am a SEEKER.

    The more I say it the more I realize that is exactly it!! I learn so much from my fellow bloggers and I am constantly seeking new ways, new knowledge. Because Knowledge is Power! and I must SEEK it!!

    Thanks for all that you do MIZ!! Thanks for all that you have taught me! and thank you most of all for this declutter challenge – it is pushing me in ways I had no idea were possible!

  54. PAZ

    Peace (in Spanish). Searching for it and creating it, inside and out, every day 🙂

  55. ‘YES’

    as in ‘yes i can . . .(insert whatever I’m trying to do at the moment)’

  57. love – is usually mine but-

    but today I like the one “exceed” as in my own expectations. I think I’ll use this exercise for my 4-6th grade PE classes next year. A word to remember who you want to be. Thanks!

  59. Persevere

    Normally, my one word I try sign off all my blogposts with is “PEACE,” and I do use “PEACE” frequently, however, I’ve just spent the last year recouping from an injury that should have kept me from running, period. I have titanium rods, screws and plates in my right leg. I ran a marathon on May 31, 2009. Persevere seems more appropriate, and it’s a reminder to myself that I can get past just about anything.

  61. LOVED

    This word chokes me up every time I think about it. I spent too many years of my life resisting love from myself and others. Now that I’m at a better place in life and I am able to let love in, I truly cherish it.

  63. Pretty.

    The bracelets, I mean. Not my word. (Although “pretty” actually goes quite well, if you think about it…)

    The word that has been crossing my mind is “free”. It’s so liberating to get rid of clutter.

  64. Friendship.

    A reminder how important it is to me and that I need to give it freely to others and nurture the ones I have.

    Thanks MizFit for all you do for us.

  65. wow you guys have some intense amazing words and thoughts.

    my thoughts go out to so many of you as well (sassy, marianne, workout mommy, and on and on…)

  68. ah yes.. clarity those elusive but awesome moments when you just know in the gut what’s the right direction.

    sometimes slow down to go faster
    happy trails
    gp

  69. balance – i’m always striving to find balance in all areas of my life. i tend to go to the extremes and then get all anxious and panicky. then i have to remind myself to breathe deep and everything will be ok and it’s not as bad as i think it is. maybe i should go with the word breathe instead.

  70. Poppins

    It’s just a symbol to me that I already have every single thing I need in my “bag”….I just need to show up, be present and do the work.

  72. Hope

    Not as in “I hope I don’t eat this cookie” but as in “My hope is in the Lord.” I may or may not eat the cookie, but my God is absolutely consistent. I think it will help me keep perspective.

  73. AWARE

    Something I’m trying to be more, to be more alive to the things and people around me, rather than letting life/time just slip on by.

    Long time lurker and admirer of your blog.

  75. The fam and I have taken this week as a breather since school just got out for us on Friday. We are starting the 30 days beginning Monday. We plan to “redeem” our space. Who doesn’t need “redemption”?

  77. Enough.

    I am trying to lose thirty pounds and am working on focusing on the fact that a little can be enough.

    (And the fact that when I’m tempeted to eat just I have eaten ENOUGH already in my life to last me a lifetime.)

  82. Wow, I haven’t stopped by that much lately, and when I have I’ve not commented. Mainly that is because I am in a search for something, thus my one word:

    SELF

  83. today.

    Because today I commit to….commitment, haha. That is what I struggle with the most, along with motivation, but I think motivation is actually a part of commitment. I love this journey, but day to day it is a struggle sometimes.

  86. Joy is the first word to come to mind, as in “look for the joy in every day and situation.” But since it’s on my drivers license, I’ll go with…

    Laugh.

  88. You always make me think so hard that my head hurts!! In a good way! 🙂 BUT, I tried not to look at the other responses so not sure if this word is already there.

    BELIEVE

    I am so bad at believing in myself & I guess I need a constant reminder to do that along with all your great posts!

    BELIEVE

    in myself… I need to do that & it is just hard!

    Thx as always for your thoughtful posts.

    I had never heard of this six word memoir…. going to go back to that & work on it & maybe even post on my blog!

  89. This is a great post and one which I can relate to closely and personally.

    DREAMS would be my one word – they are what drive me, what keep me focused, keep me reaching, searching, learning and growing.

  92. Wow. Picking one has been quite the challenge – which makes me thing that I need to work on it! But I think that, like many others, I can settle on peace.

    Thanks for the post – even if I don’t win, it has certainly made me think!

  94. Just reading everyone else’s “one word” made me feel better! The word that I would choose is “blessing.” Although now that I type that out it looks funny. And I also really like “enough” – stealing it from a previous commenter, natch

  95. Acceptance.

    I was tempted to join you in Clarity, Miz, but when I closed my eyes and thought about it, this is the word that came to mind. It’s such a good place for me to begin things.

  97. WORTHY

    …as in, *I* am – worthy of success, worthy of happiness, worthy of achieving the goal of becoming happy with my body and making that body as healthy as possible. Worthy of the love that I have been denying myself when I sabotage my efforts at attaining that level of health.

  98. Childish…whenever i start thinking like a kid again i seem to cut all the excess b.s. from my life + i end up feeling fantastic! Try it…dare ya…

  99. FAMILY

    (My Dad’s in ICU. He had a heart attack Monday night that he thought was just nausea and some flu-bug. No chest pain at all. Walked [weakly] around the house for 2 days before his heart couldn’t keep up with the fluid anymore & Mom & I insisted he let me get him to the hospital. He’s sedated and on a ventilator. Prayers very welcome, thanks.)

  103. Try.

    Sometimes I have to remind myself to just try. It doesn’t matter if I fail, I just need to try.

  105. balance
    as I cleaned through my old things, I found out how “perfect” everything had to be. I couldn’t let go of the idea of imperfection. (whatever imperfection was in my mind at that time).
    Now, I’m letting go of that “perfection” and trying to find balance in life.

  107. today – i had to remind myself that today is the day that i should live for. NOT tomorrow.

  109. I have been on my own clutter challenge for a lot longer than 30days, (which tells you how successful I have been at clearing it…NOT!) But I do have occasional small victories. Like yesterday, as I played Diane Reeves on my computer and hunkered into the guest room to rearrange the furniture and purge the closet. I even moved the Giant TV, (Shhh don’t tell my husband!). As neared the end of my task I felt a number of the words that have been shared so eloquently before me; freedom, peace, accomplishment and the like. But when you get right down to it, after spending so many of my days in a state of high stress for one reason or another, the overwhelming feeling I had when that room was finished was… “RELIEF”. And boy did it feel good.

    SMILE On!

    ML
    http://www.misslori.TV

  110. Miz, I can honestly say that you are helping me much….and seeing the posts today, so much love, so much need!
    I would love me the bracelet…..but I have two words, I hope that doesn’t disqualify me.

    RIGHT NOW.

    …..there’s a really good VanHalen song with that title…so much is going on everywhere, right now…this reality now is what we have. I need some self love at the moment, I think I’ve been in need for a while…
    thanks

  111. Late to reading and commenting. but my word this week has been has been (oddly):

    RISK.

    Risk doing things; risk doing without things.

  116. Though I haven’t joined the Clutter Challenge, it’s funny because my “life” right now has forced me to de-clutter of sorts. Reading your post brought me chills, as I too have been going through what you have:

    Struggling to find my path (I’m on a good path but ‘know’ I have a higher & brighter one), deciding which road to travel, and clearing away unnecessary stuff (physical and mental) to reclaim what lies beneath. And I too have found some clarity of purpose.

    The one word that comes to my mind during the physical and mental de-cluttering is: AWARENESS. Awareness of who I am, who I want to be, and how I want to live. The road is not completely shown yet, but I’m not worried about it. By just taking the first step, then the second, then the third, etc. the road will show itself.

    I really IS amazing when you de-clutter your outside world, you de-clutter your inside world…all for the better.

  117. More.

    In most areas of my life, less has been more. Living with minimal clutter helps me clearly and literally see what is important. But “more” also signifies my constant and unceasing quest to want more out of life in a self-evolution kind of way. Expecting more from myself, from others, from the world – it all leads to positive progress.

    And…I hate to be THAT person, but in the great line of Arielle the little mermaid, “I want MOOOOOOOOORE”
    Sorry, couldn’t help myself. 😉

  119. Or actually, now that I think a moment longer…. “Do”. I have a tendency to plan and think and research… and am too often slow on the doing part…

  121. Love “Enough.” Love “Renewal.” Love “Radiance.” Love so many of the words.

    I know I’m coming late to the game, but I wanted to read what everyone has to say. I feel inspired, now.

    And I have two words: one for the year–“Faster.”–and one for all time–“Endure.”

  122. I’m so late to the party but I didn’t see my word so I thought I’d share it:

    RESILIENCE

    Because in this journey its been full of ups and downs, I’ve been bent and twisted but I always bounce back.

  124. FYI…

    I went ahead and did a happy birthday to myself and purchased one of these bracelets. I love the idea behind this bracelet and that it is hand crafted. I linked you and the crafter on my blog. My word is “Persevere.”

Trackbacks

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This