April 15, 2008

What's In Your Closet?   Clinton Kelly was in town the other day.  He's the male co-host of TLC's What Not To Wear, the wardrobe makeover television program.  Although I was unable to see him personally, I did read about his visit in the local newspaper, The Telegraph, thanks to columnist Cynthia Ellis.   One thing he's [Clinton] learned is that people who are attached to their clothing have a lot of emotional baggage.  He said anyone who keeps items in their closet that do not fit is actually holding on to the past.   "Those clothes mean something to them," he said.  "It's about another time or place."'   He said, however, holding on to clothing is a negative reminder of how one used to look or be and no one should have to deal with that on a daily basis.  "If you used to be a size 6 and now you're a size 12, well who wants to be reminded of that every time you open the closet?"   Closets are the metaphor for so much more. Who wants to be reminded of ...the failed marriage, the job that went sour, the friend who's no longer a friend, the deal that never came to fruition, the chance of a lifetime that fizzled, the "one" who got away, the BIG mistake you made twenty years ago? Yet, every time you open the closet door, you're hit in the face with all your past baggage.   Why dredge up all that old baggage?  It's history. Learn from your past and your errs; then leave it there.  Close that closet door.  This is where you are today.  Life is from this day forward.  What can you do today that will impact your life tomorrow?         "The things you want are always possible; it is just that the way to get them is not always apparent.  The only real obstacle in your path to a fulfilling life is you, and that can be a considerable obstacle because you carry the baggage of insecurities and past experiences."             Les Brown   "Some of the best lessons we ever learn are learned from past mistakes.  The error of the past is the wisdom and success of the future."             Dale Turner   "There are no mistakes.  The events we bring upon ourselves, no matter how unpleasant, are necessary in order to learn what we need to learn; whatever steps we take, they're necessary to reach the places we've chosen to go."             Richard Bach   "You are now at a crossroads.  This is your opportunity to make the most important decision you will ever make.  Forget your past.  Who are you now?  Who have you decided you really are now?  Don't think about who you have been.  Where are you now?  Who have you decided to become?  Make this decision consciously.  Make it carefully.  Make it powerfully."             Tony Robbins       Clintonwould have a field day in my closet.  I have clothes that just don't fit at all, yet they're still hanging there. Wishful thinking makes me keep them.  After all, I did set some goals at the beginning of the year.  Moreover, I have a few items of clothing that make me cringe - whatever possessed me to buy those?  It's like that knock on the head that says, "Stephanie, what were you thinking when you did that?" (place the appropriate baggage in the question)   It's time to close the door and move on.  I have the power within to create a closet of my dreams.  So do you!   Have a fantastic week and close that closet door to your baggage.   Stephanie     We grow by "word-of-email" so please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone whom you think might benefit from and enjoy it. Thanks so much! Contact Us: stephanie@7steps2abalancedlife.com