TPC "lite": A Little Public Humiliation and a Whole Lot of "Baditude"

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Step 5:  Keep It Up

The best way to keep [your office/hobby] space clear is to regularly invite people over for a work or hobby night. Don’t underestimate the power of public humiliation when it comes to an area that it would be just as easy to shut the door on.

Also keep the area pretty. Put in your personal touches so that it’s a place you want to keep organized and easy to use. 


(Kathi Lipp, The Get Yourself Organized Project, pgs. 102-103)

So, I didn’t exactly invite people over. But I’m pretty sure posting photos counts as public humiliation!

Actually, as I learned when giving an education workshop (called “Subduing the Chaos: Becoming ‘Organized Enough’”), sharing photos like this is a great way to separate the Melancholies from the Sanguines.

The Melancholies are horrified: “I can’t believe anyone can live like that!”  (Or my mother’s version:  “Just looking at this makes me feel messy!”)

And the Sanguines all exclaim, “Oh, that looks like my desk!”  (And often, with great enthusiasm, “Only mine is way worse!”)

For the record, a typical Choleric approach is, “As long as I can find what I need when I need it!” And Phlegmatics generally think, “That looks like way too much work.”

Replacing Baditude

Here are the baditudes that cropped up during today’s de-cluttering spree:

1.  “You’ve allowed things to get so bad that now you have to take everything out, sort it, organize it, and put it back NOW.” 

Are you familiar with the “pull everything out so I’ll be forced to deal with it” technique? If so, you know the misery it produces...and perpetuates! Oh the times I’ve gutted one area of the house...and spread the contents all over the rest of the house...and then become so discouraged that I quit completely!

2.  “You missed the deadline to join the class action lawsuit to get money back for this incredibly expensive power source! How could you?”

Yes, this power source not only smoked, it sparked and briefly caught on fire. And yes, I would love to have gotten my piece of the class action pie ($45 if I recall!) But no, it’s not an option any more. 

3.  “Oh my goodness, I can’t believe you haven’t put everything in a memory album for Daddy yet! His birthday party was two months ago!”

Never mind that I haven’t put anything in any memory album for about a decade. Actually, I take that back. I've put plenty of money into memory albums–I own dozens! And scrapping tools. And supplies. (And a featherduster to keep them clean!)

4.  “What is with all these dumb Post-It Notes? You are so scattered! Mind going a thousand directions at once, always arriving nowhere.”

I have the world’s. worst. memory.  This is a statement of fact, not a complaint. (Okay, it might be a slight hyperbole.) The moment an idea, a reminder, a question, a concern, a task, etc. crosses my mind, I yank out a Post-It Note and jot it down. Sometimes, in the time it takes to grab a pen, I forget what I was supposed to jot down. It’s bad.

5.  “You are re-using Post-It flags? You waste everything else in your entire life but hoard Post-It flags?!?”

Don’t ask me. I’ll burn $10 of gas to buy a $5 Starbucks mocha and walnut-and-brown-sugar tart. But I recycle Post-it flags. 

With God’s Word

On Day 5, I wrote about the fight to be right. And about how much I hate being wr...wr...wr...not completely right!  

Baditude #1 was all about punishment, and I almost fell for it! I felt like I deserved to spend 8-10 hours “atoning” for my “sin” of allowing my desk to look so awful. Instead, I set a 15-minute timer and gently did what I could. Baditude #2 was all about blame. After taking the photo, I disposed of the defective power source. 

(Can't see the image? Click here to read Romans 3:24!)

I am righteous. Looking at my desk, at my choices, at my heart, I am reminded of what an “undeserved kindness” I’ve been given. To be declared righteous!?!

I need to let go of self-blame and self-punishment. 

I need to Let God’s declaration that I am righteous become my “because.” 

On Day 6, I wrote that our greatest need isn’t better behavior. Our greatest need is a Savior.

Baditudes #3-5 were all about my bad behaviors: taking too long, using too many, hoarding too much.

(Can't see the image? Click here to read Ephesians 1:7!)

I am forgiven. My focus isn’t my behavior–bad or good. My focus is on my Savior.

I need to let go of all my “too”s.

I need to Let God be my Savior and surrender to Him my behavior.

And Gratitude

from my journal:

Today I’m praying…

• ...for motivation to work on my desk 15 minutes a day so that by July 1 it’s “done.”
• ...to hear Your words, not mine, as I face all this “stuff” that I need to let go.
• ...that I can figure out how to make my office pretty, not just practical!

Today I’m watching for…

• …other areas of the house that probably are driving my Melancholy husband bananas.
• ...ways to have some Sanguine fun so that all work and no play doesn’t make Cheri a dull girl.
• ...chances to share the abundance of “unburied treasures” with those who can use them.

Today I’m appreciating…

• ...the variety of opportunities You’ve given me.
• ...the fact that I am never ever bored! :-)
• ...how good it felt to stop when that 15-minute timer went off.

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