I have a tendency to look for the bright side of apparently bad things. The “economic crisis” is weighing heavy on a lot of us, and much of the news tends to be gloomy bad news. So I want to point out one of the best things that I see resulting from this crisis.

From businesses to family’s, people are taking stock and pulling their energy out of the excessive and extraneous, and, streamlining.

The dictionary definition I liked best for streamlining is: “to alter in order to make more efficient or simple.”

Weather this altering is pointed at our business offerings or our expenditures or our to-do lists, it is good to move towards less clutter and more simplicity. In a culture which seems to almost celebrate excess, we could really use this good excuse to cut away the fat and get down to what is essential.

So in the spirit of this, I offer these INQUIRIES to think about & Act on:

1.    What area of your life do you feel most overwhelmed by? List ways (from the small to the drastic) that you could simplify in that area.
2.    How many pots are on your front burner? If any of these projects aren’t bringing profit and fulfillment, can you put them on the back burner or take them off the stove?
3.    What in your life is weighing you down and would make you slow to respond to changes? Examples of these weights range from outdated mental baggage to a cluttered garage that needs going through, or a living situation that is comfortable but nestles you into a rut. What activity could you undertake that would lift some of that weight off you?

Some Suggested Streamlining Actions:

•    Go through your closet and take out everything you don’t love or don’t wear. Give it to charity or organize a fun clothing swap.
•    Go through your closets, drawers and garage and repeat the above exercise.
•    Go through your email inbox and delete as much of it as you can and file the rest.
•    Look over the projects that you started and haven’t completed and see which ones you can complete and which ones you can toss or give away.
•    Organize your computer files and clean up your desktop. Get rid of any technology that you aren’t using, and backup your important info on a CD and an external drive.

OVERALL– Look over everything in your life from your belongings to projects to relationships and be willing to release anything that does not bring you money, fulfillment, or joy.