THE CUP

So my kids and I have with up with CUP or the Clean-Up Plan. My kids are young so they love to collect things....well them and me. I save every single thing that they bring back from school and we have a box for each one of them. We have over the last few years collected a whole bunch of stuff for them. So last week, we decided as the CUP team, that we would tackle one area at a time and thoroughly go through every single box, bags and shoe boxes (yes I have put stuff in there too), and sort through.

So for the last couple of weeks, we have picked one day and spent time going through each area. I have to say that I am really proud of my kids. They have done such a good job getting rid of a lot of stuff. We worked as a team and only with their consent, I got rid of the stuff that they had not played with for a while (rule was last month), or broken. We even collected a bunch of stuff for donation. We have a few more weeks before we get done but we have a plan. In fact, at the end of the day, my kids were the one asking “what’s next mommy”.

I have to say the CUP worked very well. We sat together and said we really need to do this. They are so much more organized now and it helps them focus. They absolutely love their space and I am proud that they are keeping it that way.

I feel like the CUP can really apply to all areas of our lives as well, not just the stuff we accumulate. I for one during this time have found my own things completely unorganized. I am now also planning to recruit my kids to help me get organized. It’s no wonder it has been so hard for me to focus.

Another area where the CUP has really strike my heart is in my own personal life. I found that I really like to compartmentalize things but it is all just “thrown in”. There is no organized way and no categories that make sense to me right now. When I refer to my personal life, I am speaking of things like my job, goals and future plans. I know what I want to do (or maybe I think I know) but have no idea when or how. It’s disorganized and I have to start going through all my personal areas and dig deep in the drawers and clean it out or get rid of what does not fit in my personal values.

Let’s take my job for example.  I come in everyday, do what I need to do and leave. I have been at my job for the last 12 years, in the same position, mostly doing the same thing. There have been opportunities that have come my way but I had to turn it down for one reason or another. So now part of my plan is to look at my job and see how it is aligning with my values and goals. Right now, I don’t have the answer but this is something I want to figure out. Now, it does pay the bills and I am grateful that I have a job.  I just can’t keep things the way they are since it is not allowing me to focus on what’s important and that is to make sure I am learning and growing every day.

I think I need to answer some very important questions to help me figure things out. Here are some that I came up with:

1. What are my goals? Do I enjoy what I am doing and is it aligning with my goals?
2. Am I learning and growing everyday?
3. How does it fit in with my personal and family values? If it does not fit, what are the steps that I need to take so I am in alignment with self and my family.
4. Where do I see myself in a few years?
5. Am I happy with where I am and what I am doing?
6. At the end of my life, when I look back, have I truly lived my life with what I wanted to do?

So for me the CUP is not just the stuff, which is important, but now I need to focus on other intangible areas and really come up with a plan and to figure it out. I need to focus more on the inside stuff. This is going to be hard and I want to take my time to come up with a plan and take the right steps. 

Everything is figureoutable. I have always known deep down what I needed to do, but I keep making excuses about why I can’t get to it today. So from now on, no more excuses. I am going to come up with a plan and work through it. I just need to do it and that’s it. There will always be tomorrow, but I am going to start today. So first things first, clean out my desk and closet and then move on.

I hope this motivates you to take a look at where you may need the CUP and have a plan to figure it out. It may be hard and definitely overwhelming but think about the end result of what you want to achieve and make that your motivation. That is certainly mine and part of living my wholly life. Only you can do it and know that I am here to support you my fellow tribe! Wish you love.

Peace,

Monita