Have you ever researched a car to buy and suddenly start seeing it everywhere? Have you ever been in a noisy crowd of people where nothing seems audible until you hear your own name clear as a bell? This is your brain's Reticular Activating System at work, charged with filtering out the unimportant stuff so you can notice what is important--or what you think is important at the time. Some of these filters are based on survival instinct (food=good!), but others have come about from beliefs you may not even realize you have (always looking for an exit because you have a belief about being trapped, for example). 

Exciting news! You can intentionally program the RAS to seek and find evidence of anything that you want! In the example of the titular game "Looking for Hearts," which I learned about from author/speaker Mel Robbins, one simply decides to look for heart shapes in the world wherever they go and begins to find them--in clouds, in rock formations, in imprints on toast, or in a reflection off the person-near-you's hair.  

When you give your brain a job, it goes to work faithfully for what you have told it is important.

But after a time, maybe your brain notices that hearts aren't actually that big of a deal to you because you can't eat them or they're just not really getting you out of the bed in the morning and that's okay! If you want them to be a priority to you, just leave a reminder to keep looking for them. Keep re-deciding to keep telling your brain they are important.

OR...pick something that actually matters deeply to you, but is not looking the way you want: your romantic partnership, your business's success, your connection with your kids, your home environment. Put your brain on the job of finding the good and beautiful in one of these areas. The more you decide to look for it, the more you will find. The more attention you give it, the more you will create examples of it through your own connectedness and loving attention. 

You create more of what you focus on.

That ALSO means...if you're determined to find evidence of negativity, frustration, disharmony, hostility, resentment, etc, you can do that, too. Does it feel good to you to focus on those things? Probably not. You don't have to convince yourself that you love things you don't love; your mind will not believe this at all! Just slowly, intentionally, consciously: look for the good and hopeful and bright. 

Look for the hearts! They're everywhere. You'll see.

Quiz Time!

How do you feel when you think about the cords and electronics in your house?

A. We don't talk about Bruno.

B.  No. No. No.

C. We don't talk about Bruno!

D. Never should have brought up Bruno!

E. Neutral

F. Energized

G. Peaceful

Most of us mortals fall somewhere between A and D (or A through D). As technology becomes obsolete ever more quickly and we adapt our lives to "how things are now," setting time aside to organize and untangle our electronic lives can feel hard, overwhelming, confusing, and therefore at the bottom of our priority list. But I want to tell you why that it's exactly BECAUSE you feel these ways that you want to move such activities to the top of your list, at least the top of your non-life threatening list. Sorry Future-Me, that's going to be your problem.

Our homes are constantly reinforcing our beliefs about ourselves, even (especially) subconsciously when we're trying not to look. Every time we see (even without looking) the tangled cord mess, our energy dips a little and dips like that throughout your home add up to a whole lot of tired (and overwhelm).  That sounds like a Now-Me Problem. And since I love both Now-Me and Future-Me (and Past-Me, too. XOXO.) and I am totally in charge of how I feel, I want to make both of our lives better. And Future-Me is going to slay because of how much I am hooking her up right now, amirite?!

I'm not going to spend too much time trying to convince you to slay the dragon though because you will when you're ready (I can coach you if you think you'll never be ready! You're already here, aren't you?!). I want to talk about HOW to slay the dragon. Until you are ready and your thoughts align, the How is kind of irrelevant, BUT I want you to know how easy it is. So let's go!

First, decide on the space you want to work on. 

I love and appreciate that the KonMari method says bring it all out of every nook and cranny at once and have done with it, but some of us have to go to the dentist or pick our kid up from school or do anything except devote the next however endlessly long to clear all electronic and cord clutter in our house. You know your space and time best, so set your project parameters: e.g. "TV Cabinet area," or "Home office," or even more specific "Home office computer area." 

Set Your Intention. 

You don't have to bring in divine guidance for this task (unless you want to, in which case: great idea!), but take a minute to determine your goal for the area beyond "Please God, not this." One helpful way to do this is to take pictures of your cord situation. This is especially helpful if it's semi-hidden or difficult to get to. It will give you a better idea of your space and what will help the most.

For example, do you have white walls and black cords going in every direction you don't want to see anymore? Do you have things plugged in to inconveniently located outlets that could be moved? Do you have overloaded outlets? Is everything tangled? Do you even know what everything is and you'd like to know at a glance what you're unplugging? Consider where your pain points are. If all of them, don't worry; it will become more clear as you go. If it's obvious and you want to order some cord management products (cord labels, cord hiding wall kit to match paint, cable sleeves, velcro ties, etc.) ahead of time, go ahead. But be careful to order just what you need so the returns don't become another hassle. If you don't know, just wait, little chickadee. That is coming.

I also recommend taking pictures of the backs of devices where everything is connected so that you know for sure which cord plugs into what once everything is ready to go back in place. Take it from me; it's a bummer to realize you have no idea once everything is disconnected.

Editing, then Organizing (Fun part?)

Do not organize before you edit, unless you love wasting your time. Why neatly coil and label a cable you don't want or need? Just sayin'.

• Take everything out.

  Unplug cords from outlets, pull all devices and cords out (be safe! you may need help if you are moving something large like a tv).  Detangle and separate cords from one another. Group into piles of similar items. This will help you identify when you have multiples, as well as knowing what everything is.
  
  

• Weed out the duds.

  Did you, as I did, have a cord plugged into the outlet and absolutely nothing else? Were there miles of coaxial cables for days with no apparent destination? Are some of the cables broken, frayed, or known to be useless? Put all these in a big satisfying pile to toss. Is anything completely random (that belongs in another space) up there--no judgment here; note the karaoke microphone in my before pics above. Make a pile of items to rehome or take them to their place as you go.
  
  

• Wipe everything down

  (can be as you go): the devices, the cords, the space with a microfiber cloth to catch dust and follow with a magic eraser, or spray cleaner, as needed to remove additional gunk and goo. Ahhh, doesn't that feel better.
  
  

• Stage and Set-Up Your Space

  It may be helpful to have some additional muscle on hand once again to help you re-arrange as you work. Put all the major devices back where they go (or you now want them to) nearest the outlet that makes the most sense. Are your cords too long (most likely) or too short? Do you have enough outlets? Do you need a power strip or a cord cover to make your dreams come true? If you have the organizing products you need (could be as simple as twist ties or rubber bands to bundle too-long cords)?
  
  Plug everything in where it goes and add cord management solutions as you go keeping cords taut, smooth, and bound together or coiled, as needed.  Every situation requires a little something different, but I have made an Amazon list of some basic cord management products I have personally used with comments about their uses to assist you. Need more ideas, visit TheContainerStore.com and search "cord management."

Elevate and Celebrate! 

Want to add that little something extra to your space? What about some cute baskets to hold your video games and remotes? Or maybe a cute little potted plant? Add 1-3 special items that make the space feel extra personal and homey. Take an after picture. Send it to your bestie or post it on social media (or send it to me! I am so proud of you!). Do a little victory dance. I bet it feels good.

You may have heard of a handwriting analysis as a means to learn about your existing personality traits, but have you ever considered that your handwriting may also be a powerful tool for leaning into your future and transforming who you could become?

Alphabetician and psychologist Vimala Rodgers developed The Vimala Alphabet as a tool for fostering personal growth through the adoption of letter forms that she believes represent our noblest selves. Because our writing represents the way we think, Rodgers believes it must also be true that intentionally changing our writing to represent higher ideals and balanced energy will therefore transform the way we think. 

A graphologist, examines and analyzes existing handwriting to compile a list of personality traits of the writer. An alphabetician deals with the alphabet in some way. In the case of Rodgers, a pioneer in the field of hand-brain interconnectedness, she uses the intentional adoption of certain alphabetical forms as a means for teaching people to bring out the traits those letters represent in themselves.

Rodgers' "Vimala alphabet"

Regarding the letter T, for example, Rodgers has this to say: “In school most of us were taught to cross the stem midway down, which represents mediocrity, or ‘just be like everyone else and above all, don’t step out of that box!' Placing a vigorously drawn crossbar on top of the t stem releases blockages that have prevented your inner vision from coming to life.”

My first attempt at Vimala writing with Ts crossed on top!

In her book Your Handwriting Can Change Your Life, offers various insights on how the free-flowing cursive of her alphabet is in direct opposition to learned emotional imbalance. For example, printing instead of writing creates a fence that separates the letters from one another. People who block print (print in only uppercase letters), the majority of which are men, have turned that fence into a wall, to protect and hide talents that they may be afraid to express.

Rodgers' book contains many exercises for personal transformation through handwriting to reach a particular goal in life, but offers this one as a starting point:

• For 40 consecutive days, practice writing the initial of your first, full birth name (not nickname, even if you go by it) in upper and lower case, and words containing it, using the Vimala alphabet shown above
  
• Do the same with the first letter of your last name (at birth)
• Write for at least 15 minutes per day
  
• Write on UNlined paper to keep away from "in the box" and "safe" thinking
  
• Write in pen, which is indelible and declarative! 
• Do not skip a day
   
  
  
  

Want to explore more with Vimala handwriting? Susan Govorko, graduate of the Vimala Rodgers Institute and author of the Vimala alphabet guidebook Alphabet, Pen, and Ink, offers prompts for 40 days of journaling for personal growth through her web site of the same name:  Handwriting for Personal Growth at Alphabet, Pen, and Ink. Govorko also created this handout for referencing the Vimala letters.

If you are seeking personal transformation of any kind, but feel confused, blocked, stuck, or unsure where to begin, it would be my honor to work with you as your coach to help you help yourself!  I offer group courses, virtual organizing, feng shui consultations, and personalized coaching on your timeline to meet your needs. Visit the contact page of my site to book a session or send me a message to set up a discovery call.