We are coming to the end of our second week of “Quotes in Action.” I hope you are finding these quotes inspiring!
Today’s quote is from famed martial artist Bruce Lee. Lee said, “Absorb what is useful, discard what is not, add what is uniquely your own.” I love this quote because it reminds us that we have a measure of power over what we allow into our lives. We can’t control what the world may throw at us, but we can decide how to internalize and filter whatever arrives at our doorstep.
Of course, this quote is particularly motivating to me as a professional organizer. So much of our “stuff” walks into our space with little intentionality on our part. Coming off of the holiday season, this is probably particularly evident. Not everything we own was necessarily desired, and most likely many things in our space we didn’t even purchase.
When it comes to decluttering, I always suggest people keep belongings that:
- They use
- They need
- Make them happy
The same rubric can be applied to thoughts, ideas, comments, criticisms, points of view, and beliefs.
Today’s challenge is to find one thing today to absorb, one thing to discard, and one action you will take that is uniquely “you.” The possibilities here are many. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking:
Absorb
- A thought
- An object
- An idea
- A habit
- A recipe
- An exercise
- A podcast
- A book
- A food
- A new restaurant
- A pet
Discard
- An unwanted belonging
- An unwanted gift
- A grudge
- A painful memory
- A damaging relationship
- A thought
- Accumulated clutter
- Dust
“Unique” Action
- Decorate an area
- Write a poem, blog post, letter, card, or note
- Share a story
- Put together a new outfit
- Tell a joke
- Pursue a new artistic endeavor
- Write, sing, or play a song
- Submit a proposal for a new approach, plan, client, or strategy
- Add a personal touch to a routine task
They key today is to listen to your instinct and move through your day with intention, in a way that feels right.
What will you absorb and discard? How will you add something that is uniquely “you?”
