FlyLady; Cleaning Guru or Spiritual Advisor?

FlyLady; Cleaning Guru or Spiritual Advisor? BOTH!!

Sometimes I want to give up, I mean; A Housewive's Work is never done! So even if I have the house spotless today, I'll do it all again tomorrow and the next day, and the next day, and the next day....
Did you read yesterday's blog? My Weekly Housewive's Report shows how dispondent I have been feeling. I keep feeling like I "Should" be able to get more done, I should have a perfect home by now, I should have more time for myself, etc. I was really beggining to wallow in my self pity, and having quite a fun time of it too! I logged onto my facebook to play FarmTown and enjoy my laziness and on my wall was a recent post from the Flyady FaceBook Fan Page;

5 Steps to Make It Easier by The FlyLady, Marla Cilley

Music has a way of seeping into your brain and staying dormant for decades. This week I had another lyric come to me out of the depths of my subconscious, “O-O-H child things are going to be easier”! Isn’t it strange how those simple words can give us such hope!

I looked up the full lyrics and there are only the chorus and one verse. It is repeated like an affirmation. Then as the song concluded it said, right now! Isn’t that the way all of us feel. We want things easier right now!

How do we accomplish this? We don’t have mystical powers where we can just wiggle our noses and see the results of our wishes. We have to do more than just wish. So many times we get so stuck in our whining that we do not see that we have the ability to make our desires happen.
We deceive ourselves into thinking that it is too hard, will take too long and that we don’t have time! This is nothing but our perfectionism causing us to procrastinate. When we say we don’t have time we should really just finish the sentence; I don’t have time to do it right. Why can’t we talk ourselves into doing things instead of wallowing in self-pity? I think it is because we forgot that we have the power.

As I was looking up this song I noticed that it was sung by a group of young boys in 1970. Their name was The Five Stairsteps. Their name got me to thinking about a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He said, “To take the first step in faith, you don’t have to see the whole staircase: just take the first step.” This got me to thinking about the 5 steps that you could take to make your life easier.

Step 1: It all starts with getting up from your seated position and walking into your kitchen; then shining your sink. No whining allowed! Just step out in faith! That sink will make you smile tomorrow morning. You can even allow your perfectionism to have a little fun. When I got organized I shined our old sink till it looked like a brand new penny! It gave me hope!

Step 2: Write down and follow a simple Before Bed Routine; check your calendar for appointments, lay out your clothes for tomorrow, put items you need to take with you in your launch pad and go to sleep at a decent hour. No staying up too late. Get your rest and you will not feel so tired and rushed! This will make your life easier.

Step 3: Keep your morning routine in your bathroom. This way you can just do and not have to think. As soon as my feet hit the floor I start dancing through my day: Make my bed, shower, swish and swipe my bathroom, get dressed to lace up shoes, eat breakfast and take my vitamins. See how smooth this flows. You can’t sit down and turn on your computer till your routine is done. This way you do it fast! Then you get to give yourself a reward!

Step 4: Use a calendar that the whole family can see! Not just your cell phone or computer. Get a calendar that is big enough to hold all your family’s activities. This way you are teaching your children how to live a stress free life. A cluttered calendar means no time for you! Make appointments with yourself and with your children. Once a week sit down with your family and synchronize your personal calendars. Write stuff on the calendar as soon as you get it. No waiting till later. You always have time to make an entry in your calendar.

Step 5: Use a timer to help keep you focused! You can do anything for 15 minute or even two minutes. Just set your timer and see what you can get done. You don’t have finish; you just have to do something. Especially when you say you don’t have time! Set your timer and do two minutes. You will be surprised at what can get done!

These steps will get you moving and the crowning touch is your attitude. Be kind to yourself! FLYing is all about self-respect. You have to quit being mean to yourself! Let go of your perfectionism. You have been beaten down your whole life because you weren’t perfect. You don’t have to be. You are worth loving just the way you are!
If you will step out in faith and take these five simple babysteps you will be singing a new song. O-O-Child things are easier right now!
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This was just what I needed to hear. My perfectionism, my ideas of what "Should" be - were creating doubt and stress!! It doesn't have to be perfect, it doesn't have to be hard, and as long as I keep doing the little things I shouldn't get bogged down! I was also reminded to think positive, use affirmations, and celebrate life with music; things that I know are important spiritually. Why is it that I sometimes forget that I can apply my spiritual knowledge to the "mundane" areas of my life, like cleaning my house?
Anyways, I just wanted to share. Because sometimes, even though I feel like a bit of a sap for being obsessed with FlyLady and her house-cleaning tips and routines, sometimes... her advice does more for me than just help me get organized. It could be a religion! LOL!! Or at least a spiritual philosophy!! Just think; so many of the FlyLady's ideas can be applied to more than just housekeeping!! "I can do anything in 15 minutes", "Taking Babysteps", not being "perfectionist", and simplifying your life by "Decluttering" - letting go of the things in your life that do not bless you or make you happy.
So now, I'm gonna go shine my sink, and we'll see where I go from there!