Energize!
In the soon to be released book, "The Chotchky Challenge," the nuances, surprising twists and shocking revelations of The Challenge are revealed in great detail. “The Chotchky Challenge,” is not so much the title of the book as it is The overarching Challenge of our time which, simply stated, is to overcome our addiction to “Chotchky” in all of its subtle and varying disguises. You see, anything can be or has the potential to become Chotchky. It is a shape shifter! Here, however, we begin at the most basic level, physical Things! Will you take this challenge with me?
In its most basic form The Challenge can be broken down into three simple steps.
Step 1. Gather and release
Gather all your physical “Chotchky,” stuff that is cluttering up your life, and give to those in need. You see, your Chotchky could be someone else's blessing. And we are not just talking about the obvious like stacks of old shoes, toys your children out grew years ago and groupings of plastic shampoo bottles wasting away two-thirds empty on your shower shelf. It’s the process of truly taking inventory. Not so much of your outer surroundings as much as your inner being. “Do I really need thirty three pairs of shoes and forty eight shirts many of which look much the same? What about all the stuff in the garage, attic and closets that I have been rat packing away for ‘someday’? Isn’t it all just causing more stress then adding any value to my life? Isn’t there someone out there who might actually need what is really become a burden to me?”
These are questions of the Soul. They are freeing. Let go of everything that is not truly in support of your Soul, your purpose, your passion. Give it to one of your local shelters or Good Will. Feel the blessing of your “junk” becoming someone else's “good.” Oh, and much of the stuff we have been hoarding isn't good for anyone. We know this. Don’t give that away. Recycle when you can and throw away what you must. Then feel the peace that follows as your space becomes light, easy and free.
Step 2. Stop bringing it in!
This step is even more powerful than the first. Become aware of our societal “acquisition addiction.” We have truly “bought” the lie that our value is in “Chotchky” therefore the more we have the more valuable we are. This of course is a bunch of hooey. The more Chotchky we have the more stressed we become and the less time we have for what truly matters. Begin what may be the most powerful “cycle” ever conceived. Practice the art of the “pre-cycle.” It is far superior to recycle as it saves us the arduous and unending perpetual motion of acquire, use once, clutter, store, pack it up when we move, unpack, store again, buy more stuff for which we have no room to store because of the old stuff which forces us to finally throw the old stuff away causing a twinge of guilt which is slowly crowding the shelves of our consciousness eventually becoming psychically stored piles of regret! Yuck. “Pre Cycle” is the art of coming to our senses before we fall for this trap. Simply leave the thingamajig on the store shelf which essentially, by creating a lack of demand, leaves the raw materials in Mother Earth where they belong. She is possibly the most precious storage place there is. These raw materials can stay there doing the work of supporting our very life or, as we awaken, to be used to create something truly useful for our Soul.
Step 3. Energize!
Begin the healing and transforming process of transferring all the energy that was once wasted in the pursuit of Chotchky into the creation of your dreams, your passion, your Soul’s purpose and your love relationships. This is nothing short of a recipe for miracles. As we realize how much time and money (which is stored energy) we have wasted on frivolous pursuits and transfer it in the direction of our Soul, everything changes. We have but one life to live, why would we ever waste it on Chotchky? As Capt. Kirk said, it’s time we all “Energize!”
