Know Thyself. Lisa Lawmaster Hess

by retracing your steps. T F 9. You often feel bored when you have unscheduled time. T F 10. You have more stuff than room to store it. T F 11. You put things away, but often forget which “safe place” you put them in. T F 12. You often forget things if you don’t write them down. T F

      All finished? Now let’s compare your answers on the quiz to the key below. Every “true” is a clue:

      1. I love to be busy.

      2. I need to see it.

      3. I love stuff.

      4. I know I put it somewhere.

      5. Cram and jam.

      6. Drop and run.

      7. Cram and jam or I need to see it.

      8. Drop and run.

      9. I love to be busy.

      10. I love stuff.

      11. I know I put it somewhere.

      12. I need to see it.

      Do the quiz answers match your predictions and observations? For most people, clear patterns will emerge, and the answers will come as no surprise. What they’ve noticed about the way they organize (or don’t) will match what they’ve predicted and where their answers land on the quiz.

      Some people will be “a little bit of this and a little bit of that.” At this point in the process, that’s to be expected. Further observation, discussion, and exploration will help you determine your predominant styles. And some people really are a mix of styles, which can be beneficial. An overlap means more strategies to work with!

      The most important thing to keep in mind right now is that there are no right or wrong answers on the quiz, and these styles are not personal or organizational flaws.

      This shift in thinking can be challenging. Up to this point, these styles have probably been stumbling blocks to your organizational efforts, perhaps even traits you found embarrassing. Moving forward, the goal will not be to change your styles, but rather to help you view your natural tendencies as assets rather than liabilities.

      But Organizing by STYLE is more than just relabeling habits. When we accept our styles as manifestations of our personalities and our natural tendencies, we can look at them in a different light. This change in perspective frees up the energy we’ve wasted beating ourselves up and allows us to expend it instead on finding practical solutions to our organizational struggles. By discovering the benefits inherent in our styles, we can use who we are and what we do automatically as a blueprint for developing a workable, sustainable plan. Best of all, since the basis of this plan is no longer who someone else thinks we should be or what someone else thinks we should do, we’re better able to celebrate exactly who God created us to be — organizational challenges and all. We might even find a little time to give thanks for the traits we once grumbled about.

      Could you work to change your styles? Of course. But if you’re reading this book, I suspect you’ve already tried that approach, only to land back where you began. Besides, isn’t working with yourself a whole lot easier than working against yourself?

      Part I of this book will focus on helping you to pinpoint your styles. There will be no judgment, no shaming, and no attempt to convert you to another, “better” way of doing things. (The world has plenty of traditionally organized Type A organizers like Evan.) I hope that this book will help you to uncover the unique manifestations of the Spirit that God has given you and help you figure out how to use them as your guide. The goal is not perfection, but rather a system that makes it easy for you to find what you need when you need it.

      In part II, we’ll play with some strategies to go with your styles. Each chapter will focus on one letter of the STYLE acronym:

      Start with successes

      Take small steps

      Yes, it has a home!

      Let it go

      Easy upkeep

      Finally, in part III, we’ll extend the basics and conclude with some shortcuts and reminders to give you a boost when time is short and you need a quick refresher.

      Please note my choice of pronoun: “we.” I am an I need to see it/drop and run girl, and will be until the day I die. Make no mistake — I’m on this journey with you.

      Let’s get started.

       Chapter 2

       Personal Styles: How We’re Wired

      Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord.

      1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-5

      In chapter 1, we identified Gemma as I love to be busy/drop and run. I love to be busy is Gemma’s personal style. Personal styles, an integral part of who we are, influence the way we organize. The three personal styles are I love stuff, I love to be busy, and I need to see it. When you took the quiz in chapter 1, which personal style described you? Feel free to skip ahead and read that section of this chapter first if you wish. Then, double back and look over the information about the other styles to see if you can pick up a few additional ideas. Although each of the styles can pose challenges when it comes to organization, all three can be pressed into service in a positive fashion.

       I Love Stuff

      What it looks like: Like Zane in chapter 1, those with an I love stuff personal style are collectors, with an eye for unusual treasures. As a result, they become very attached to their things, which makes culling collections and — gasp! — getting rid of things very difficult. This can create a space issue, as those with an I love stuff personal style often accumulate more things than they have room for.

      The heart of the problem: too much stuff, not enough space.

      Positive attributes: An attraction to unique items that, when applied to containers and other storage tools, can add a flair to organizational systems and beauty to their surroundings. Their affinity for collecting often makes those with the I love stuff personal style very good at creating unusual and eye-catching combinations of items. In addition, those with an I love stuff personal style are often very good at finding creative uses for everyday things.

      Putting it to work: The skill of keeping like items together of ten comes naturally to those with an I love stuff personal style. This is key to organization, since a cluster