Clear the Clutter

After my father-in-law passed away a few years ago, his children, grandchildren, and favorite daughter-in-law had to clean out a garage packed with forty years of “treasures.” Every pile held a mystery: rusty spark plugs, broken tools, forgotten keepsakes And every cleared square foot felt like a small victory.

As I prepared for a recent Clarity Workshop, I realized our minds can look the same way; crowded with old thoughts, outdated beliefs, and endless to-dos. Clearing mental clutter can be just as freeing as cleaning out that garage.

During the workshop, I asked participants to reflect on a moment they were proud of, one that came from effort, not luck. Something that required focus, intention, and persistence.

That exercise made me pause and reflect, too. I realized that I’ve achieved nearly everything I truly set my mind on — every promotion, every professional designation, even my move to Nashville.

When I first visited Nashville in 1992 to teach a class, I fell in love with the city and thought, “I must live here.” I told the leadership team about my dream, and a year later, after focused effort and a standout résumé, I was a proud new homeowner in Tennessee.

As I looked back, I noticed a pattern: almost every success came from focus and dedication, and, often, from situations where I had control over the outcome.

There were also times when things didn’t go my way. When my mom was sick, I prayed for her to heal, but I couldn’t control her medical decisions or the genes she was born with. Later, when I learned I had the same genes, I took control of my own medical path and made choices that reduced my risk.

That reflection led me to create a simple framework I now share with coaching clients and workshop participants. A mindset tool to help clear the mental clutter and move forward with intention:

Reflect. Realign. Refocus.

Reflect – What got you here? Think about a goal you worked hard for and achieved, not by luck or chance, but by staying focused on what mattered most. Reflect on a time when you didn’t succeed. What was different about your mindset or focus in those moments?

Realign – Your Why. Identify your top three values. Ask yourself what goals or activities truly align with them.

Refocus – How to move forward. Develop a plan that connects your habits to your goals. Shift from “I want to be…” to “I am…” — for example, from “I want to run a 5K” to “I am a runner.” Then, create routines that reflect that identity.

When I used this framework to prepare for the workshop, it helped me simplify my message — and the feedback I received confirmed its power.

The Next Mile Networking group shared:

“People walked away feeling grounded, reflective, and more focused than when they arrived. The conversation helped them pause and reconnect with what truly matters—clarifying values, writing down goals, and using visualization to bring those intentions to life. You have such a natural way of drawing people in and creating space for authentic dialogue.”

That response reminded me that clarity isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress.

When we clear the clutter, we make room for purpose.

Clarity isn’t something we find — it’s something we create. One reflection, one realignment, one refocus at a time.

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