Comments on: Asking the better question http://unclutterer.com/2009/09/22/asking-the-better-question/ Daily tips on how to organize your home and office. Sun, 27 May 2012 03:16:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: nuha http://unclutterer.com/2009/09/22/asking-the-better-question/comment-page-1/#comment-48513 nuha Wed, 06 Jan 2010 10:21:31 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6605#comment-48513 my mame is? my mame is?

]]> By: nuha http://unclutterer.com/2009/09/22/asking-the-better-question/comment-page-1/#comment-48512 nuha Wed, 06 Jan 2010 10:20:54 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6605#comment-48512 hiiiiiiiiiiii hiiiiiiiiiiii

]]> By: nuha http://unclutterer.com/2009/09/22/asking-the-better-question/comment-page-1/#comment-48511 nuha Wed, 06 Jan 2010 10:20:30 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6605#comment-48511 who are you? who are you?

]]> By: When I Grow Up – The Blog » Blog Archive » Tough (Question) Tuesday: Does this make my life better? http://unclutterer.com/2009/09/22/asking-the-better-question/comment-page-1/#comment-43544 When I Grow Up – The Blog » Blog Archive » Tough (Question) Tuesday: Does this make my life better? Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:01:23 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6605#comment-43544 [...] have to admit, I stole this question from Unclutterer. While they mean for you to ask it about your stuff (& I’m so doing it now that I’m [...] [...] have to admit, I stole this question from Unclutterer. While they mean for you to ask it about your stuff (& I’m so doing it now that I’m [...]

]]> By: dis http://unclutterer.com/2009/09/22/asking-the-better-question/comment-page-1/#comment-43177 dis Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:44:24 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6605#comment-43177 @Sean, it's as simple or as complex as you need it to be. In fact, by deciding that it's too simple for your use (assumed based on your response), you've tossed it from your consideration. Because you decided that your life is better off without it. Whoa. @Sean, it’s as simple or as complex as you need it to be. In fact, by deciding that it’s too simple for your use (assumed based on your response), you’ve tossed it from your consideration. Because you decided that your life is better off without it.

Whoa.

]]> By: Jeri Dansky http://unclutterer.com/2009/09/22/asking-the-better-question/comment-page-1/#comment-43122 Jeri Dansky Sat, 26 Sep 2009 05:43:34 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6605#comment-43122 This reminds me of what Peter Walsh wrote in "It's All Too Much." First, he asks you to imagine the life you want to live. Then the question to ask is: "Does this item advance and enhance the vision I have for the life I want, or does it impede that vision?" This reminds me of what Peter Walsh wrote in “It’s All Too Much.” First, he asks you to imagine the life you want to live. Then the question to ask is: “Does this item advance and enhance the vision I have for the life I want, or does it impede that vision?”

]]> By: Lola http://unclutterer.com/2009/09/22/asking-the-better-question/comment-page-1/#comment-43032 Lola Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:59:48 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6605#comment-43032 Great thread! Karyn, your thoughts re: trust vs. fear are especially poignant. Thanks to all who've shared. Great thread! Karyn, your thoughts re: trust vs. fear are especially poignant. Thanks to all who’ve shared.

]]> By: Jonathan http://unclutterer.com/2009/09/22/asking-the-better-question/comment-page-1/#comment-43029 Jonathan Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:24:27 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6605#comment-43029 There are so many things that you may want to get rid of that you don't see the benefit of right now, but that may make your life better in the near future. It's not always cut and dry and easy to judge if this will make your life better. So unless you really don't think you'll ever need the object again, I'd say toss it. Otherwise, you may want to repurpose it for the time being. There are so many things that you may want to get rid of that you don’t see the benefit of right now, but that may make your life better in the near future. It’s not always cut and dry and easy to judge if this will make your life better.

So unless you really don’t think you’ll ever need the object again, I’d say toss it. Otherwise, you may want to repurpose it for the time being.

]]> By: Shalin http://unclutterer.com/2009/09/22/asking-the-better-question/comment-page-1/#comment-43003 Shalin Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:32:46 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6605#comment-43003 aahhhhhh... what a refreshing question to place meaningful-ness and clarity where there were loads of grief, hesitation, anxiety, agony, scatter-brain-ness, etc... Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing this wonderful question! :) Grammar nit (Perhaps? I'm an engineer w/a lot of documentation experience, so...) - "*Will* this make my life better" pertains to the future which could be 10 years or 10 seconds from asking the question. I think "will" is more useful than using "does* in the question at hand. Very best, Shalin aahhhhhh… what a refreshing question to place meaningful-ness and clarity where there were loads of grief, hesitation, anxiety, agony, scatter-brain-ness, etc… Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing this wonderful question! :)

Grammar nit (Perhaps? I’m an engineer w/a lot of documentation experience, so…) – “*Will* this make my life better” pertains to the future which could be 10 years or 10 seconds from asking the question. I think “will” is more useful than using “does* in the question at hand.

Very best,
Shalin

]]> By: WilliamB http://unclutterer.com/2009/09/22/asking-the-better-question/comment-page-1/#comment-42968 WilliamB Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:30:30 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6605#comment-42968 @Amy: "Regarding things that are for the “I want to use this someday” category, sometimes it is easier to unload it and re-acquire it when you decide that you need it." Unfortunately this conflicts with frugality, something else I value. It's my constant conflict, one that will probably never be resolved. @Amy: “Regarding things that are for the “I want to use this someday” category, sometimes it is easier to unload it and re-acquire it when you decide that you need it.”

Unfortunately this conflicts with frugality, something else I value. It’s my constant conflict, one that will probably never be resolved.

]]> By: Steven http://unclutterer.com/2009/09/22/asking-the-better-question/comment-page-1/#comment-42965 Steven Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:16:40 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6605#comment-42965 Authors Richard J. Leider and David A. Shapiro ask a similar question in their book, Repacking Your Bags. "Does all this make you happy?" Authors Richard J. Leider and David A. Shapiro ask a similar question in their book, Repacking Your Bags.

“Does all this make you happy?”

]]> By: Does this make my life better? « Meg http://unclutterer.com/2009/09/22/asking-the-better-question/comment-page-1/#comment-42912 Does this make my life better? « Meg Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:50:47 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6605#comment-42912 [...] I read this on the Unclutterer blog today. So great. The context is for “things” but I think it can apply to all areas of life. Is this activity, person, place, idea going to make my life better? I’m not saying “will it make my life easier.” We all have to do things we aren’t exactly excited about, but I think focusing on the betterment of one’s life is a good motto to live by. If we asked ourselves that, imagine how our lives would improve - it would be simpler, and we would be investing time into the people, places and things that really added to our lives, rather than things that distract and take away from our main priorities. You can view this particular post HERE. [...] [...] I read this on the Unclutterer blog today. So great. The context is for “things” but I think it can apply to all areas of life. Is this activity, person, place, idea going to make my life better? I’m not saying “will it make my life easier.” We all have to do things we aren’t exactly excited about, but I think focusing on the betterment of one’s life is a good motto to live by. If we asked ourselves that, imagine how our lives would improve – it would be simpler, and we would be investing time into the people, places and things that really added to our lives, rather than things that distract and take away from our main priorities. You can view this particular post HERE. [...]

]]> By: Amy http://unclutterer.com/2009/09/22/asking-the-better-question/comment-page-1/#comment-42908 Amy Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:50:02 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6605#comment-42908 Regarding things that are for the "I want to use this someday" category, sometimes it is easier to unload it and re-acquire it when you decide that you need it. The mental clutter and guilt that I felt from seeing all of these things that I wanted to do, like sewing and painting, but did not have time or space to pursue was a quiet but present burden, always with me. How sad that I did not even realize the pressure until it was gone! It can affect self esteem to constantly be thinking “Oh I should get to...” this or that. Letting it go doesn't mean giving it up forever. Regarding things that are for the “I want to use this someday” category, sometimes it is easier to unload it and re-acquire it when you decide that you need it. The mental clutter and guilt that I felt from seeing all of these things that I wanted to do, like sewing and painting, but did not have time or space to pursue was a quiet but present burden, always with me. How sad that I did not even realize the pressure until it was gone! It can affect self esteem to constantly be thinking “Oh I should get to…” this or that. Letting it go doesn’t mean giving it up forever.

]]> By: Ellen http://unclutterer.com/2009/09/22/asking-the-better-question/comment-page-1/#comment-42894 Ellen Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:54:38 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6605#comment-42894 Another response to Cheryl - something I read. When you get rid of clutter, you might miss 10% of the things you get rid of. However, you feel so good about getting rid of the other 90% that it doesn't really matter. Another response to Cheryl – something I read. When you get rid of clutter, you might miss 10% of the things you get rid of. However, you feel so good about getting rid of the other 90% that it doesn’t really matter.

]]> By: *Pol http://unclutterer.com/2009/09/22/asking-the-better-question/comment-page-1/#comment-42893 *Pol Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:42:28 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/?p=6605#comment-42893 EM- I completely feel for your loss for QUALITY items. Too much is disposable crap these days. I want to buy stuff to have for at least 10 years, not the "30 day limited warranttee MIGHT last until next season" bull-cr*p. My husband and I both prefer to service and fix our things instead of replace them... but things are not designed that way anymore; from egg-flippers to cars! Back to the original post... I am definitely going to use that question to help me "release" more things. I get too hung up with my emotional attachments to things and memories associated with them. Too much loss in my childhood, but I need to have more faith in the here and now to provide all I need! EM- I completely feel for your loss for QUALITY items. Too much is disposable crap these days. I want to buy stuff to have for at least 10 years, not the “30 day limited warranttee MIGHT last until next season” bull-cr*p. My husband and I both prefer to service and fix our things instead of replace them… but things are not designed that way anymore; from egg-flippers to cars!

Back to the original post… I am definitely going to use that question to help me “release” more things. I get too hung up with my emotional attachments to things and memories associated with them. Too much loss in my childhood, but I need to have more faith in the here and now to provide all I need!

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