We’ve all heard the expression, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” While the exact wording may vary, the message remains the same: our mindset influences our actions. When it comes to organizing, decluttering, managing a busy schedule, or simply getting through a difficult day, a positive mindset can make all the difference.
What Is a Positive Mindset?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines mindset as a person’s attitude or inclination or a fixed state of mind.
In other words when we approach a situation or a task with a preconceived notion as to what the result will be, it is usually self-fulfilling.
Keep in mind that there is a difference between having a positive attitude and unrealistic optimism. A positive attitude gives you the ability to do something without the expectation you’ll do it as well as you would like to. Unrealistic optimism promotes the idea that whatever you do, it will turn out perfectly.
We all know there’s no such thing as perfection.
So, when we shift our thinking towards a positive attitude, we give ourselves grace to make mistakes and learn from them.
Example:
If you tell yourself, “This room is hopeless,” you’ll probably close the door and avoid the room. If you tell yourself, “I can make progress when I work for short periods of time” you’re more likely to get started.
A Strategy to Help You Get Started
One of the most common roadblocks to becoming more organized is feeling overwhelmed. This happens when clutter piles up. The more we avoid dealing with the piles the more they bother us and the more we avoid them which in turn leads to more clutter. It is a vicious cycle.
Here’s a strategy to use.
Instead of saying that you will organize the entire kitchen, start with one drawer, one counter, or one shelf in the pantry. You can even start with emptying the kitchen sink.
This strategy can work with any area in which you want to create order because you are only focused on one small part of it.
Begin by breaking the room or the area down into the smallest component and focus on that.
You will make progress, one small section at a time.
Every time you clear and organize a section, maintain it. Celebrate your success and then take the next step. Yes. Progress will be slow, but it will be consistent.
A Positive Mindset Makes Setbacks Easier to Handle
Life is busy, schedules change, and the organizing task we may have planned or wanted to do gets pushed aside. This happens to everyone, even to professional organizers.
When you have a positive mindset, you acknowledge what didn’t get done and reschedule the task.
Understanding that just because you let the mail pile up this week doesn’t mean that you will never deal with it is important. Decide on the next time you can factor this task into your schedule and then follow through.
A setback is not a failure. It is a temporary glitch. Each new day gives us an opportunity to start fresh.
Watch the Words You Use
Be vigilant and talk to yourself the way you would talk to a friend. The words we use when we talk to ourselves matter because we hear them inside our head even if we’re not saying them out loud.
Instead of telling yourself that you’re a slob, tell yourself that you haven’t gotten the hang of cleaning up yet.
This little word ‘yet’ gives you the space to make improvements. It acknowledges that there’s a problem, that you’re working on it, and that you haven’t quite acquired the skill.
Those three little letters leave the door open for growth and encourage you to continue trying.
How to Cultivate a Positive Mindset
It is challenging to shift our mindset from one that looks for the pothole to one that’s positive. But it is possible.
Try focusing on things that you know you can control and intentionally release the things that you can’t. Stick with the task at hand instead of worrying about things that may not happen.
Pay attention and notice the things that are working for you. In fact, taking a few minutes at the end of the day to write down all the things during that day that went well is a good way to practice gratitude. This small habit intentionally focuses on the positive and directs attention away from the things that went wrong.
Always break projects down into small steps and then complete the steps one at a time. Each time you complete at step, celebrate that you did it! This builds momentum and brings you that much closer to completing the whole project.
Finally surround yourself with people who will help you foster a positive mindset. Think about the people who support you. They may be family, friends, coaches, a support group, or professional organizers. These people can help you continue moving forward.
Closing Thoughts
The next time you’re faced with a cluttered room, an overwhelming project, or a long to-do list, pay attention to the story you’re telling yourself. If you tell yourself that it’s impossible, you’ll probably find evidence to support that belief. If you tell yourself that you can make progress, you’ll likely discover that you can. A positive mindset won’t do the work for you, but it can provide the encouragement you need to take the first step and that first step is often the most important one.
FAQs
What is a positive mindset?
A positive mindset is the habit of approaching challenges with optimism, resilience, and the belief that progress is possible.
Can a positive mindset really help me get organized?
Yes. Your attitude influences your willingness to start, continue, and recover from setbacks. A positive mindset makes it easier to take consistent action.
How do I stay positive when I feel overwhelmed?
Break the task into smaller pieces, focus on one step at a time, and remind yourself that progress counts even when it feels slow.
What if I’ve tried to get organized before and failed?
Most people need multiple attempts before a new habit sticks. Past struggles don’t determine future success.
Is positive thinking the same as ignoring problems?
No. A positive mindset acknowledges challenges while focusing on solutions and opportunities for progress.
Call to Action
Are you struggling to get started because the task feels overwhelming? Sometimes the biggest obstacle isn’t the clutter, it’s believing that change is possible. As a Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization®, I help people break projects into manageable steps and create realistic plans for success. If you’re ready to move from feeling stuck to making progress, I’d love to help. Contact me to schedule an in-person or virtual organizing session.
I totally agree about how important work is. I replace you with courage and have to get to and encourage my clients and power hour participants to do the same. Some of them have really taken to it, which makes me smile. This is a classic!
Thanks, Pam!
“A setback is not a failure. It is a temporary glitch. Each new day gives us an opportunity to start fresh.” This should be printed on every student’s registration form. We need to hear this from childhood through the end of our days!
While there is such a thing a toxic positivity, what you’re describing is empowering positivity. We need to adjust our mindsets to embrace the idea that progress, not perfection, is the goal. This post is a breath of fresh air for a gasping world!
Thanks, Julie! I’ve always been a glass half-full kind of person – I just decided it was time to put it out there.
Thank you for a very important reminder! When I’m facing an unfamiliar task, it generally goes better when I see it as an opportunity to learn something new than when I think of it as something I don’t know how to do.
Thank you, Janet!
The word “yet” is doing a lot of work in this post, Diane, and I mean that as a compliment. I use a slightly different reframe with clients: instead of saying “I can’t,” I ask them to try “I don’t want to.” It puts the decision back in their hands and changes the whole conversation.
Yes, it certainly does, Cathy. Thank you for commenting.
I was just talking about an hour ago with a young person about the power of a positive mindset. It wasn’t in regards to organizing, but I think it applies to anything in life that feels hard or overwhelming.
Great point about watching the words we use with ourselves. We can talk ourselves out of some really great progress. The world has plenty of negatives to sling as us, so the last thing we need to do is pile on, right?
Slow and stead wins the race. It’s not a new thought, but so important to embrace and remember!
I so agree, Seana. Thank you!