Chapter 11

            Allen discusses how to manage the negative feelings that come along with all our stuff, and we need to understand the source in order to get rid of those negative feelings.  I have definitely felt guilt, frustration, anxious, and overwhelmed when I told myself there was something that I needed to do but failed to complete it, which is the result of breaking the agreements I made with myself and breaking the trust I have with myself (227).  Allen’s preventative measures really help, because I do not necessarily need to make the agreement with myself.  The habit of collecting helps me see what I already have on my plate, therefore I can decide if I am able take on more things.  However, I would try not to lower my standards even though Allen says it is OK.  Of course, simply completing the task would be the ideal way of keeping agreements, but a “renegotiated agreement is not a broken one” (230).  I can reschedule or put it on a different list (i.e. someday/maybe list) to know I will still get around to the task and not totally disregarded. 

            I think Allen’s point of using “your mind to think about things, rather than think of them” is really important (233).  When I keep thoughts in my head, I will constantly be reminded that some task needs to be done instead of actively processing the task and deciding what next actions I should make to keep them moving.  Capturing everything means I have no more reminders popping up, and this is extremely helpful in feeling less mentally tired.  I want to be the type of person that others can trust, but most importantly I want to trust myself to complete what I set out to do as Allen points out there is a unique trust people have with those who “without fail receive, process, and organize in a airtight manner” (225).