029 | Seven Days of Finishing
I am an Enneagram 9, often called The Peacemaker. If you speak Enneagram, I identify as a self-preservation 9 with a pretty strong 1 wing. In times of stress and unhealth, as is typical for my 9 home type, I tend toward sloth—which means my preferred gear is neutral or inert. 9’s have a tendency to get overwhelmed, which means I can get stuck mid project or have a big to-do list that doesn’t even get started.
Thanks to my anti-depressant medication and having made a big decision that I was discerning for a long time, I’m in a much healthier space which makes it easier to live into the gifts of being a 9 and notice some of the unhealthier impulses. Last night I listened to a town hall of type 9’s hosted by Ian Morgan Cron . One person asked about practices to help 9’s function in that healthier space. Cron shared the idea of making a “to finish” list instead of a “to-do” list.
As I currently have a fairly long list of partially completed projects at home and in my work life, this idea really resonated with me. For me, undone projects are an obstacle to cultivating sanctuary because they contribute to mental and physical clutter or noise. So I made a to-finish list of one project a day for the next seven days and I’m sharing it with all of you for accountability. Of these projects, two are start to finish projects I’ve been thinking about for a long time (marked with an *). The rest are truly about finishing what I’ve started. Here’s the list:
Hang the desk lamp and hooks in T’s closet
Complete finishing details in the linen closet
Main bathroom—reorganize storage drawers and cupboard*
Pantry labels
Kitchen calendar & recipe station
Mudroom—purge and reorganize*
Front porch holiday decor & outside pots
Here’s to seven days of finishing for this Enneagram 9.
What is something you look forward to finishing this week?
