Becoming Clutter Free

​If your life feels stuck, unfulfilled, and empty, then your energy may be leaking. Uncluttering your life is an important step to feeling purposeful, motivated, and fulfilled.  

The things we own, our home environment, closets, and work spaces are within our control where we can most easily begin the practice of letting go.

To begin anew, move your life in a new direction, or start a new relationship, you have to create the space for it. By releasing the old, you create space for something new to enter.  Space can be physical, mental, and emotional. 

First, begin by creating space in your own mind. Make a list and then weigh the pros and cons of keeping the clutter vs. getting rid of it. Next make the decision that you are willing to do whatever is necessary to usher in change; this may mean giving up something that takes up space in your life. Emotional space occurs when you begin taking control of your life. Physical space is our living environment. The state of our physical surroundings is a good reflection of our mental and emotional spaces.   

When we are surrounded by tons of stuff, our energy stagnates. Clutter blocks light, feels heavy, and stops the flow of energy, which can, over time, become stuck. The effect of closed off, shuttered, dark spaces on our mind and body is to make us feel drained, depressed, indecisive, and directionless. In contrast simply opening a window and letting the breeze blow in and billow the curtains enlivens the environment and its inhabitants.  It is invigorating and uplifting.

Other negatives of excessive ownership are that our attachment and possessiveness increase. We know from experience that even if we don’t use some of the things we own, our attachment keeps us holding onto them. 

Clutter doesn’t just have to be visible. For some of us, our exterior home or office may be free of junk, but our closets and drawers may be stuffed to the gills. Part of decluttering is also clearing out closets, cupboards, drawers, and trunks as energy can also stagnate in them. Psychologically the toll can be the same.  

The benefits of living in a free space are:

• You’ll find things more easily when searching for them.
• Things are organized and have their place.
• Your thinking and mind will be clearer.
• You’ll have more energy because you won’t feel weighed down by your possessions.

Before tackling the clearing out process, inspire yourself.  Read books and testimonials or watch shows about the transformative power of this kind of purging. If you are going to do a serious clean out in one day, have a supportive friend present or someone who will help you to remain firm and focused, and to follow through on meeting your goal. Try not to get distracted by doing something else like reading every playbill, menu, or travel brochure you’ve kept. Keep this time focused on just clearing and uncluttering.

Another strategy is to do it in smaller chunks.  Each day or week go through a room and sort through and discard all old and “I might need this” items such as utensils, books, clothes, tax records, and things that are broken, damaged, and no longer functional. Or you could on a daily basis, put one item into a discard or donate bin. 

To help you release and let go of things, remind or ask yourself:

• Do I own my possession or do they own me?
• Have I used this _______in the last year or 6 months?
• Is this______ in keeping with my current style, décor, or job requirements?
• Keep only 1 extra set of something e.g. 2 sets of linen for the master bedroom and 2 for the guest room, 2 mugs, 2 notepads, 2 scissors and so on.
• Think about how someone else could benefit or make use of the things you are holding onto and then put them into the donation pile.
• The first clean through will be challenging. But as you do regular clean ups, it will become easier to let go of things. More importantly, you’ll learn that you can live without the things that once seemed indispensable.
• Revisit your reasons for releasing possessions and the negative effects of hoarding to keep you on track.
• Create a memento box of important or sentimental things.

Then, without too much delay, get the stuff to your local donation site, and dump the junk, so that you aren’t tempted to put it back into your home or office.

Remember: If you have the disposition to be a pack rat, it will be easy to begin collecting again. With the ease of online shopping, almost constant store sales and promotions, neighborhood thrift stores, and garage sales you’ll have to be extra mindful and careful not to buy unnecessary stuff and undo all your hard work.

​May you create a new life filled with promise and purpose by creating the space for it.

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