Reading my email from Christine Kane this morning struck a very deep nerve with me. Clutter. Keeping things. Being unable to toss and surround myself with less. Oh I want to. Really, I do. Every day I look at piles of things and say "that's got to go." I don't want these things, yet I find myself unable to do anything permanent about it.
Today I came home from my swim at the gym (and talked to the people at the front desk about the nude bathing in the hot tub and nude drying in the sauna...no health regulations about this...the policy is "come as you are" however you are comfortable. Joy said I to myself. Whatever floats your boat...just keep what's floating out of my face...I'm not really thrilled with a wide load backside in my face as you exit the hot tub...but I digress), and I felt enervated and a little more enthusiastic. Perhaps reading Christine's email nudged the part of my brain that was resisting arrest! See what you think.
9 Seemingly Logical Reasons We Cling to Clutter
by Christine Kane
"Perfection is not when there is no more to add, but no more to take away."
– Antoine de Saint-Exupery
A retired man once told me he loved going camping with his wife because camping showed her how simple life can be "without all that bloomin' stuff she keeps everywhere!"– Antoine de Saint-Exupery
He's right!
Our lives are meant to be simple. Our intuition and creativity thrive when given freedom and space. Clutter is a disease. Each moment we ignore the reasons we hold on to things we don't want, those things rob us of energy, health, and clarity.
If you're a clutter-clinger, be kind to yourself. Begin with an awareness of your thoughts and excuses. For starters, read over this list to see if you can find YOUR excuse!
Clutter Excuse #1: "I'd be a bad mean horrible person if I…"
Guilt is heavy gooey energy that convinces us we're bad people if we let go of heirlooms, knick-knacks, unwanted clothing, or unwanted gifts.
These items clutter up our lives and keep us in a comfortable – but draining – place. And conveniently, we never have to decide what we actually do want in our environment. We become environmental victims. Often, that spreads out into other parts of our lives too!
Clutter Excuse #2 - "I spent so much on it!"
Do you punish yourself for having made a bad choice by keeping the item around? Or convince yourself that you're going to get your money's worth – even if it drains the hell out of you?
You won't. And it will.
We've all done stupid things. And we've all had to let them go. Now it's your turn.
Clutter Excuse #3 - "I might need this someday."
I often wonder how many idle telephone cords exist in the world. Way in the back of old desk drawers. Stuffed on closet shelves. They can't be gotten rid of.
Why?
Because we might need them some day.
Evidently, some day - in spite of technological progress - you're going to need that particular grey phone cord that came in the box with a phone you bought in 1989.
Throw it out. Now.
Same thing goes for: The broken fax machine, switch plates from your first house, and every glass flower vase that came with deliveries.
Clutter Excuse #4 - "I might do this someday."
I know. I know.
Someday you'll take those broken pieces of china you've collected and create a beautiful mosaic birdbath. And you'll go through those stacks of magazines and make that collage for your sister's 30th birthday party. (She's 51 now.)
Now – I don't mean to deny you your plans and dreams. However, I urge you to consider experiencing the infinite relief that appears when you let old project ideas go.
Call your sister and tell her the collage ain't gonna happen. Buy a mosaic birdbath from an artist who makes her living from creating such treasures.
And then, make space for what you want to do. Don't fill your space with what you should do.
Clutter Excuse #5 - "I gotta look good to my guests."
CD's. Books. DVD's. Are these items treasured? Or are they simply a prop so your guests will be impressed by your intelligence and diverse tastes?
Remember this: we are motivated by two things: Fear or Love. Which of these keeps you clinging to items because of appearances?
Clutter Excuse #6 - "I Don't Know Where It Goes."
When items don't have a home, it's harder to determine whether or not they are clutter. Some things may seem like clutter - like the cute card that your daughter made that floats around from drawer to drawer - but they're not clutter.
They're homeless.
Once you start defining spaces for items, then it's easier to see when something doesn't fit anywhere and should just get tossed.
Clutter Excuse #7 - "My thoughts don't have any power. Do they?"
Everything has energy. The thoughts you have about the things in your home CREATE energy. If you are surrounded by stuff you keep out of guilt, then your environment holds guilt. If you hang on to stuff given to you by your ex, and you still feel bitter – then there is bitterness in your home.
Get it?
It's either fueling you, or draining you. Some things might be neutral, of course. But if anything triggers you, then that is your barometer. Let it go.
Clutter Excuse #8 - "But I never wore it!"
See Clutter Excuse #2.
Clutter Excuse #9 - "There's too much stuff!"
Overwhelm can stop us in our tracks. If this article makes you aware that there are lots of items in your life you don't like, then go slow. Schedule small chunks of time each day. It takes time to be clutter-free! But the new found clarity and lightness are worth it!
Performer, songwriter, and creativity consultant Christine Kane publishes her 'LiveCreative' weekly ezine with more than 11,000 subscribers. If you want to be the artist of your life and create authentic and lasting success, you can sign up for a FRE*E subscription to LiveCreative at www.christinekane.com.
WANT TO SEE HUNDREDS MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE?
See Christine's blog - Be Creative. Be Conscious. Be Courageous - at ChristineKane.com/blog.
27 comments:
Start small. A drawer, a shelf, a closet. The process is uplifting, cleansing and empowering. Ask a friend to be your guide. If you really have a hard time letting go of something. Take a photo and keep it in an album, takes a lot less space and you can see it whenever you desire, although amazingly, you'll see how seldom that really is. Good luck in your journey.
I got the same email this morning and I thought she had sent it personally to me! lol
I too have been overwhelmed with piles of stuff. I have an understanding husband but I get so discouraged. I keep writing about tackling "stuff", but I don't follow through. Ugh.
Take care Sherry!
WHEW!
wow!
This is what I needed to read (again) today. My space is draining me!!! Reading through those excuses, I found several. I thought I was doing pretty good--taking things in small little chunks. But between taking care of my space, I've been helping others with theirs (much easier, I might add, since I'm not attached to ANY of their stuff!!).
Perhaps it's also this long, cold winter.
I appreciate you sharing this. I'm going to start...again. ;D
Might need this someday! Huge one for me, thanks for this! Helpful!
Oh YES, this struck a cord with me.
The rooms in our home are clean and organized...all of them except 'my' room, the room meant for being creative in. It's been painfully obvious lately that I don't do any creating in there...I take the supplies I need and bring them to the kitchen table! I don't like my crafts room! Why? Because it's boiling over with STUFF. I have drawers full of curtains, gifts I plan on re-gifting or gifts that are too ugly to re-gift, and one drawer full of plastic bubble wrap that people have included in packages to me that I figure I'll use some day. Argh!
The room also has:
-a pile of dirty bedding, because it doesn't fit into our laundry basket.
-boxes and boxes of photographs
-stacks of my old journals that actually just depress me when I read them....but then I think, 'I can't throw these away! They are irreplaceable!'
My husband asked me recently: "What's in that room? What's taking up all that space?" To which I sputtered in defence, "Papers!"
I know I need to take care of this space. I need to get it beautiful and comfortable again.
Thanks for the reminder.
Spring is on it's way....things will be looking up soon.
XO country girl
I think this is a universal problem for many people. I know it is for me. I have begun bringing boxes home and spending just 15 minutes to 1/2 hour a few times a week filling them. Then they go to Goodwill or some other charity where someone will buy the items and treasure them anew. I am making progress and the fresh spaces and lightening of the clutter load spurs me on to getting rid of even more. As for the enui that you feel, sometimes it's ok to not do anything. I have felt so guilty every time I put my feet up and did nothing, that I finally had to force myself to rethink that whole attitude. Why do I feel I need to be accomplishing something every darm minute!? And the worst part is, no matter how much I do there will always be more. I will never NOT have a to do list. Why am I beating myself up for relaxing?
Sherry, I needed this TODAY!
Last year we went on a humanitarian expedition to Guatemala. It was a life changing experience. I came home more determined than ever to simplify my life. But I have struggled since with knowing quite how to do it...and being bogged down with the exact problems in this article. I am going to print it out and read it often until I get to the bottom of my problem.
Thank you, thank you!
How timely is this post?! While we’re having my mother’s valuables auctioned off, I am drowning in sentimental knick-knacks & hundreds of pictures (of grandparents, great-grandparents...framed and unframed) I’ve brought home because I can’t bear to throw them out. The guilt! And at the same time I’m trying to de-clutter my own home for a future move. This process is not working out. I have boxes everywhere.
I have to read through this Cling to Clutter article again. It hit home the first time. A second reading might inspire me to get rid of both the guilt and the accumulation of THINGS I don’t know where to put!
(are slumps on the rise this winter? global slumping?)
this is always a good reminder. i got over the hard part of letting go, a very long time ago. i get a bit nervous, when my clutter starts peeking my way. i bring something in, 2 things go out.
xo
If the voices of your heart are saying this is a place to start to de-slump, I say listen ! I love the idea of starting small - one little pile a day or set the timer for an hour and do whatever you can during that time.
Most of my clutter is in our basement...we have been saying for three years that we will get to it...spring cleaning maybe ?
Big hugs to your beautiful slumpy self ! Remember, you are not alone in this challenge! Maybe hibernation isn't yet over for sweet bear sherry...
Love ya !
This article hit home for me,too. Thanks for putting it on your blog. Hope it helps me to get rid of some of my clutter!
So true about clutter! I do have a problem though letting go of old inventory...every time I've let something go, thinking I'd never need it for my business, a year or two later I've kicked myself, hence my ungainly garage, haha! But telephone cords, surely I can let those go! Thanks for the inspiration :)
xo Mary Jo
Hi Sherry!
Boy isn't this a hot button topic with my husband and myself right now! We just threw away a TON of stuff when we left Washington and now that we are here in my parents' house in Maine, someday we will have to start that process all over again here!! ARGH! Where did all this junk come from???
Thank you for the inspiration to keep cleaning!
Betty
i love getting her articles too - great review. hope things are better soon.
So many of us are held down by all the clutter of stuff in our homes. When I had to quickly pack up and move my folks out of their home to a senior residence, it was traumatic for all of us. It took days and days of sorting and purging. I swore I'd never put my own kids through this. So I'm trying to de-clutter in bits and pieces so the job isn't so overwhelming. It does make a difference! Hope you get out of the doldrums soon!
I'm a great believer in the 'a little bit at a time' thought. A whole room is too daunting, go for clearing the clutter on the table or if it's on the floor in a corner of the room. Those smaller things can make you feel like you're making progress.
Hi Sherry,
I used to be a clutter bug myself, so I know how hard it is to let go. Once I started it became easier. Now I have a system, and if I get gifts I don't want I donate them so someone else can enjoy the item. I love living with less.
The Swedish Room
Hey--I'm sorry you're feeling down. I know how that is.
I am thankful my family moved every 2-4 years--across the globe twice--which meant no clutter. I learned to cull at an early age. It's one of my favorite things about moving. Re-evaluating, tossing, letting go.
Not that I don't have two tons too much stuff.
;-)
Jennifer
There is definitely a connection between our surroundings and our lives. I find that when I create spaces in my home something opens up in my life. One step at a time. Go from room to room and see if there is one thing that can go. It's a start and I think I may do the same :)
It has been a challenging winter, not weather-wise, but in our spirits this year for sure. I have found it to be true.
OMGosh....This makes me want to go clean and declutter my house, which is actually something I have been considering lately. As a crafter It is hard to do...because I might...need that, use that, make something from that..... YOU SEE!
I'm doomed......
Thanks for this eye opener Sherry!
So sorry you are feeling blue, Sherry... and not least that clutter is holding you back! Winter is a hard time of year...It is for me too, I'm just not a winter person. And look where I'm living now--Norway, Land of the Far North and Snow...LOL! Something that helps is I start my spring cleaning early, in March. It helps clear the cobwebs and lift the spirits, and keep clutter in check. Start small, take a weekend and work on one room. Keep only what you really love, really need, really use. :o) ((HUGS))
I am decluttering little by little (it's all the Commander's stuff) so when our house goes on the market, everything will be all tidy and there won't be so much "junk" to move. It's liberating to get rid of "stuff"...I just have to make sure he doesn't see the stuff I am tossing out. You only need so many empty butter containers and so many twisty ties for garbage bags!
LuLu~*xoxo
I have always been a pack rat. I have a hard time getting rid of stuff... I think I have a problem with loss... and I am trying to compensate.
This is interesting to me because I just spent one more evening in a friend's house where I always have trouble relaxing. Her house is so clean that I wonder where she lives. I'll bet if I came into your house, I'd relax instantly and might never leave! :)
I have tons of stuff — the contents own my own house, lots of stuff newly arrived from my parent's house, more stuff from J's mom when she moved to Florida years ago...I tell J I feel like I have an anchor tied to me. Bit by bit I chip away at it, organizing, sorting, selling, giving away. But as soon as some goes it seems more comes back in. This post makes me want to do some more purging today...
I don't think the nude hot tub experience at the gym would be for me either.
I have been decluttering sections of the house over the past year and it has been such a liberating experience. It's hard to believe how much 'stuff' one can accumulate over the years. I just have to be vigilant on not bringing new clutter in to replace the old. My adult sons have a bad habit of doing just that. :(
I wish you well with your clutter clearing, Sherry...you CAN do it! Baby steps...a little at a time.
This is really some great info. I have been working on getting rid of clutter for about a year now. It's a good thing to do. If you feel like you have a lot of clutter in your life, I hope you take the next step. It feels good.
I still have a lot of stuff....mostly things I want for my art projects. I'm still clinging on to this.
Post a Comment