One of the best things you can do when you are wanting to change your life is clear out the clutter in your home. This is such a wonderful place to start because it is a fact that clutter in our homes is equal to clutter in our minds.
There is something so cleansing mentally when you go through your closets and drawers and purge anything that does not bring you joy or that you haven’t used in the last year or two.
Marie Kondo’s “Tidying Up” books have been such a success because so many of us get overwhelmed when it comes to letting go of what no longer serves, both in our minds as well as in our homes.
In her books, Marie Kondo mentions the way she decides whether to keep something or pass it on to another. She will hold the item in her hands and if it does not “spark joy”, then it goes into a donation or a trash pile.
This is such a great example of how we can clear clutter in our minds and bodies. If you have been telling yourself an old story on repeat that is not making you feel like your very best self, it’s time to let go of it.
If there are relationships that are keeping you in an old pattern where growth is stagnant, then maybe it’s time to create some space in the relationship for a while. I would say that anything that doesn’t spark joy for you needs to be thanked for what it offered you and send it on its way.
When we keep this mindset, we are required to keep things fresh and exciting and new. Not to say that relationships should be tossed away on a whim, but if the joy is gone, then perhaps it’s time to either give them the time and attention it requires to bring new life to them, or send them on to spark joy in another life.
When we take the time to clear out clutter in our homes it really translates to the sloughing off of the excess in our mind and bodies as well. It is so much easier to tackle clutter when it just amounts to a few things on our desk or a few pounds on our bodies, rather than when we have closets overflowing or have to go up a size or two in clothing.
The best thing is of course to take inventory and clear out the clutter at least once or twice a year. That way you’ll never have to set aside huge blocks of time to rid your life of what no longer serves or sparks joy.
However, if you find yourself in a situation where more time is required to sort through the excess, then don’t beat yourself up about it. Just set aside the necessary time and get to work. The key is to never let it get out of hand again. Don’t waste valuable time in your life cleaning your clutter, or sorting your clutter, or storing your clutter any longer. Once you become aware of the excess, take the time to remind yourself that there is so much more to life than the accumulation of more and more things. Then you will begin to enjoy the freedom in your life and everything will seem lighter and less of a burden.
So what are you tidying up in your life first?
