DrDeClutterBlog.com

        ”The man who removes a mountain
begins by carrying away small stones.”
~ William Faulkner

And, the person who removes heaps of clothes, toys, books or other such “stuff and things”, begins by carrying away one chunk at a time!

Whether your frustration is in the form of disorganized and messy paper piles, office desk space, closets, drawers, rooms or yards, the “inner” clutter that is created is more important and more detrimental to you than most green fuzzy things growing in the back of the refrigerator!

It is said that, “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” And, let me say here that the “moments that take your breath away” should be from joy, happiness and wonder, not from gasps, freaking out over dramas, traumas, piles and clutter!! (Just wanted to clarify that!)

If we forget this simple adage by getting overwhelmed with outer clutter, disorganization and distractions, most meaningless… we lose not just minutes and hours and days, we miss out on every “now” that exists between “now” and “when” we “get organized.”

VALUE YOURSELF MORE AND MOST HIGHLY
Getting organized, taking the time to go through piles and stacks; jammed closets, drawers and rooms is a measure of valuing yourself. Your time is valuable. Your life is valuable. Your creativity is valuable. Your talents are valuable. YOU are valuable.

It is the human condition to forget this.

When you are distracted by frustrating clutter, losing time and energy trying to find things every day or spending money on the items you already have, “somewhere,” you are telling yourself in so many actions, thoughts and words that you’re time and energy, your very LIFE breath are not very important. Is that true?

No, it’s not true.

                         “I’m going to stop procrastinating … once I get around to it.”
                                                     ~ Unknown (not surprisingly!)

Clutter: Inner, Outer and Other, affects you more deeply and profoundly than you think.

To feel more connected and in control make and take the time to declutter one area at a time… your possessions should not control you, you should control them. You will be amazed at the openness and energy you gain after you clear out some piles and shelves and unused stuff and things. I’ve hardly had a client who didn’t jump for joy just by being able to see their floor or tabletop again.

One reason to keep “everything” you have is the old, “But what if I need it later?” reasoning. Sometimes this happens of course, we need it just days after we’ve let it go, but not that often and it’s not worth keeping stuff around at the expense of your energy being wasted and sucked up by the clutter vortex!

TIP: If you think you “may” need some things and so keep delaying getting rid of them, put them in a box, label it, and store it in the garage or basement, out of the way. Make sure to write the date on it. If in 6 months to a year you haven’t needed what’s in it, “let it go!” (Donate!) Of course, I can hear you! “But, what if right after that, I need it?” Oh…. pleeeeeeeease…. Let – it – go! Life is so much bigger than your stuff!

Dr. DeClutter’s Litmus Test:
- If your house burned down today, would you need the stuff you keep tiptoeing around?
- Would you miss it?
- Would you feel free and happy that it’s gone?
- Would you even remember it anyway?

Clutter is not really the Outer stuff you see, it’s a symptom, a reflection of your Inner Self. Decluttering and organizing are wholistic practices, not just another “chore.” Make them part of your daily “routines” so that you keep up with cleaning out and maintaining only “what you love,” to show your Inner Self that you’re serious about taking better care of your life/space.

What will you do with all that good feeling, open Outer and Inner space?

This IS a test question… as for many who cling to their clutter it’s become a safety net, only dragging them deeper into dark waters. YIKES! Challenge your old beliefs, fears, patterns and routines. Clean out. Declutter. Organize. Let the net go, open up space for your peace and joy and new… SEE WHAT SHOWS UP!

Stop scaring and overwhelming yourself “to death.” Scare yourself “to life!”