This weekend I dipped my first toes into the water of a long overdue project to clear some clutter from my domestic life!
As I began the lengthy process of revisiting my possessions, deciding what to sell, give away or throw away, what to keep and where to keep it, I harboured distinctly conflicting emotions.
On the one hand I felt overwhelmed by the task ahead. On the other hand I could sense relief and a beckoning feeling of liberation.
[box type=\”shadow\”]\”The more you have, the more you are occupied.
The less you have, the more free you are.\”
– Mother Teresa[/box]
Overcoming the temptation
As I pored over all manner of books, manuals, photo albums, DVDs and assorted trivia that had accumulated in my home office, I had to work hard to overcome the temptation to manufacture – in my head – some obscure benefit to keeping every single item.
Some years ago during a previous attempt at decluttering I offered my mother-in-law a rather smart DVD player that was surplus to our family\’s requirements.
I reasoned that she would be delighted at being able to play back recordings of family holidays on her TV, so was taken aback (a little miffed, if truth be told) when she declined my offer.
A conscious choice
I\’ve never forgotten her comment:
\”I\’ve taken a conscious choice to try and reduce rather than increase the number of things I possess.\”
I have to admit that it made an impact on me when I thought about how little she owned in comparison to the amount of stuff my own family had managed to accumulate over the years (much of which was lying dormant on shelves, in boxes and in storage).
Let\’s face it, it\’s not easy to give up your stuff when you spend so much time and effort accumulating it in the first place. But then what\’s the point of surrounding yourself with stuff you hardly ever use?
Optimising the energy flow
A great bit of advice that I once read was this:
Think of your stuff not as being in your possession but rather as being under your (temporary) stewardship. Then consider each item you\’re responsible for and make a \’stay or away\’ decision based on optimising the energy flow.
Energy flow? I know that might sound a bit odd in relationship to an old book or other keepsake, but please bear with me …
Here\’s a question for you:
How do you feel after doing some modestly vigorous exercise?
If you\’re like most you probably answered \’invigorated\’ or something similar.
That\’s because every particle that makes up your body starts to vibrate at a higher level as it is infused with the energy that flows more freely through you as you move and breathe with more intensity.
Vital to our wellbeing
A constant flow of energy is vital to our wellbeing and to life in general. When energy can no longer flow, life ceases to exist.
The ancient Chinese art of feng shui recognises that wellbeing is closely linked to the flow of energy and encompasses an approach to design that promotes the free flow of energy and seeks to remove anything that may trap or block it.
Energy traps
Clutter is simply the accumulation of items that are no longer in effective use. Things that stay unused, unopened or remain in one place for extended periods become little energy traps or blockages and thus contribute to the diminished vitality of those who share the space.
So back to the old book that may have been gathering dust on your shelf for the past five years or so.
Might the book be used more frequently, effectively and enthusiastically by another person? If so, then it\’s time to let it go. Find a new home for the book where it might promote, rather than obstruct the energy flow.
Trash or treasure?
The popular saying has it that \”one man\’s trash is another man\’s treasure\”.
In an ideal world every item would represent a little treasure for the person in possession of it and the general level of vitality experienced by human beings would increase accordingly.
Unfortunately, too many of us cling on to our stuff even when we know there are others who could put it to far more effective use or that it could be deconstructed and recycled into something far more useful.
I call this the clutter trap – and I have to admit that I have fallen into it a few times.
Now please excuse me. I have some clutter to attend to!
The Universe certainly is tuned in, and speaks… I have been receiving SO many messages about the clutter! Thanks for this one, Bill. As always, your thoughts are absolutely timeous! Now I too, have to get clearing…
Hahahaha Bill this is really funny because I am looking around my office as we speak and I have notes I dont need,k reminders of appointments I have already attended and on top of that files with exactly the same information thats stuck on the notice board. At home it is exactly the same thing especially shoes and books that I have not used for well over 3 years. I just like feeling like I have collected but its all so useless and really eating up my space and energy. Thanks for the reminder to declutter and the confirmation that I really dont need any of these things.
Good luck with your declutter Brenda!
Spring is the perfect time to spring clean one’s mind, home, office and computer. I find this annual ritual so invigorating. It invokes a new level of energy, motivation, enthusiasm and inspiration and makes me a little more aware of the true source of contentment.
For sure. And if you’re in the northern hemisphere then autumn is an ideal time to clear out before the ‘hibernation’ period!
Yes it is terrible to get rid of your ‘possessions’ but once you have done just that, you realize how lite you can travel… No more worry about storage, cleaning and remembering where that thing is that you know you had but haven’t used for quite some time. And of course if you haven’t used it, you don’t need it. Rather let your need and greed meet therefore becoming a good steward and a wise investor.
What a blessing it was to bless others with that which I haven’t used for some time. Especially all the books that gathered through the years and which I never got time to read again.
Travelling lite applies to many areas in one’s life and I think one should try to clear up the clutter as soon as possible to free yourself to grow and explore new horizons as needs be.
It’s definitely rewarding to be able to give things to others who look at the gifts as being of far higher value than we do in giving them!
I can totally relate to what Mother Theresa said, that the ‘less you have the more free you are’. That is exactly what I experienced when I got rid of all my ‘stuff’ when I moved from Pretoria to Graskop. I now live in a little rented cottage with the minumum of material possessions and I am just as happier if not happier than I was. I have proved to myself that happiness has very little to do with the amount of ‘things’ one possesses.
Quite right ….you need to clear out or GR (“GET RID”…as my dad says) the old….to make way for the new! Energy is a flowing thing….if it gets stuck things stagnate…. 🙂
Indeed!
Hi Bill I am also a victim of clutter trap cos I have a lot of items books , notes, clothing that are of good use but never revisit them its just a disease one have yet keep collecting more and more. Last week me and my husband decided that we need to open all that we have accumulated over the years and reshuffle, thanks Bill for confirming this for us stay blessed
Good luck with this Busisiwe. The trick (as I know only too well) is not being tempted to ‘reshuffle’ stuff (i.e. move it around) but to ‘use it or lose it’.
I have a lot of stuff that I ceollected over the years. Mostly books and electronic gadgets. Most of these are of no practical use any more but I tell myself that I will find a use for it in future. I have also started to develop a new paradigm that says that if you have not used it during the last three years you will never use it again.
My future looking view that is in the process of being developed does not have place for ‘stuff’. My view is that I have to keep the valuable items that is supporting my current activities and that will support my immediate future activities. Any activities beyond that are basically dreams, and I will build those castle wen the time comes. I fthe time does not come, it will remain a dream.
My future view contains only the activities that I know I can handle. For this to materialise, proper planning and scheduling of activities have to be pegged down and pursued. Happiness will depend on the productive use of stuff withour having to worry about clutter that will never be used again.
Thanks Drikus – some good thoughts!
Sometimes the most clutter is in ones head. Memories, thoughts etc that prevent the flow of new ideas and even hide old unrealized dreams. Best place to start cleaning up clutter is in the upstairs department then cleaning the garage becomes much easier.