Diving Deeper into Clutter

We all have clutter somewhere — in our physical, social, emotional, financial or mental environments. Clutter silently rules our lives, often keeping us overwhelmed and stuck. Moreover, we have become experts at navigating life around our clutter. Getting control of our clutter is about organizing things, recognizing our inner fears and making changes in our lives.

An “aha” moment

Sometimes it takes an “aha” moment to get us there. I have a client who told me a story about another friend who always made up her bed in the morning. My client asked the other person why she bothered making her bed each morning. My client’s friend said that it was her privilege to do so.

The answer, as simple as it sounded, made my client reflect upon why she didn’t make up her bed in the mornings.

Why didn’t she feel it was a privilege? She concluded that she was rebelling against her childhood, a time when she had to make her bed before she could go outside to play. She recognized that her failure to make her bed was not about having a choice. It was about reaction to the past.

Freed from clutter

With that revelation, she freed herself to make her bed in the mornings and started to declutter her life by freeing herself from childish reactions to her adult life. She addressed her clutter physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually, and everything in her life changed for the good. She got a better job, earned more money, managed to save enough to make the down payment on a condo and found peace within — things that had previously escaped her. She says that her spiritual journey started with de-cluttering her life.

Why do we have clutter?

We fail to declutter our homes because our own clutter is predictable and comfortable, and we naturally relate to familiarity and routine, even if they work against us.

How does your cluttered home negatively affect you?

• It makes you lethargic. Clutter creates visually and emotionally draining energy and can make you feel fatigued and uninspired. The more clutter, the more likely you are to procrastinate on things that are important.

• It drags you down. Clutter can energetically put you in a state of overwhelm, stress and hopelessness.

• It makes you feel poor. You will notice that clutter is endemic in poor countries. When you are struggling financially, you may have a tendency to create clutter, holding onto things unnecessarily. Keep only what has meaning and use.

• It makes you feel out of control. When clutter controls you, you feel out of control. Take control of your stuff and gain control of your life.

Why clear your clutter?

• To gain a sense of peace. Visualize an uncluttered room in your home and sense how you feel. Is breathing easier? Do you feel lighter, more comfortable?

• To manage your finances. If you are in a state of financial overwhelm and your environment creates the same energy, clear up your clutter to help you regain financial flow and control.

• To enhance your health. Dirty and cluttered homes create “negative energy,” add to your fatigue, body pain, constipation and congestion, and serve only to clog your body’s energetic flow.

• To gain control of your life. When you choose to declutter at home, the hidden order of the universe magically brings long lost order into your life — your energy heightens, things fall into place and you become productive and smile more.

Let’s get started Here are tips to keep clutter at bay:

1. Put back whatever you take out

2. Throw away one item a day

3. Never leave dirty dishes in the sink

4. Make your bed every morning

These sound simple, but breaking away from old clutter habits can be a challenge and this is a great place to start.

So begin your decluttering process by getting clear on why decluttering is important for you, then pick a date to start the process. Clearing clutter is more likely to happen when it is scheduled. Give yourself permission to get rid of old clothes, expensive purchase mistakes and old papers. You will feel better in all aspects of your life.

For more information on life guide and feng shui expert Alice Inoue, visit www.aliceinspired.com.