Decluttering – it is time to let go? Mindfulness

Decluttering – is it time to let go?

Decluttering (both physically, mentally and emotionally) is an under-estimated personal growth ‘tool’!

Letting go of, and ‘tidying up’ whatever is preventing you from living harmoniously in the present is a valuable tool to aid in your personal growth and healing.

The amount of clutter we have in our lives is a reflection of our mental and emotional state of mind.

Decluttering refers not only to letting go of physical objects and ‘tidying up’ the physical aspects of your life, but it also refers to letting go of, and resolving any emotional stress and anxiety associated with the physical things we continually collect and find challenging to let go of. We know that it is highly beneficial to resolve or just let go of past challenges, anger, traumas, resentments and guilt as well any outdated and/or unbalanced thought processes regarding the past, present, and future.

I give myself permission to let go!

Aim to let go of anything that is:

1. cluttering and ‘messing up’ your life
2. bringing back ‘hurtful’ memories
3. causing tension or conflict in your life
4. holding you back from reaching your full potential
5. contributing to your anxiety and stress
6. making you feel ‘crowded in’ with no room to move and grow
7. stifling, smothering, and stagnating your life
8. hindering you from moving forward

A significant aspect of decluttering is that you are consciously involved in the process of freeing yourself of anything that you realise you do not need any more, is unnecessary to keep, and that you feel may be holding you back.

To give you an even better idea, some synonyms for decluttering are: dejunking, unjumbling, organising, tidying up, purging, disentangling, freeing up, and detaching. When you get the ‘junk’ out of your life, everything improves – mentally, physically, and emotionally. For many people decluttering at any level leads to a feeling of personal liberation!
The physical act of decluttering our home and/or workplace is extremely symbolic of our willingness to let go, detach and have a more organised and less cluttered life! We do this without being obsessive about the organisation of our environment or what some call ‘perfectionism’, as that comes with its own set of challenges!

How to begin physical decluttering:

1. Start slowly. Sometimes our mind can overwhelm us by telling us the task is too big! If this is so, select a single drawer, or cupboard for today and start there.
2. You do not need to throw away everything! It is OK and positive to keep some sentimental items.
3. Aim to keep only those things that make you feel good and adds to the quality of your life.
4. If emotions come up when you are decluttering it is very wise to speak to a councillor and/or friend.

Questions to ask yourself when decluttering:

1. Why am I keeping it?
2. Do I like it?
3. Do I use it?
4. How does it make me feel?
5. Will I ever fix it?
6. Do I really need it in my life?
7. Do I need more organisation in my life?

Keep in mind that when we re-arrange our surroundings, it is often synonymous with us rearranging our lives for the better!

Extract from ‘Chakra Wisdom’ – using Mindfulness, Affirmations, and other tools to Support Your Health and Wellbeing by Stephen Canning
Book is available in the store: Chakra Wisdom Book – Using Affirmations, Mindfulness and other tools to Support Your Health and Wellbeing

I choose to unclutter my life!

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