Pinnable Blog post: How to Declutter Your Thoughts with Confidence

Many seeds of suffering have been handed down to us by our ancestors, our parents, and our society. We have to recognize those seeds. – Thich Nhat Hanh

Have you read decluttering books, listened to podcasts, taken courses, and tried all the decluttering tips recommended by experts and still not gotten lasting results?

If so, it could be time to look at the limiting beliefs and thought patterns that keep you from reducing clutter in your life.

Your beliefs and thought patterns are not your “fault.” They come from how and where you were raised. However, YOU have the power to examine those thoughts and beliefs and decide if they serve your highest good. If the answer is no, then you can replace them with supportive, positive beliefs and thoughts that serve you!

Every single person who calls on us for support has mentioned one or more ways in which their relationship to the objects in their home has been shaped by their past experiences and relationships. Everyone experiences this, and it is 100% normal.

Many of our clients grew up in cluttered households, while others have been affected by growing up in spotless, extremely organized homes where every object had its place. Either of these extremes can leave a person with feelings of inadequacy regarding their ability to create a home that supports their ease, joy and wellness.

Luckily, you have all the wisdom you need to let go of old, stuck thought patterns and beliefs. You also have the wisdom to create the right home environment for you. All it takes is mindful attention and compassion for yourself. Let’s begin:

Clutter and Organization in Your Family of Origin:

1. Consider how your parents or caregivers handled clutter and disorganization?

Think back to what your home looked like when you were growing up. Who was responsible for keeping things decluttered and organized? Did he or she find the process stressful or enjoyable?

What was your role? Did you have to keep your room clean and your bed made? Or did you yearn for more rules and structure back then?

Try to think back with gentle curiosity, just to see what you observe. There’s no need to judge your upbringing as “good” or “bad,” simply notice what your upbringing was like.

2. Do you have similar habits as your parents, or have you swung to the opposite end of the spectrum?

https://blog.clutterfreenow.com/blog/decluttering/10-easy-habits-to-prevent-clutter/

It is very helpful to observe your beliefs and thought patterns regarding clutter and disorganization. What did you learn from the way your caretakers managed the house? What limiting beliefs come up as you work with the clutter in your life?

  • I just can’t do it! (Maybe this is something your mom or dad used to say.)
  • If I put this out of sight, I will forget about it (Perhaps there was a pattern of losing things in your home of origin)
  • Order will stifle my creativity (Is this something you read or heard somewhere, and you adopted it as true?)

Use our free printable worksheet to identify beliefs that may have served you well in the past, but that are holding you back now.

It is transformational to bring your limiting beliefs and thought patterns about clutter into your consciousness. You can then choose to cultivate new thought patterns.

It’s Not Just You: Creating New Thoughts is Hard!

Changing your well-established thoughts and beliefs is not easy! Best-selling author and lecturer Dr. Joe Dispenza shows what happens in your brain when you try to create a new thought:

Dr Joe explains that your brain is full of beliefs and thought patterns that have well-established pathways. When you use your conscious willpower to create a new belief, that new thought will compete with more established beliefs for dominance in your brain. Yeesh! Is it even worth trying?

Researchers say YES! But do you need research to convince you that clutter causes stress and can lead to depression and anxiety? If you do, see the resources at the end of this article. But I bet that you know in your heart and in your gut that clutter is causing you stress.

3 Steps to Create New Thoughts

  1. Become aware of your current thoughts. Listen to your self-talk as you are decluttering and organizing. Say the thought that is in your head out loud and see how it sounds. Would you say that to a friend or loved one?
  2. Use your body’s wisdom. As you speak one of your habitual thoughts aloud and consciously to yourself, notice the sensations in your body. If you feel a tightening, gripping, or other unpleasant sensation, your body is telling you that this is not a healthy thought for you.
  3. Craft a new, more loving and compassionate thought and test it in your body. How does your body respond to this new thought? Keep trying until the wisdom of your body tells you this thought is better for you.

Tools for when you feel overwhelmed by clutter:

  1. Become aware of your current thoughts. As you tackle a cluttered closet, these thoughts might run through your mind: this is going to take forever. I can never stay decluttered for long. It’s bad that we’ve accumulated so much junk! I could never let my [parent, friend, child] see this. Try saying these thoughts out loud. How do they sound? Some might ring true, while others might sound silly or dramatic. Remember, there’s no need to judge these thoughts as “good” or “bad.” Just say them out loud and see what you notice!
  2. Use your body’s wisdom. Say this thought out loud: “I can never stay decluttered for long.” What happens in your body? Maybe your lungs feel tight, and it’s hard to take a deep breath. Perhaps you feel restless, and you feel the urge to squirm and scratch that itch on your leg. Maybe you feel heavy and sleepy. What is your body telling you?
  3. Craft a new, more loving and compassionate thought and test it in your body. What could you use to replace this thought? How about, I can declutter to my own satisfaction. Or, I am ready and willing to let go of the objects that no longer serve me. Perhaps, I know how to stay organized. 

Now that you have identified one or more loving thoughts regarding your relationship to the objects in your life, try these three tricks to make them last:

  1. Write down your compassionate thoughts and put them somewhere you can see them.
  2. Tell others. Find someone you can trust and partner with, like a friend, spouse, or professional organizer, to share your new thoughts.
  3. Pair these thoughts with other positive thoughts and create a positive thought party!  Like attracts like, and kind and caring thoughts can lead to more kind and caring thoughts.

Want To Learn More about Habits, Clutter, and Overwhelm?

Learn more to effectively navigate your current relationships and clutter in our e-book, All in the Family: Clutter and Your Primary Relationships.

Discover more ways to mindfully declutter your home or office here >>