It is well and truly spring! With warmer and longer days, many of us are feeling motivated to make changes in our lives. It’s no coincidence that it’s called “spring cleaning” rather than “winter cleaning.” Something about this time of year gives us energy to put love and attention into our personal spaces.
As you look around your home or office, you may have the sense (perhaps a long time in coming!) that your energy is being drained by too much stuff. As you tidy, do you come across objects that don’t have a home? When you look around the room, do you feel a sense of hopelessness? Do you feel uncomfortable having people over?
If so, these are signs that you’re ready for a change. Ideally our homes support our happiness and well being, but sometimes overwhelm and anxiety from our overflowing homes prevents that happiness from flourishing.
Clearly, more stuff does not equal more happiness. Our relationship to our things is not that simple. Imagine this: there is a tiny thread connecting you to every object in your space. Some threads drag you down and make you feel heavy. Other threads lift you up, making you feel buoyant and joyful. The truth is that our stuff has an impact on our energy! Our energetic connection to things can lift us up or bring us down.
Many, many people in the United States have too much stuff. We have more things than we have room for, but more importantly, we have more things than bring us ease and joy. We live in a country of abundance, with an economy based on buying bigger, better things. But many people are questioning the imperative to buy-buy-buy, and are noticing that more stuff doesn’t make us happier. Instead it can make us feel overwhelmed, stressed, and even guilty.
If “too much stuff” resonates with you, congratulations! That awareness is a big step. The next step is to start paring down your possessions to those that bring you joy. As you look around your space, you may start to panic. “Where do I start? How can I possibly make decisions about this stuff? What about impractical things that I love? What about functional things that are ugly??”
Don’t worry, all of these questions have answers! But first, take a deep breath. Do a body scan: check your toes, fingertips, shoulders or anywhere where you notice sensation. Ground yourself in the surface where you are standing or sitting, and remind yourself that you’re okay. No task is insurmountable. You CAN do it!
Step 1: Start with your treasures
Pick small space: a corner, surface, or drawer. Remove everything and find a space where you can put the items. As you survey each item, be mindful of the feeling it sparks in you. Does that rock remind you of a hike you took with your best friend? Does that book make you feel guilty? As you notice these thoughts, feelings and sensations, you may find that your energetic connections to your objects become more clear. There will always be items that are your personal treasures: items that you find beautiful and meaningful, items that create joy and make you smile. Those are keepers.
Of course, it is often practical to keep things that aren’t necessarily treasures. Maybe your vacuum doesn’t fill you with joy, but it’s a very useful tool! Beyond the treasures, assess the practical items that selflessly serve you, and merit a place in your home. Do you have more than one version of an item? Choose the best one and donate the extras.
Step 2: Assess the rest!
Once you’ve identified your treasures and practical items, be mindful of what remains. Some items may be laden with negative emotions (gifts you don’t love, uncomfortable reminders of the past, unattractive objects).
Think of your home as a museum, and of yourself as the curator. Would you fill your museum with things that make you unhappy? Of course not! The things that don’t make you smile could make someone else happy. 🙂 I like to envision someone picking up the item at the thrift store and saying, “this is just what I needed!”
What have you identified as having a positive or negative impact on your energy? Share in the comments!
Discover more ways to mindfully organize your home or office here! >>
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