There are some important and harsh truths about decluttering that when accepted will simplify the process.
It might sound cruel to suggest you must accept these harsh truths. But a lack of understanding them is in many ways the reason the idea of decluttering is met with so much resistance. The good news is there is precursory work that will make it easier.
Decluttering isn’t always easy. That is the truth. But it doesn’t have to be difficult – or overwhelming.
I am positive that when you take in these truths – harsh as they are – you will approach the task of letting go with more confidence.
And when you use these harsh truths as guides to help you keep your emotions in check the process eases. And you turn what is daunting into doable.
Six harsh truths about decluttering.
1. If it isn’t a clear yes, it is a no.
This truth is otherwise known as trust your gut. Your gut is always telling you something. But fear gets in the way of you accepting the truth. When you hold something and contemplate its worth and find yourself saying, “I don’t know” that is a likely clue. It is a clue to what you know deep down inside.
If you need more help to get clear on what is a definitive yes, and what is better to let go try asking these questions.
2. There is always an internal reason for your clutter.
When something physical is hard to let go of, the reason is internal. The word internal is hard to accept. It suggests digging and digging is scary. But recognizing the fear and paying attention to its origin will help you overcome it.
Having an internal reason for clutter happens to the best of us. And it happens in part because we attach an emotion to the physical item you are contemplating and it becomes something else. A sweater isn’t just a sweater. It is the the item you were wearing when you met your partner. A mug isn’t just a mug. It was what your best friend gave when you were going through a hard time.
The internal struggle pushes out all logical reasoning. So that sweater that you don’t wear anymore all of a sudden has too much meaning even though it no longer serves a purpose or satisfies a need. Understanding that this happens is very much a part of the solution.
3. It will get messy before it makes sense.
In a practical sense this truth simply means when you are doing the work of letting go, your physical space will look a little up-side-down. Things will be out of place. You might feel flustered because of it.
Stay the course! It is worth it.
This harsh truth is also code for there is no quick fix – especially when you are decluttering what is emotionally-laden. You might want to skip all the digging and go straight to buying fancy bins, but you’d be doing a disservice. You’d be missing out on the opportunity to declutter thoroughly, with a great understanding of what you own, and seeing that you have enough.
Letting go creates chaos – physically and mentally. But just when healing from a cold things feel worse before they feel better, so too will things feel out of control before you can fully enjoy the peace that comes from living lighter and organized.
4. Not everything you spent money on has financial worth still.
When I say this truth it isn’t to suggest you shouldn’t try to sell items you not longer like, need, or use. But rather when you sell, you let go of expecting a high return for doing so. It is also to suggest you don’t use this as an excuse to not let go.
The truth is there is either no market or little interest in older, space-consuming items that were once “in”/style. The old camera, out of date evening dress, fur coat, large, sturdy (and bulky) desk while expensive to purchase will not yield you what you originally spent.
Think of this truth as a permission slip. Let it give you the authority you might often seek to let go regardless of money spent, and the lack of return on your investment.
When something has run it’s course, focus less on what you spent to attain it and more on the physical and mental space you gain in letting it go.
5. Decluttering is not enough
Decluttering is a lot of things. It is the path to living intentionally. It is the way to creating space and spaces that will affect your life positively – on every level. But if you declutter without shifting your mindset you open the door for clutter to come in – again.
If you are going to go through this process of letting go, do it deliberately. Shift your mindset and build healthy habits to consciously (and easily) determine what you need in order to continuously create your life.
6. All the knowledge in the world won’t matter if you don’t take action
I am fan of reading, joining groups to support your decluttering efforts, and taking courses to learn more about why you clutter. Learning is important. But it won’t make the clutter disappear. To lighten your load you must do the work.
You must break down the project, schedule the time, and show up to declutter and get organized. If you don’t take action (one bite at a time) on the items that clutter your head, heart and home, you can’t make progress.
The best truth of all is that you can do this work. You are your life architect. You have the power to choose what matters. And use these beliefs to serve your highest good.
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Want some help getting to the truth of your internal clutter? This worksheet has the answers.
