Clear Your Space: The Power of Decluttering

Our lives are filled with loads of things, both big and small. It’s hard to imagine how much more we have compared to our grandparents’ generation. We rely on possessions to solve problems, bring us happiness, ensure our safety, provide a sense of comfort, and even to showcase our status. However, rather than telling you to stop acting this way, I suggest taking a closer look at the general relationship we have with our belongings.

I encourage you to take some time to sort through your possessions and allow yourself to feel a range of emotions. Perhaps you’ll feel sadness over letting go of something, or maybe you’ll take a moment to acknowledge forgotten memories and feelings. You might even feel the need to express gratitude towards someone, including yourself. It’s possible that you’ll get stuck sorting through papers, photos, or books. That’s okay — take your time.

Start by opening a drawer, cupboard, or wardrobe and picking out one or two items. Examine them carefully and ask yourself questions such as, “Do I really need this?”, “What is its purpose?”, and “When did I last use it?”. Consider the item’s origin and how it ended up in your home or office. Was it a gift or did you buy it for yourself? What does it remind you of?

Afterwards, you may decide to discard something, give it away, or reorganize it. Alternatively, you may simply return it to its original place. The most significant outcome of this process will be the feelings and realizations you’ll experience during and after it. The most common emotion is a sense of liberation and relief. It feels like a weight has been lifted, and there is room for something new and different.

A woman who had been divorced for eight years found herself living with her son in a one-bedroom apartment, unable to move to a bigger place despite her desire to do so. She had worked with a coach to address various personal limitations, but still felt held back from taking necessary steps forward.

It wasn’t until she remembered about an old storage room filled with items from her past life, including her wedding dress, that she began to make progress. She made the decision to let go of these items and donated two boxes to charity. As she stood with her wedding dress draped over a fence near the trash cans, she experienced a strange sensation as if an old version of herself was there on the dumpster.