Stop getting rid of stuff
Stop “getting rid of stuff.” Did you ever imagine you’d hear a professional organizer say that?
Here’s what happened. My client was really struggling to make a decision as evidenced by her facial expression. I said, “Hey, what’s going on right now?” and she said, “I’m just trying to be good about getting rid of stuff.”
“Let me stop you right there,” I said.
What I said next made her tear up and it really resonates for many of my clients. Clutter/decluttering is not good or bad. If you get rid of one thing or 70% of your things, or even literally nothing, you are not a good or bad person. Paring down is a neutral task (it may feel hard at first, it may be scary until you find your groove), but morally you are not judged by your decisions here. (At least not with me!)
You hired me because you are overwhelmed and cannot manage what you have. I will help make sense of it and help you take inventory, and YOU will make the best choices for you. This is a lifelong practice—even for me. Today is your day one! Give yourself grace.
I want to add you are brave for showing up. For trying, for taking action.
I hear this expression often, and I try to quickly jump in to change the language, the verbiage, the sentiment. The phrase “getting rid of” has such a negative connotation and it implies wastefulness and mindlessness, like we are just haphazardly tossing our items into the trash without a care.
That’s NOT what professional organizing is about, that’s not how we declutter. This is also about more than your stuff. There’s no winning or losing this; it’s just making it a part of our everyday routines. It’s not a competition, and it’s not an expectation.
Can you hear how these edited words empower you, affirm your goals, and invoke generosity?
What I’m asking you to do is to hone in on your goals and what you want for your home, your family, this particular room, this space. I’m asking you to consciously choose what you want to keep (and where it will live) and curate a home you love that’s easy to reset. I’m saying choose empowering language that reflects what’s really happening here: let go with gratitude, and be intentional about recycling, donating, selling, repurposing, and shopping from home first. Wake up, stop clicking BUY NOW on autopilot. Sit with the discomfort of not filling up a cart online. Choose to get through the line at the store without an impulse buy. Stick to your list. Buy what you need. Slow down and interrupt the marketing-induced thoughts of “I need this now!” and FOMO.
Conscious. It’s in my business name, and it’s grounded in my process. I invite mindfulness into yours, too.
Source: www.calm.com
Mindfulness is a practice, just as decluttering and tidying. And practices are able to be improved upon with repetition, an open mind, and guidance. If you need help, there is zero shame in reaching out. It can be asking a close friend, or a sibling also in the struggle, or a professional like me. No matter what, I’m rooting for you!