It was such an honour to be invited to speak at The Circle Women’s Collective on the topic of De-Cluttering as a Spiritual Practice. I was nervous and excited as I have been involved in The Circle on and off for many years and have always looked up to these amazing women. This was such a rich topic with many gems of wisdom (participants words not mine) throughout the night.
My Thoughts From the Evening
Having a Daily Practice
Do you have a daily practice? This can really make a difference in your day. Whether it is being grateful, meditating, smudging, praying, doing a bit of writing or just being with yourself for a short period of time, this practice will help you to get through your day in a more conscious way. Those who have a daily practice will say that they can tell if they miss it. I have a daily practice of yoga and walking when I can without being attached to my phone, having an awareness of nature and the beauty that surrounds me.
Clearing with Compassion
Clearing with compassion as opposed to attacking the clutter can feel so much better. Also, going at your own speed is always the best. I always encourage people to have compassion for themselves for doing this work as it is important, personal work. It is a process that we go through in our own time. We know when we are ready to go through a box or to start to work on that closet. Think about clearing with compassion and becoming aware of the process, being kind to yourself and paying attention to your emotions.
Letting Go With Grace and Gratitude
We do have a choice and we can struggle with holding on to our stuff, second guessing ourselves about making a decision, leaving it in the donation bag or box by the door where it sits for weeks, maybe months. or We can decide that we will work through these challenging emotions as they come up and let the items go with grace and gratitude. Maybe the item was a gift given with good intention. It is now covered with dust, has served its purpose, it is not being used, we do not love it or need it, it’s just taking up space in our homes and in our hearts. Let it go with grace and gratitude.
Accepting Where We Are Right Now
This is all about just starting where we are now with loving acceptance. We know that clearing out the hard stuff can be challenging. And that is okay. This article might help. Clutter can be all about the past (regrets, happy or sad memories, losses, lost opportunities) and it can also be all about the future as well (worry, just in case I need it someday) We really hang on tightly to these beliefs because they serve us in some way. Clearing clutter needs to be about now. The best place to start is looking at what is going on today. We only have control over what we can do today. So we start from where we are now with compassion and loving acceptance.
Thinking About Our Own Legacy
We know we are not going to be here forever and we need to think about what we are leaving behind for others to go through. Do you want to leave behind memories of what your life was all about or do you want your loved ones to be going through boxes of items that you carried around with you for years and years and never went through. Again, it is your choice. Downsize now while you can. What type of legacy do you want to leave behind?
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What do you do as a daily practice to make space for yourself and your goals? Please comment below…….
Decluttering can be very emotional for some people. I liked what you said about letting go with grace and gratitude. I do think people struggle to hang on to stuff that they don’t really want. Once they let go they feel the benefits of doing the work.
Thank you Janet I am sure we can all relate to that struggle of wanting to let go but also wanting to hang on. The struggle is real.
I think decluttering can touch us way down deep in ways we don’t anticipate. This is why doing it with another person is so helpful. We often need to process what we are doing and the things we are handling. I love your point about being thankful. When we are thankful for what we have had, we may also be more able to release it. Of course, it is cathartic when you are finished!
Thank you Seana. It feels so great when we are finished a particular project.
I walk every day but because I have to keep an eye on my dog so she doesn’t chase squirrels or trucks or eat sticks, it’s not always as spiritual as I’d like. I’ve tried journaling but I always end up writing about the same old stuff. Still trying to find something that works for me, I guess.
Thanks for your comment Janet.Getting out and walking your dog is awesome. No excuse for not getting out there and getting some fresh air and exercise.
I love the phrase you choose, “clear with compassion.” It sets a loving, proactive tone for the process rather than one of dread or fear. The other idea that resonated with me was clearing or editing for now. So many of the things that we collect have to do with the past and sometimes the future. But while we’re decluttering, if we can focus on now, it can often help with the decision-making process. I appreciate your gentle approach, which is focused on self-care and understanding.
Thank you so much Linda. I like to think I have a gentle approach but it is so mice to hear from others such as yourself. Many thanks