Decluttering is a common goal, but many people struggle to maintain their success. Even after taking the first step, the initial purge, they find it difficult to keep going and maintain the new status quo.
So, why is that?
Let’s be honest. We don’t usually end up in a cluttered home overnight. Instead, we accumulate items over time. From our first own room to our first apartment, then our first house, and eventually to a larger house, we’re not just replacing or upgrading. We tend to add things on top of keeping. Additionally, we receive items from others, whether as gifts or inheritances.
Many of the items we own have emotional significance. I’m not just talking about love, like, want, or need. I’m talking about the emotions of achievement, affection, guilt, identity, security, pride, gratification, sentimentality, and more.
This is why many one-size-fits-all decluttering processes or “this worked for me” tips fail in practice. If we have a strong attachment to an item, our minds will definitely find an explanation or excuse.
The first step is to practice self-realization about these attachments. Simply appreciate them. Here are some tips to help you get started:
– Observe which emotion is attached to the item. For example, you might feel a sense of security because you have a closet full of cleaning supplies, or you might feel a sense of identity because you have an old gown you wore at the prom. Or you might feel a sense of comfort because looking at a picture makes you feel calm.
– Be open to observing these emotions without judgment. It’s an inventorization of your feelings.
The next step is to get realistic about your emotions.
– Ask yourself why you experience them. Where did they come from originally? How do they serve you today? The intention of this exercise is to vet your attachment against your situation today. You changed and so can the things around you.
– Test the strength of your attachment by temporarily removing the item. See how your emotions change with this. You might be surprised to find that relief is a possible result.
– Before letting go of the physical item, document it (like taking a picture).
– Be grateful for every item you remove. It worked well for you at its time.
There will be things that are harder to let go than others. That’s totally fine. You walk your pace. Important is to keep going.