Decluttering
Decluttering can be a very worthwhile and valuable endeavor. There are many benefits to the process. However, decluttering on its own is a fruitless effort. Without personal evaluation and insight, any progress you make will more than likely be undone. Read on to discover why decluttering will not work and how deeper personal insight can lead to lasting change.
Does Not Require Introspection
Getting rid of stuff you haven’t used in the last year or donating your things are short-term fixes. For decluttering methods to stick, you must evaluate your reasons for the decisions you make regarding your possessions. In other words, figure out why you buy or why you keep things or nothing will change.
Will Not Help You Understand Your Attachment to Possessions
Delving a little deeper, you must look into your personal reasons for your attachment to what you own. For example, do you hold onto things because you fear not having things? Further examination may lead to the realization that you are holding onto habits from a childhood of poverty and that it is now okay to let go of your abundance of stuff.
Does Not Benefit Others
Decluttering without mindfulness does little to help others who could benefit from your overstock. Taking steps to get rid of some things and tidy up, without understanding your reasons for doing so, rarely leads to the kinds of results that could come from purposeful action. When you understand what you hope to gain from this release of clutter, you can significantly pare down your possessions, allowing more people to benefit from your abundance.
Has no Impact on Your Debt
You may think decluttering can help you raise some cash by selling your unwanted things. However, without examining your motives for acquiring so much stuff in the first place, and evaluating your priorities, you are practically guaranteed to buy more items to take the place of those you’ve sold. And, it takes a lot of time and energy to sell those things.
Rarely Leads to Lifestyle Changes
Mindless decluttering is temporary. Your clean and organized environment is merely a facade that isn’t likely to last. If you want to change your life by implementing healthy changes and making positive strides, you first must do the work of introspection.
Taking time to evaluate what has led to your clutter and to consider your lifestyle goals will go a long way toward creating a soothing home environment that lasts. Decluttering doesn’t work on its own, but combining it with mindfulness can lead to success.
This is the second in a series of minimizing and decluttering articles. Come back each week to continue on the journey.
Until next time, check out The Link Between Clutter and Depression.
Cheers!
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