Remember, it’s not clutter if you really love it. Always keep in mind that it’s okay to keep the things you truly appreciate, it’s more about discovering what you love and separating those things from the overwhelming mass of “stuff” around you so you can have more freedom to enjoy your life. Make sure you really want to do this and you’re not doing it because you “must” or because someone else in your life is pressuring you. This is powerful work and will affect many areas of your life as you clear the space to receive.
Many people think that letting go is having less, but in reality, there are many more things than you will have MORE: freedom, peace of mind, ease of access. Almost all of my clients are amazed at the abundance they feel when they begin to let go of “too much” in their lives. Try it, it’s captivating! When you’re ready to begin, I recommend that you take a deep breath, be grateful for your willingness to do this hard work, and enjoy the process.
1. Set aside a short period of time and identify a place to start – a cabinet, a drawer, a closet – so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Consider why you are doing this; to clear your energy field of things that no longer serve you and to discover who and what you really are. There is a freedom in this process that will deeply free you.
2. If there is something you are emotionally attached to because of the memory or the person you are reminded of but you don’t like the item, consider taking a picture and then giving away or throwing away the item.
3. Before you begin, set a numerical standard for your environment, such as “I will only keep things that I consider greater than an ‘8’ [or whatever number feels right for you]As you sort through your things, assign them a number and stick to your policy. It’s amazing how well this works for some people!
4. When you hold the item in your hands, simply ask yourself, “DO I LOVE IT?” If not, let it go. Most people never ask themselves that question and end up surrounded by things they don’t even want, need, or care about.
5. Make a policy for your collections, like magazines, that is, I will only keep the issues from the previous three months, or donate or give away clothes that I haven’t worn in the last year.
6. Create a “memory box” and keep only your most precious treasures there. In this way, you can consciously choose the things you love the most and leave the rest.
7. Use the mantra, “I can hold the memory and let the thing go.”
8. Ask yourself, “why am I keeping this?” and really listen to the answer.
9. Choose a trusted friend or family member to sit with you through this process. For many people, letting go is easier with someone else there.
10. Literally KISS the article to say goodbye. If you used to love something, try kissing it goodbye right before you let it go. In a way, this closes an energetic door with the article, while also acknowledging your feelings about it.
11. Many people link their feelings for their gift giver to the item and therefore have a hard time putting down things like Aunt Mary’s orange, yellow, and brown crocheted Afghan blanket, even though they don’t. fits your needs. color scheme (she and she never would!). In this case, try to “inhale” all the energy of Aunt Mary from the article, and you’ll see how easy it is to let go!
12. Create a “decompression chamber,” a shelf or drawer near where you’re working, for “maybe” items. Tell yourself that this camera can remove the emotional charge that the article has from the article itself. In a few hours, come back to the item and see if you still want to keep it, once it’s “downloaded.” It’s amazing how effective this can be!
Copyright 2005 Jessica Waters