Clutter Crossroads: Inspiration or Regret?
It’s time to talk about clutter again! Clutter, be it the physical clutter of unnecessary stuff, clutter in our calendars and to-do lists, or clutter in our minds is a topic I never tire of discussing. All clutter, regardless of the type, is a distraction. The reason I’m so passionate about it is because I’ve seen firsthand in my own life and in my clients’ lives that eliminating clutter enables us to live in a way that is most aligned with our priorities. There is freedom and clarity in letting go!
For the last few months, I’ve been writing a series of articles about categories of physical clutter. So far I’ve written about the following clutter categories: homeless, informational, practical, identity, and aspirational. In this article, I’ll discuss inspirational and painful clutter.
By the way, if you’d like to read the other articles in the series, you can find them all on my website, shipshape.solutions. While you’re there, you can also subscribe to my monthly newsletter, check out my speaker page, find information about my books and my podcast, and enjoy more free resources.
Before diving in, I’d like to again thank my friend Julie Bestry of Best Results Organizing in Chattanooga for the inspiration for this series. Her blog is one of the best in the business! You can find her website at juliebestry.com.
Inspirational Clutter
What are inspirational items?
An inspirational item is anything that is intended to help us improve and to live according to our values. Usually these items center around words or messages. Ideally, when we look at or use them, we’re inspired to be a better person.
The variety of things that could be included in this category is huge. With a quick Google search on “inspirational gifts,” I found all of the following: signs, notepads, jewelry, candles, pens/pencils, candles, shirts, coasters, posters, knick knacks, greeting cards, blank journals, bookmarks, stress balls, river rocks, coffee mugs, and many more. With a quick walk around my home, I see a few examples in my living room, including motivational books and signs that say “Love” and “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.”
Other examples of inspirational objects include self-help and personal development books, spiritual/religious books and recordings, or notes from a presentation or conference. There are also digital versions, such as a meditation app or an uplifting photo.
How do they become clutter?
Because the purpose of these products is to help us improve, it may feel noble and right to own them. Who doesn’t aspire to be a better person? Shouldn’t we all? But it’s very possible and common for these objects intended to inspire us to become just more clutter in our homes. Consider these examples:
A mug with a quote that no longer reflects your current values
Notes from a conference that you haven’t viewed in years
Blank journals you’ve never written in
Signs that make you feel inadequate or that have been hanging up for so long that they’ve become background “noise”
A motivational book gathering dust on your bookshelves
How can we let this clutter go?
Use this overall principle: Choose fewer messages, only those that resonate with your goals right now and that actually inspire you. Let the rest go so that someone else can enjoy them.
Painful Clutter
What is painful clutter?
Items that could be characterized as painful or sad clutter are things that bring up bad memories because they’re associated with people who hurt us or with difficult times. I’ll admit that when I first saw this clutter category on Julie’s list, I thought, “Who keeps things that are painful?” But when I read on, I realized it’s more common than I thought.
What are examples of painful clutter?
Letters, photos, or other memorabilia from a past relationship or a difficult period of life
Proof of past mistakes: a failed test, a poor job evaluation, a rejection letter from an employer, a publisher, etc.
Don’t forget about digital examples like a nasty email from a colleague or a photo of someone who hurt you
Why do we hold onto it?
We may think that keeping an example of our own mistakes will prevent us from making them again or will encourage us to do better next time. Or we may feel we should keep them as a way of punishing ourselves. While it’s not impossible that these objects could motivate us in a positive way, it may be more likely that they’re dragging us down into more guilt and shame. Only you know how the objects are affecting you. Be honest about whether they are helping or hurting.
When it comes to items that remind us of people who hurt us, we may keep them because we fear that if we let it go, it will symbolize that the person is no longer responsible for what they’ve done. Nothing could be further from the truth. Letting it go just may prevent you from constantly reliving the angst you feel every time you come across it. And that sounds much more healthy.
How can we let this clutter go?
I can’t phrase it more strongly than Julie did in her blog, “The more we can downsize, repackage, and yes—if necessary—hide painful clutter, the more quickly we can regain our emotional strength and resilience.” This category may be the most private and difficult one to make decisions about. If you uncover things that resurface deep scars that still need healing, don’t hesitate to get help if you need it. Go gently with yourself, and prioritize your mental health and wellness.
Although each of the categories in this clutter series is different, the same principles apply. To decide if something is clutter, I most frequently recommend asking two questions about it: Do I love it? and Do I use it? But you can simplify by using one question: Does this add value to my life? If the answer is no, the item is clutter, and you’re better off without it.
My next article, the final one in this series, will discuss nostalgic or sentimental clutter. It will be published in the Times News and Johnson City Press on Saturday, September 7th and will appear on my website soon afterwards. As always, feel free to reach out by email (angie@shipshape.solutions) with questions or comments.