“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak”
~ Hans Hofmann
I have made the executive decision that I have too much stuff.
Recently, I feel as though I have accumulated so many things that are cluttering up my space, my time, and ultimately cluttering up my mind. I’m feeling so overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things that I have that honestly serve no valuable purpose in my life. Bank statements, excess stationary, articles of clothing, magazines, random decorations… the list goes on.
Every few months, I try to go through my wardrobe and cull those articles of clothing that I hardly wear or make me feel uncomfortable, so that I can pass them on to charity. However, I feel as though my life is in need of a much greater overhaul right now.
As my mum will testify to, one of my favourite activities is to cut down the amount of stuff that we don’t need to pass it on to someone who will find far more value in it. In fact, she would probably say that I am pretty brutal when it comes to doing a clear out. We’ve cleaned out her wardrobe a few times in the last year… which she will agree has been equally testing and therapeutic.
Regardless of how cluttered I feel by things at the moment, I must admit that this feeling is definitely a reminder to be grateful for how much I do have.
I am ridiculously blessed to live abundantly. But living in abundance has very little to do with how much I own. In fact, I have found that generally the more people have, the less value they place in possessions. I fall into this category. Whilst I am sentimental at times, as I have grown up I have placed less sentiment in objects, as much as in relationships and memories.
So why do I hold onto things even when I feel they are weighing me down? This is a question that I have been asking myself, and have found that it basically comes down to 3 reasons;
- I think that I might need it one day.
- I feel guilty about removing it from my life.
- It is attached to a memory.
So here comes my next 30 day challenge – I’m going to be removing at least one thing that is weighing me down every day for the next 30 days. As the challenge progresses I am hoping that I will be able to refine my criteria for deciding what I should hold onto and what I should let go.
I would love for you to share your tips about how you simplify your life in the comments below!
xx Liz
3 Comments
That is a GREAT challenge, Liz! I think I might join in! I’ve been cleaning out a lot of stuff this summer in preparation for moving out next year, and if I’m iffy on whether or not to donate something, I ask myself: “Would someone else get more utility out of this than I do?” Sure, I *might* put on this dress in a year and wear it for one evening… but would someone else use it a lot more than that? That’s been a really helpful consideration for me.
You should join me and let me know how you go. That’s a great question to ask! I will have to add that to my list. xx
I am definitely someone who loves to declutter THINGS, but I never thought of having a declutter of my life stuff! This is a brilliant idea!