As the snow begins to melt, the daylight stays around a bit longer, the sunshine peaks out once in awhile and we begin to shed the many layers that have helped us survive the LONG winter in Vermont . . . we get motivated to clear and organize our clothing and homes . . . calling in clarity and springtime sparkle!
I am having a fabulous time rolling up my sleeves and guiding my clients to clear their clothing closets and dressers this month! SO many clothes have been donated to worthy organizations and so much transformation is happening for my clients . . . with lots of joy sparking momentum and change!
I am always incredibly grateful and honored to be a part of this process with my clients and it definitely inspires me to tackle my own “dirty little secrets” in my home (and life)!
YES beautiful people . . . I have a few “dirty little secrets!!”
I have clutter in various parts of my home and hold onto things that no longer “spark joy” or “serve a purpose.” I’m human . . . and sometimes it’s hard to let go of things or when life gets busy, it’s easier just to stuff the clutter into a closet or a drawer or the basement or way down deep inside you . . . and ignore ignore ignore!!!
Well, it’s been hard to ignore my current clutter “sitch” because I can’t even close the damn linen closet door!
You see . . . I am addicted to “throw pillows” and my closet is so overstuffed with them that I can’t pretend anymore that I don’t have a problem!!
I have some shame and embarrassment around this, and watching my clients deal with similar emotions has helped me to FINALLY admit to and tackle this pillow addiction!
Here is how I did it . . . and it wasn’t nearly as painful as I thought it would be!!!
Step One: I made sure I scheduled (in my calendar) an hour to deal with this shit show. It’s not a very big closet and clearing is a huge superpower for me, so I knew I didn’t need more time than that.
Step Two: Early morning spin class gave me lots of energy and put me in a good frame of mind. I was well nourished and hydrated which helped keep my mind clear and focused.
Step Three: I planned to donate the pillows I was letting go of, so I had garage bags nearby and the attitude that others will be SO happy to repurpose my discarded pillows!!
Step Four: I took EVERYTHING out of the closet including sheet sets, blankets, table cloths and the many many many pillows!
Step Five: I organized the items into categories to see how much I had and decided I didn’t need the 6 random pillow cases, the bed sheets that have never been comfortable and the table cloths that had years worth of stains on them. That was the easy part! I even had cute baskets that I used to organize the above items and they fit perfectly into the closet! Things like that make me so happy!
I already felt lighter, calmer and less ashamed!!
Step Six: Tackling the pillows . . . but more importantly . . . exploring WHY I had so many pillows!!!
This is what I realized . . . pillows are cheap and easy to buy when I need a “boost” (especially during the dark days of winter). It’s easy to transform and freshen up your living room or bedroom or basement with new throw pillows and a blanket and did I mention that you can find cheap pillows easily . . . so what is the harm??
The harm is that I don’t ever feel satisfied with my pillow arrangements . . . so I buy more hoping that THIS time will be different! I do this a few times a season, putting the other pillows away hoping they will someday inspire me . . . but they never really do. I feel guilty getting rid of them, because 25 pillows at $19.99 DOES ADD UP (I really hope my husband doesn’t do the math as he reads this)!!
So I “Marie Kondoed” this shit!!
Marie says when you come across items that don’t spark joy for you but you are still having a difficult time letting go of them . . . ask these 4 questions (I recommend saying them out loud . . . your dog won’t judge!):
“Why do I have the specific item in the first place.”
“When did I get it and what meaning did it have for me then?”
“What role does it play in my life now?”
“Has this item already served it’s purpose?”
And yes . . . you can be attached to something as impersonal as throw pillows . . . BEEN THERE/DONE THAT!!!
Don’t ever be ASHAMED at what you are attached to or what you are having a hard time letting go of. Humans feel comfortable and nourished when surrounded by their “stuff” and that’s ok!
What isn’t ok is if your “stuff” makes you feel anxious, heavy, ashamed or unhappy. If it does, then it’s time to get rid of that shit!!!
Focus on what you want to keep . . . those items that feel authentic to the life you want to live and how you want to feel! (And yes, items as insignificant as paperclips can bring you joy . . . I just found “rose gold” paperclips at Target that bring a smile to my face every time I use one!)
So now it’s your turn!! It’s the weekend . . . a perfect time to commit to clearing an area of your home for an hour or two!
IF you are stuck . . . and can’t seem to let go of those items that don’t spark joy and actually make you feel crappy . . . ask these four questions:
“Why do I have the specific item in the first place.”
“When did I get it and what meaning did it have for me then?”
“What role does it play in my life now?”
“Has this item already served it’s purpose?”
IF you STILL find yourself stuck and in need of support, compassion and permission . . . I’M your girl! Reach out to see what we can do together . . . I promise lots of joy sparking momentum and change! Clear with Amy
I am proud to say that I was able to let go of enough pillows to easily close the closet door and it feels AMAZING to see what I have decided to keep!
I will admit that I have new pillows from Target in the back seat of my car at this very moment . . . BUT it wasn’t an impulse buy and quite honestly, I am never going to stop buying decorative pillows. I am just going to start buying them for the right reasons, making sure they spark joy before I walk out of the store!
Why don’t you work on doing the same!! 🙂
xo,
amy
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