A Mini-Minute with Pam: Decluttering -What If You Let Go Of It?

What popped into your mind when you read the title? What “it” can you let go of? HOLD that thought.

Maybe your first thought was that you need to let go of a grudge. Maybe it’s a toxic relationship. Maybe it’s a job. Maybe it’s an heirloom locked away unseen in the attic.

Is it time to purge?

In this post, I am going to focus in on physical STUFF that seems to end up as clutter in our homes. It seems like everyone I talk to wants to be better organized. What if lack of organization isn’t the root of the problem? Why do we hold on to stuff we are not even using? For years! Maybe we don’t need to organize it. Maybe we need to declutter instead.

I am guilty

I moved from a 3 bedroom apartment into this one bedroom apartment more than a dozen years ago. The move was a rush and so things were just dumped wherever my friends could find a spot. And, unfortunately, many of the things have remained unused in that same spot for all this more than 12 years. There are even boxes and storage bins unopened in the storage space. Or hiding under the bed or behind closed closet doors. I wanted to deal with it and let it go, but I just couldn’t seem to get motivated. And the “memories” connected with the “stuff” held me back. I want you to know, God has now shown me how to let go of it.

The Great Decluttering Challenge

Yup! That’s what I have been doing this week Decluttering. Sarah Mueller is an amazing woman. She is leading the the way. My place is pretty organized but my problem is hanging onto things for “sentimental reasons” or I might need it “some day”. Sarah suggests just focus on small areas tat a time to declutter, rather than tackling a whole room. She empowers and nurtures us in this challenge group. And it has been great!

My first challenge

My wedding dress. It had hung wrapped in a plastic zippered bag in my closets for over 50 years. Neither of my kids wanted it, so it hung there, taking up space; and it was a constant reminder of a failed marriage. Yesterday, it went to the resale store. I feel like celebrating a major victory. I was finally able to let it go! And Now someone else will feel beautiful in it on her wedding day. And I am moving on…

Language

Instead of saying, “I’m too sentimental”; (An excuse. Or is it really that we refuse to let things go?) It’s a choice. We can change our feelings when we change your language to something like this: “I can let things go, even though it is hard.” God is so clear in His word how very important our language is.

What else?

My next project was: I’d had numerous pairs of shoes I’ve not worn for many years, gathering dust in the bottom of that same closet. I had felt I couldn’t get rid of them because “what if I need them later?” and “But they were expensive.” Rather, I thought, “I can let them go. ”

My unused shoes went downstairs to the “share” area of my building and right away, one of my dear neighbors was delighted to find two pairs that fit her and she loves them. How about that? I got to witness someone being blessed by my decluttering.

Decluttering Decisions

Sarah reminds us how important it is to choose to make decisions, and how to start and then keep going, in addition to remembering how important it is to control our language.

Over-cluttered homes

They drain our energy. And, just like anything else, we can choose NOT to be victims of our over-cluttered homes. We can decide to CHOOSE how we want to THINK about decluttering. You know, God warns us that : as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. So we KNOW our thoughts are important.
What if we choose to change the way we think about stuff?

Are you ready to take up the challenge? Pick your target and zoom in. And Finish! You can do that if you don’t make it a BIG target. Don’t tackle a whole room. Rather, it can be just clearing the bathroom counter. Or the kitchen table. Or decluttering the pots and pans cabinet in your kitchen. Or it can be decluttering the floor of your closet.

It is important to be sure to FINISH.  So, toss out the trash, wipe down the counter, put away the stuff you decided to keep. That feeling of completion, no matter how small the project, is amazing! Get it on your calendar and just do it! You will be glad you did.

There is so much more that I will be learning. That is only the first couple days training. It feels so great, I just wanted to share it with you.

So…what if you just DECIDE to let go of it. If I can do this, so can you! Let me know what will be your first decluttering choice? Leave a comment so I can celebrate with you!

Ready? Set…GO!!!

God bless you bunches!

Until next time…

Awaiting His shout,


Christian Life Coach
Leading from Your Strengths Mentor
www.loavesandfishescoaching.com