How Decluttering Fuels Creativity and Wellness…

 It has been a few months since my last post, and for this, I don’t have any excuse other than I have been a bit busy sorting items and trying to keep my head above water. Being pulled into many different directions can certainly create a sense of overwhelm in one’s life. I needed to take some time to compartmentalize and prioritize. Now I am back in a better place, and this is what I have realized in the last few months.

Clutter can hinder both creativity and progress. Recently, my father embarked on the daunting task of downsizing from my cherished family home to a smaller townhouse. As his only child, this transition was emotionally charged. Each item held sentimental significance, evoking memories of my mother and the life they built together.

Witnessing my father's relocation stirred up emotions about my own future, prompting reflection on the importance of letting go. While we managed to part with many possessions swiftly, I encountered a point of mental and physical exhaustion. It became evident that these emotional attachments stemming from a place of love and happiness, could inhibit personal growth.

My journey towards improved health paralleled this realization, highlighting my strong emotional ties to material possessions. Letting go of items with sentimental value felt like severing a part of my identity rooted in the past. However, I discovered that holding onto clutter could leave me feeling stagnant or overwhelmed.

This process taught me that clutter stifles creativity and decluttering fosters mental clarity. Surrounding ourselves with excess possessions forces our brains to work overtime, hindering focus and productivity. By releasing what no longer serves us, we create space for what truly matters.

Identifying and eliminating clutter "toxins," such as unused items, damaged belongings, and sentimental clutter, has profound effects beyond physical space. The benefits are improved health, heightened creativity, enhanced relationships, and a lighter mood.

To facilitate this cleansing process, ask yourself why you're holding onto each item and whether it aligns with your present self. Categorize belongings for donation, disposal, or sale, and take steps to create a harmonious environment both inside and outside the home.

As I continue to declutter, I've noticed a shift in my physical surroundings, mindset, and emotional well-being. Letting go of excess baggage, both literal and metaphorical, has brought a newfound sense of lightness and clarity.

I want to share a few things I have learned that has helped me to find this better sense of clarity.

When we're surrounded by clutter, our brains have to work harder to comprehend information and maintain focus. By letting go of things that no longer serve us, we can free up mental space and make it simpler to focus on the things that matter most.

THE “TOXINS” OF THE HOUSE ARE:

• Objects You No Longer Use.

• Clothes You Don't Like Or Haven't Used In A While. Damaged underwear.

• Broken Things.

• Old cards and notes.

• Plants that are dead or sick.

• Receipts and Old Magazines.

• Broken Shoes.

• Stuff of all kinds calling the past.

• If you have children, unused toys, toys that do not work or are broken.

The benefits of cleaning and decluttering:

1. Health gets better.

2. Creativity grows.

3. Relationships get better.

4. There is a greater reasoning capacity.

5. Improved mood.

6. Sense is feeling lighter.

7. Release of pain both physical and emotional.

QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT HELP CLEANSING:

- Why am I saving that?

- Is it about me today?

- How will I feel if I release that?

This is my process. I found a general fondness for saving things from the past for fear of losing my connection to the past and the people that I have lost in my life.

Do a general cleaning and use boxes to organize items. Start with drawers and cabinets and conclude each piece. Do everything at your own pace. You may need to take breaks; cleaning out and purging items can be physically and emotionally draining.

Categorize items into these sections:

• Trash-

  • Are the items broken, damaged, or worn out? If so, does it go to the landfill or a recycling center?

• Arrangements-

  • transfer these items to others, i.e., friends or family.

• Recycling.

• In Doubt-

  • Still in doubt? That’s okay. Find a bin and put it aside. Don’t stall on these items. They can be revisited another day.

• Gifts-

  • Can you regift these items?

• Donation.

• Sell.

As you CLEANSE, watch what changes in you.

As we clean our physical house, we also begin to place order in our minds and hearts.

Practice detachment with material things that fill your space, and you'll see how slowly you can do the same in more momentous situations.

After many trips to the local city mission and online posts to rehome items, I am beginning to feel the sense of feeling lighter. Not just light in the sense of losing weight but also emotional weight. The lesson here is that health is not only about fitness or nutrition. It is also about our mindset and the environment we place ourselves within. If we want to succeed in our health journey, we must also look at the environment we place ourselves in. Is it an environment that will help us become successful at our goals, or is it an environment that will set us up for failure?

As I finalized the final items in my house, I found a sense of clarity. My mind is much clearer, and I am back finding my creativity and energy for new work. I wish you all to find your sense of clarity, and if it involves decluttering and purging things from your home, I wish you swift cleaning and enhanced creativity.