simple shui | addition by subtraction?

clutter isn’t love.

at first glance, it seems like ordinary stuff. but sift through it, and we start seeing procrastination; overwhelm; items kept out of guilt or obligation; things we don’t use; and an assortment of “what ifs” and “just in case” stuff.

yet it all shares one common thread: a fear life won’t get better. spelunk deeper, and that fear leaves a crumb trail to this idea we don’t deserve better. by better, i don’t mean nicer things. rather, think about those resources money can’t buy – improved energy, clarity, creative stamina, better relationships, and improved health.

clutter in a home is often incongruent with our authentic desires. we say we want change and believe we are ready for it, but our things subliminally suggest otherwise. so, we end up stuck. our energy has mood swings. and while we feel trapped by circumstances, there is often stuff standing in the way.

there is a simple remedy.

when we are gentle but brutally honest about what we LOVE, we reclaim space – physically, emotionally, and mentally.

so, where do we start?

schedule the time + honor it. we all have clutter culprits – those stuffed spaces we want to go through, but there is never enough time. clutter piles up one decision at a time and becomes a congregation of emotional knots so our resistance is completely normal. except, you want life to feel cooperative and ripe with possibility, right? pick an area to tackle, schedule the time, and show up ready.

no matter the space, take everything out and clean like God is coming. start anywhere – a drawer, your closet, or the attic – and take every single thing out. (note: ready yourself for MAJOR self-reflection.) wipe down the entire space and set some new intentions. this hands-on effort – cleaning shelves, vacuuming corners, or wiping down baseboards – wakes a part of you up from hibernation. because when you and your belongings meet in the present moment, it is powerful stuff.

instead of thinking what to get rid of, decide what you’ll keep. a simple motto is LIVE WITH WHAT YOU LOVE. ask yourself 3 questions: do i LOVE it? do i use it? would i buy it again today? edit your space for your how you want to edit your life. and when you’ve hauled every last thing out, only put back what you really, really LOVE. as for what’s left…

ask this question: does this GIVE me energy or TAKE it away? hold every single thing and pay attention to how it makes you feel. remember, our stuff piles up over time so you are processing years of decisions and emotions as you handle it. but with patience and persistence, you’ll only need to go through this process once. and if this exhausts you to even think about, that’s a gorgeous clue you have HUGE potential to bulldoze your way to higher ground.

say “bye-bye” to broken things, “what if” or “just in case” storage, and stuff with questionable content. shui is a metaphorical practice, and nobody wants to feel broke. even though we intend to fix stuff, it usually doesn’t happen. feel the grief, if necessary, and then celebrate the relief that comes from letting it go. things we keep out of guilt or obligation just makes the energy in our house wonky. holding onto possessions because we are “suppose to” might seem like a polite gesture, but the intention is sideways. your space is sacred – if you don’t LOVE it, release yourself from its strangle.

also, content is everything, so give careful consideration to what your books, artwork, and projects are saying. energy gets stale when our surroundings are out of sync with our goals and desires. everything around us is either rigging life in your favor or putting the fire in your heart out – choose wisely.

de-clutter first; organize later. organization is not de-cluttering. not even close. it’s actually a short-cut that mimics an accomplishment. but organized clutter is still clutter. worse, it’s a superficial fix because we quickly find ourselves back on the treadmill going nowhere, but even more exhausted from our efforts. so, de-clutter first; organize another day.

give everything its own home. it is the indecision of where things go that ultimately overwhelms us. claim space for your things and put them back in their spaces, making this a daily ritual. when we give things a sense of belonging, we create the same experience for ourselves.

resist blaming others for the clutter. there’s a saying “a rising tide lifts all boats.” while it might be totally true you live with the messiest hoarders on earth, it’s weak justification for not clearing your own ‘side of the street.’ when we clear our own space and walk away satisfied from the results, it’s contagious. and this orchestrates consideration and cooperation from everyone else.

establish new rituals for your house. once you’ve cleared the clutter, no matter how small the space, observe ground rules for what comes in moving forward. (1) acquire something new? let something else go. this subtly encourages us to be prudent with our purchases. (2) lean into quality instead of quantity. by investing more money into our things, we are less likely to impulsively shop. (3) honor daily rituals in your home. they prescribe the perfect dose of structure and allow us to observe what our things are “saying” to us (remember, inspiration or brain drain).

coco chanel believed it was better to be slightly underdressed – addition by means of subtraction. i feel the same way about a home. we live in a vibrational universe that respects our efforts, and one surge of clean relief jolts awake our body and realigns our spirit. and in the gorgeous company of feeling all that refreshed energy and saturated contentment, the portal to everything NEW (mindset, opportunities, connections) opens wide + whistles for YOU! xo

 

p.s. if you’ve got your sleeves up and could use ALL the tips + tricks for getting a spring cleaning A+, there’s a workbook waiting for you! check her out OR grab the whole bundle from the simple shui hive! xxoo’s