GOT SENTIMENTAL ITEMS IT'S HARD TO LET GO OF?
By far the toughest things to declutter are items we feel emotionally or sentimentally attached to. I had an artistic and somewhat valuable toy truck that was given to me shortly before a breakup with a very angry long-term boyfriend in my 20s. He got it for me because he knew I loved beat up old pickup trucks. I think they're sexy. That's super sweet. However, this guy was incredibly toxic also. He put me down as much as he built me up. He actually stole all my jewelry worth tens of thousands of dollars and all vintage; priceless really. Horrible gaslighting. He had a temper that made me feel he was actually capable of things I don't want to name. So I had to break free.
WHY IS IT SO HARD?
When I donated that truck, I felt physical pain because of the tug of war between the sweetness, the toxicity and the competing emotions. It's even hard to post a picture of a toy truck here still. Can anyone relate?
Not all sentimental items have a tug of war associated with them. Plenty are just things we have put off going through. So they're just taking up space which is mental and emotional space as well as physical space. They're crowding out what's meant for your joy now.
When people we love or parents die, we're often left with items that remind us of them but aren't serving any purpose. I'm not saying you have to chuck everything by any means. But holding onto things you'll never look at again or use only holds you back.
HONORING YOUR ITEMS
That doesn't mean you turn your back on where you've come from. In fact, I believe very much in honoring sentimental items given to us by people we cherish, even when those situations contained pain. I believe items have energy in them from what they've experienced, especially if they're made of living materials like wood. (Marie Kondo does also.)
THE PAYOFF IS HUGE
Part of the magic of decluttering is that you get to keep your memories without being weighed down by them.
Decluttering gives you a new life; a life today, now.
i CAN HELP!
Do you have things buried in your closets or attic that need to be decluttered? If you do, I can help you honor them and move on. Go HERE for a DECLUTTERED LIFE consult.
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