Tags
clear, clutter, clutter-free, freeing, letting go, mental clutter, obstacles
I return again to the really helpful book Throw Out Fifty Things by Gail Blanke just to share some of her tips for freeing up space in your life. Here are her “Rules of Disengagement” for determining what stays and what goes:
- If something (an object, belief, conviction, memory, job, or even a person) weighs you down, clogs you up, or makes you feel bad about yourself, then let it go, give it away, sell it, move on.
- If that something just sits there, taking up room and not contributing anything positive to your life, then again let it go, give it away, sell it, etc.
- Don’t make the decision to let go of something a difficult one. If you have to weigh the pros and cons for too long, just get rid of it.
- Don’t be afraid. “This is your life we’re talking about…You don’t have the time, energy, or room for physical or psychic waste.”
Of course, getting rid of the physical clutter in our lives makes a huge impact, but I really appreciate the second half of her book where she talks about freeing yourself from the mental obstacles that keep us from being happy. For instance, she gives practical and inspiring advice for letting go of:
- Feeling inadequate, irrelevant and just plain not good enough
- The type of person you think you are– or aren’t
- Regrets and mistakes from the past
- The need to have everyone like you
- Thinking the worst
…and many other paralyzing ideas. Gail directs you through specific action points to clear out the junk in your mind and heart.