When it comes to letting go, sometimes it’s not easy and by that I mean, sometimes people have a DEATH GRIP on stuff they have held onto for decades!  And, if you’ve been following for awhile, you know a couple of blogs ago we talked about how our brains and emotions can really interfere with what we deeply want and know to be true.

Clients sometimes resist letting go by expressing how hard it is to just “throw things away” when items are of high quality or have some life left in them. This often causes stress! And, it’s a normal part of letting go.

It can be useful to shift or reframe those thoughts

What if the person who finds my cast-off item at the donation center LOVED it? What if it was JUST THE THING they had always been looking for? What if, not only did they absolutely LOVE finding this treasure, but it actually enhanced their life in some wonderful way?

Use a little imagination

Sometimes when clients find it hard to let go, I suggest they perhaps imagine a woman living in poverty finding a gorgeous designer suit that takes her confidently to a job interview. Or a teenage girl who has nothing to wear to a school prom finding their cast-off party dress and deeming it “PERFECT!” (Finding the perfect prom dress can take a girl from sad to sassy in no time flat!) What if the items that no longer make your heart sing could lift someone else’s energy beyond what you could ever imagine? What a gift that would be!

Give with LOVE

Donate your items with great love and intention and expect that the person who finds your “treasure” will be enchanted beyond measure. It is not necessary to warehouse every item that you have ever acquired, bless and release it to the next owner.

If you need even more inspiration on the subject, I recently read and would highly recommend:

Marie Kondo, the author, has her own very strict system of decluttering and organizing, taking on the whole house in a particular order for maximum results. I was fascinated by her approach and read the book in practically one sitting. She addresses this same issue of letting go and says to send off your discarded items with these words:

“Thank you for giving me joy when I bought you. Thank you for teaching me what doesn’t suit me.”

I like the idea of sending your unwanted stuff out into the world with a proper appreciative goodbye. There’s something very lovely about that.

I think you would enjoy this book; a fascinating  and quirky perspective on one of my favorite subjects:)

Please call me if you need support to let things go. I would love to help you lighten your load and open up space to create a life you love.

XOXO

Jane

NEWSFLASH: Sometimes you can’t see your own stuff (And this time when I say “stuff” I mean obstacles to your authentic self). Sometimes it’s almost as if there is a HUGE boulder on your path (*wink, wink*). Most of us diligently chisel away, making minimal progress or we try to just get around it barely realizing that something BIG lies between us and the life we want to live. If you’re a go-getter and have big dreams for your life, this slow-chisel-away-pace may not suit you. These are the moments of your life! Chisel leisurely if it makes you happy but if you have substantial desires bubbling up in your heart and soul, consider this...

When we’re eager to “take on” a roadblock in life that seems daunting, we get excited--I can SO relate! We start to get after it, we may even make a dent. (It could be decluttering we’re talking about, or a zillion other things!) However, if we check back in 3 months, 6 months or one year, 90% percent of us will be right back at square one. Because it’s HARD to see past our own blocks. And doing it ourselves usually equals slow progress. We think we can do it on our own, that we SHOULD be able to do it on our own and then when we can’t or the progress is slow, we may feel embarrassed, ashamed, guilty, or defeated.

Here’s my own example: I have been working with people who want to get out from under their clutter and disorganization for about 15 years. At first I worked at this part-time because I was also a teacher, so I didn’t feel the need to push. But for the last 3 years, I have been doing this work full time. This year, I grew my business by 46%! Guess how?

I hired a coach...someone who asks me to take a look at the BOULDERS on my path. I am very committed to getting my message out to the world in a big way and helping as many people as possible clear space for their lives to blossom. My coach gives me the opportunity to really SEE what’s keeping me from moving forward. (And it isn’t more advertising and marketing!) It’s blocks made out of issues around money, worth, and service. She provides me with accountability, laser-focused boulder bashing, AND sound business advice. My forward momentum is off the charts. And, about a year ago, when I hired her, I wondered, do I really need to spend money on support like this? Shouldn’t I be able to figure this out on my own? Investing in her support was the smartest business decision I have made so far.

I was just in Boulder (no pun intended), CO this last weekend working with Morgan on her closet (she’s on the annual maintenance plan). Morgan said when I arrived this year, “I don’t really think we’re going to find much in my closet this time, I’ve been keeping up with it, we’ll probably work on the kitchen instead” “OK”, I said, “Let’s just take a peek anyway…” Working through the editing process in her closet together, with support and coaching, she let go of 5 bags of clothes. FIVE! She could NOT BELIEVE that so much more of her wardrobe was not in alignment with her life now and her vision for her future. She just couldn’t see it without support. She said, “I can’t believe so much crap was still in there! I’m so happy with the extra space and now there’s room for a couple of new pairs of dress pants + a blazer for job interviews! I feel Inspired!" PS: We got the kitchen done, too :)

Consider where you are, but most of all, consider where you want to be. Making meaningful change often requires consistent, focused action. Taking action can be daunting; we think it should be easy, or that it will just magically happen. But, if hiring someone to help you see your own s*** and give you solid support could massively move you forward, maybe it’s worth the investment. Perhaps your dreams will get the jet fuel booster pack you are hoping for!

If your roadblocks are related to clutter, or the energy of your home, contact me! I can give you the support you need to reach your destination. And I would love to be a part of your transformation.

Big love,

XOXO

Jane