There’s Magic in Your Mess

Do you ever wonder if there’s a silver lining to the junk? A golden nugget of truth hidden in the boxes? A teeny magic message that will arise from the mess?

I get it, I used to think that just letting go of stuff would translate into magical results all on it’s own. A very black and white scenario: you let go and you receive, BIG TIME. And yes, there’s a sizeable connection between letting go and letting in. I’ve seen it over and over:

~Let go of 20 boxes of old paper→new job opportunities start arriving

~HANDLE the chaos in the basement→eat well, start a walking program and lose 15 pounds

~Clear out junk room (I mean craft room)→ daughters start inviting friends over to craft...FUN!

~Shred threatening emails from ex→ accept marriage proposal from boyfriend by the weekend

~File the piles of papers on and around your desk→ win award for most productive manager

These are a few examples from the real lives of my clients, and maybe you’re saying, “It’s too good to be true!” Truthfully, these astonishing results have always seemed a little cheesy and “off” to me, even though I have been a witness to them over and over. I’ve pondered what the magic *really* is many, many times. What is the missing piece?

The real magic lies in the act of choosing.

With each decision to keep or not keep (and this includes thoughts, relationships, beliefs, ideas, and STUFF) we get to CHOOSE what defines us in the moment. Every single little thing that we make a decision about (or don’t make a decision about)...whether it’s junk mail that arrives every day, the piles of dusty, crusty who-knows-what, relationships or beliefs...as we sift and sort, we are not just saying Yes to what stays or goes, but we are saying Yes to ourselves.

Each YES is a moment to say, “Yep, that’s me!”

Every NO is the chance to say goodbye to an outdated version of you.

As we sort through the clutter we face each day--emotional, spiritual, intellectual and physical--we discern and constantly create and re-imagine ourselves as we evolve and grow.

So, finishing the decluttering process? Not going to happen! It’s a constant aligning with who we are. Right now. Right now. Right now.

And the more aligned we are with our authentic selves, the more the good stuff shows up in our lives.

The process of decluttering is our chance to really take a good look at Who. We. Are.

~Beer Can Collection?

~Boyfriend that lays around on the couch every weekend?

~Rat’s nest of receipts from the ‘90s?

~Grandma’s fine china with matching crystal goblets--place setting for 12--beautifully boxed?

~Broken furniture?

~Old ideas about career? Life?

~Unfinished projects?

Our physical stuff defines us more than we know, it’s a living, breathing journal of our lives.

So, Spunky Declutterer, If this inspires you to think of your clutter “sessions” in a new way, less about tossing the junk and more about uncovering yourself, let us know! We would love to hear from you in the comments below.

Lots of love,

XO

Jane

PHOTO CREDIT: http://freehdw.com/wallpaper/forest-sunburst-57739.html