Our garages aren’t the only victims of disorganization and clutter. Emotional clutter can be just as damaging to our way of life.
Have you ever faced a giant decluttering project?
Several years ago, I decided I wanted to create space so another car would fit in beside mine in my two-car garage. Simple, right?
What I hadn’t anticipated was just how much junk I had let pile up in there. As I stood looking at shelves packed with stuff and piles of flowerpots, baskets, jars, cans of paint, tools, fertilizers, and sprays, I quickly became overwhelmed.
For years, instead of discarding or giving away things, I’d chosen to store the extras and unused portions on large garage shelves. When those shelves became full, I bought larger shelves. When those got full, I started putting things on the floor in front of the shelves. It was such a gradual process over so many years that I didn’t realize what a huge project I was creating.
After weeks of feeling completely defeated by my garage clutter, I decided the best way for me to tackle the job would be to work on it a little bit at a time. An hour here and there would give me time to think about what to throw out, what to give away, and what to keep.
The garage project ended up taking five months to complete. What an eye-opening experience! I realized how many things I’d held on to that I should have removed years earlier. And now, not only do I have more space (enough for two cars in the garage!) but I also have more energy, more joy, and even more money since I know what I have and don’t end up buying more.
Our garages, drawers, desks, and even entire rooms aren’t the only victims of disorganization and clutter. We often let emotional issues, such as worries, insecurities, secrets, shame, and guilt, gradually take over our minds and hearts, especially during times of stress and upheaval. Neglecting to clean out this kind of mess can cost us dearly. Emotional clutter paralyzes us, hinders our ability to connect with others, and may eventually crowd God out of our lives.
How to Clear the Emotional Clutter from Your Own Life
Just as I eventually conquered the clutter in my garage, we can take out our emotional clutter by dealing with one piece of junk at a time. Here is the process I recommend when we start thinking about a big emotional decluttering project:
- A while back, we talked about energy-givers vs. energy-drainers. Think about those energy-drainers that need to be removed from your life. Make a list of everything you can think of, then go back and choose one item to resolve or eliminate.
- Tell yourself the truth about that item – that it’s clutter and not necessary.
- If you need or want to, find someone to encourage you and walk with you through this process.
- Enjoy the accomplishment and benefits of removing that item. Celebrate your victory of that piece of clutter!
Now, you’re ready to move on to the next item on your decluttering list!
The cost of neglecting emotional clutter is high, but the rewards of clearing it out are many. For starters, we have more time to spend with God and the people who are important for us. We have more space in our hearts and minds for positive emotions, such as peace, joy, and love. We have more energy for doing what brings us pleasure.
Your Turn
What emotional clutter needs to be removed from YOUR life to make space for the things you DO want? I challenge you to start making your own emotional decluttering list and get started as we head into the holiday season where emotions can run high, family tensions may flare, and our over-crowded emotional “garages” are in danger of bursting into flames. Let’s enter the holiday season this year a little more emotionally healthy with space in our lives to give and love freely!
As always, I’d love to hear what emotional clutter you’re ready to tackle this week. Please comment below or use the contact form at the bottom of my homepage and let me know how I can pray you through the process.
Warmly,
Georgia
P.S. – Could you use more encouragement and tips on how to emotionally declutter your life? If so, be sure to grab my book, Taking Out Your Emotional Trash. In this book, I walk you through even more detailed baby-steps to go from being weighed down by junk to reveling in who you are truly created to be! You can purchase a copy of Taking Out Your Emotional Trash in my website store here.
