Setting Your Intentions
How is winter treating you? How is your home feeling now that things have quieted down? Are you finally ready to turn your attention to the fresh, new year? Well, before you tackle the big job of decluttering, I encourage you to get in touch with your motivation, or find your "why". Why do you want to make changes in your life? What is your intention behind decluttering your home and the systems you have in place? Take some time to stroll through every single space in your home and casually absorb your belongings, how they are set up, and how you feel about what you see. Whether you live in a room in someone else's home, in a studio apartment, or in a sprawling manse, go in every space and open every drawer and closet and cupboard. And ask yourself these questions:
- What is lovely?
-What is useful?
-What is necessary?
- What is in the way?
-What makes you wince or makes your stomach knot up?
-What did you see that you forgot you even had?
It is really important to understand your intention for why you want to make change because this mindset will allow you to find your life raft when things get messy in the decluttering process. It is your guiding star, so to speak. Your little flame of WHY you are doing this in the first place! Intentions are going to be unique to the individual, but here are some reasons many people I have worked with want to embark on the Big Decluttering Exercise:
- To more easily find what you need
-To get in touch with what feels essential
-To rediscover the things you own that are awesome but you can no longer see because of all the other noise
-To feel a sense of freedom and ease
-To not feel overwhelmed and stressed out on the daily
-To be able to open drawers/closets/attics/garages without bodily harm
-To prepare for a move and only take the good stuff
-To feel a sense of freshness and newness
-To honor and respect yourself and your family
-To help your children appreciate and enjoy what they have and feel calmer
-To focus on living with what is Lovely, Necessary, and Useful. and not with a bunch of other stuff that can get in the way
Now, let's return to you and your specific intentions. Decluttering is tough mental, emotional,and physical work, but the benefits are absolutely staggering. Remember that you already have so many lovely, necessary, and useful things in your life and finding that sense of beauty and ease is more about taking away what is in the way rather than adding more to your space. Let your flame of intention guide you into this fresh, new year.