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Techniques for Clearing Clutter & Getting Organized

publication date: Jun 24, 2009
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author/source: Melody Larson
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By Melody Larson

clearing clutter - self improvement association

Clutter-clearing is not the same thing as organizing. I’m not talking about stacking that pile of old magazines into neat piles in a fancy holding case—I’m talking about getting that pile out of your house if it is not serving your current purpose! There are only 2 rules to follow when deciding what to keep and what to clear out:

Rule 1: Does it Serve a Purpose?

The item must serve either or both of the following purposes:
  • a functional purpose
  • an aesthetic purpose
If it doesn’t have a functional and/or an aesthetic purpose for you—right now at this time in your life—then it must go!

Rule 2: If You Don't Love it, Then You Must Leave it

If you don’t LOVE IT, you must let it go! I recommend that you not try to clutter-clear your entire house in a day. This can be an exhilarating, but also exhausting, process. Start with one area only. Take your time.

Only do this activity when you are in a strong, energetic mood. If you are feeling drained, nostalgic, or emotionally vulnerable, this is not a good time to do this activity. If you do this when you are feeling energetic and ready to make changes in your life, go for it! You will feel fabulous at the end of this exercise!

To do This Effectively, I Recommend you Make 3 piles:
  • KEEP PILE: You use this item now and/or you really like it.
  • TOSS/DONATE PILE: You never or rarely use this item and/or you don’t like it.
  • COME BACK TO PILE: You don’t use this item, but you feel an emotional attachment to it and you’re not ready to part with it yet.
Options for Handling Your COME BACK TO PILE:
  1. Remake it: Can you remake this item into something else that you will use? For example, I was helping a friend do this when we came to her wedding dress. She knew she would never wear her wedding dress again, but she couldn’t part with it. So instead, I suggested she turn the material into throw pillows for her bed. That way, every time she touches those pillows, she’ll remember her wedding day.
  2. Gift it: Do you have a close friend or a relative you could give the item to? That way, you still get to see it and also know that you have given a gift to someone who truly appreciates it.
  3. Return to it: Come back to this pile again 1 week later and see if you are ready to part with it now that you’ve had a little emotional distance. If you STILL can’t part with it, find a way to use it in your home! Display it or use it, otherwise—lose it!
Tip:

Have a trusted friend help you out with this project. They can be excellent coaches for keeping you on track when you hit an emotional bump in the road and want to keep everything.

-From Delighting the Soul: Lessons on Life Purpose, Authenticity, and the Law of Attraction

About the Author

melody larson - self improvement association expertMelody Larson is a rising voice in the human potential movement. She’s a Life Purpose Guide, Law of Attraction teacher, and the author of 2 books: the newly released Delighting the Soul and the highly popular The Beginner’s Guide to Abundance. For free excerpts and more, visit her website: www.delightingthesoul.com

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