Recently I have been in the process of decluttering my possessions. Items that felt like past lives of me that represented a different time in life.
My possessions resembled my thinking, struggles and values at the time that reflected the stages of life [High school, University, Moving out by myself].
However, the real challenge, was I had accumulated so much material, it took space but more importantly mental space.
“Where should I store”, “What was in each box”, “Why do I have this?” Were common questions circling my mental space – but for what benefit?
It was time to move on because a new version of me now existed. So I had to shed the old to make room for the new. Here’s how I did it;
My air tight mantra:
- Have I used it in the past month?
- Have I ever thought about it recently?
- Do I really see myself using this in the future given my goals and direction in life?
Truth is, you know if you have value for something versus if you are holding onto the idea of a memory.
Don’t get me wrong please, sentimental items should be cherished as a celebration of life.
On to the next stage – What to do with the stuff?
My personal philosophy is rooted into repurposing. Knowing how much waste we already produce as human species on the planet, to me, meant that it had to be disposed in a mindful manner.
Two options:
- Giving to someone else in need you may know
- Donating to local charity to be resold
The key is understanding that what you may not value today, may be important to someone else depending on what stage of life they are in.
Now my approach to possessions is to have less and do more with it.
Just like I have a criteria to shed, I have a criteria to consume;
- Prefer quality item that are made to endure
- Must be easy to travel with because I foresee myself travelling often
Interestingly, what I have found is that the process of shedding is more mental and spiritual than I thought.
Albert Einstein said:
“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?
Connecting the dots – just like our mental abilities a clear organized space are reflective of our inner clarity.
Do more with less, be light and free.
