How Clearing the Clutter Makes Way for New Beginnings
How often do you tidy your workspace? Your closet? The shed? Your car? The pantry? Your brain? Not a day goes by without something wanting to be cleaned. We’re all busy, so it’s no surprise that much of the clutter in our lives remains ignored. And that’s ok.
But what about when we start a new class, take on a new position at work, begin a transformative health coaching program, or decide to make a life change of some sort?
Clearing the clutter is like a reset for not only the physical environment that we finally dusted and organized, but for our brains as well, and there’s no better time to do this than when starting something new.
Say you decide to officially make your house High Fructose Corn Syrup-free. You’d start by eliminating those items from your kitchen (worth it, but good luck- that’s no small feat for the average American diet) and in your endeavor you’d likely clear out a lot more on the way. This culinary de-cluttering makes way for your HFCS-free foods, and provides room for other snacks that follow suit for this lifestyle change. Without removing the old, inviting the new would just be messy and uncomfortable.
Planning to start working out in the basement? You’ll probably have to clear some space before you can stage your weights and lay your mat, while providing yourself with enough room to bust some extreme moves. Otherwise, you’ll get to the basement, look at the mess, load up on frustration, and walk your muscles right back up to the living room sofa.
If your storage room pisses you off every time you have to get the vacuum or the holiday decorations, it might be time to clear the clutter. The holidays are supposed to be cheery, and what’s cheery about breaking your toe just to get the garland out?
De-cluttering can also shift your mind-state about a looming task. If you get irritated thinking about writing thank you notes or holiday cards, clear up your desk first — file those damn piles, throw away dying pens and sharpies, wipe the surface, add a plant or a candle, and offer yourself the opportunity to enjoy the process of sending handwritten (ancient?) notes to your loved ones.
If you have new goals, see if there’s any clutter you can clear to give you new headspace for your adventure. I just started a spiritual coaching program, so I cleaned my candle making studio and made a new spiritual altar. I even cleared some limiting beliefs that have been stashed in my brain for the past 20 years in order to fully embody what I wish to become during this program.
Limiting beliefs, grudges, and anxiety are more examples of non-physical clutter, and it’s important to clear both physical and non-physical clutter when taking on new beginnings. There are ways to transform beliefs, forgive, and reduce anxiety, you just have to be open to the possibilities and make the decision that you want that mental clutter cleared, too!
What’s some clutter that’s been getting in the way of your good mood or making progress on your goals and/or life? If you commit to clearing even the smallest amount of clutter (perhaps the silver wear drawer?) each week- heck, even once a month- you’ll start to notice other things in your life unfold as well, and any new beginning will be welcomed with the utmost motivation and excitement, because nothing will be in the way!
