Let Go

The other I day I mentioned to my wife that I was looking for an idea for an article to post on my blog. She thought for about a half a second and suggested that I write about Letting Go. You see, sometimes people like to hold on to things in the physical, mental, and spiritual areas.

In this article I will handle the physical. We have a philosophy in our household that if you do not use something within six months you get rid of  it. You ask why would you do this? Well it keeps the house uncluttered. Have you ever been in some one’s house and noticed that they were pack rats. I’m talking about stuff all over the house. Stacks and stacks of junk. I can think of a few houses I’ve been in where there is stuff all over the place. Including one room in my parents house when I was growing up. My dad was kind of a pack-rat. My dad held onto some stuff because this room had junk everywhere and he didn’t want to get rid of it. The funny thing is my mom is a pure polly perfect house keeper. When my dad fell asleep (died) my mom cleared the clutter out really fast. (I have to say that both my mom and I and my brothers would gladly have the clutter back if my dad was still alive.)

 Getting rid of excess clutter will make you feel better. The less of a mess your house is the better you will feel. Let’s face it if there is debris all over the place, your brain is also going to feel like it is filled with clutter. What you are around you will become. A mess in your house is a mess in your brain. When things are decent and in order I can almost guarantee that you will feel better mentally.

Not long ago we helped some neighbors move. We were amazed that this couple had about six times as much stuff as we do. We’ve got two more people in our household and we have much less. They had about as much stuff as a family of eight or nine would have. Everyone who was helping them move kept saying “you guys have way to much stuff.” So here’s a key, hold onto the things that really mean something to you, but get rid of anything that is not a family heirloom, if you haven’t used it in six months it needs to go.

You will find that not only will you feel better mentally, but also things will be easier to find. My wife who was off for the summer worked really hard on removing clutter and labeling things in our home. It sure is alot easier to find things that you don’t use very often when labels are used. If you do what I’m sharing here, when you do decide to move your life will be simplified. Your move will be so much easier.  If your friends are helping you they won’t be complaining that you have to much stuff.

Also what you aren’t using very much may be something that another person really needs. You could give it away or sell it, either way you will recieve back. If you sell it you make money off of it. If you give it away you will absolutely recieve back, because you reap what you sow. 

Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

So clear the clutter and get blessed. Let Go!  I expect you will not be disappointed at what you’ve done. Keeping things simple and clearing out the mess is a great way to begin to feel free in the mental categories of life, which is the subject of the next post on letting go.

If you don’t know where to start here are a couple of books that you can pick up to get going: Clutter Busting: Letting Go of What’s Holding You Back
and Let Go of Clutter. Have a great day and enjoy life.