What's In Your Closet?

Have you ever gone to someone’s home and you walk in the door and it’s immaculate – you can practically eat off their floors, but then you open the door to the coat closet and everything falls on your head? We're only as clean and organized as our messiest closet. Or you meet someone who seems so put together…good looking, nice clothes, great job – but when you get to know them, their life is a mess or they’re just a basket case??? We’re only as “together" as our thoughts and emotions are. Physical clutter and mental/emotional clutter feed off each other.

We hold on to unnecessary “stuff”, jammed inboxes, junk mail and take out menus tossed in a drawer. We buy food that sits in the refrigerator or pantry uneaten, clothes that we give away with the tags still on them – you know what I’m talking about – yet we continue to buy more and more.

What goes on in those closets, junk drawers and pantries is also often going on in our minds as well. Our minds are cluttered with a barrage of thoughts, worries and distractions. This is exacerbated by the physical

chaos that surrounds us. Visual reminders of tasks left undone can cause our stress levels to skyrocket. It can also reduce our productivity and impair decision-making.

When I moved into my condo, I downsized considerably and had to be very strategic about everything that comes into my space. I'm very neat and organized. My bedroom is clean, my closets are organized…anywhere you go has an order to it…until…

I have a tiny little vanity that I sit at to put my make-up on . There is A LOT of product kept in this little vanity. Little cubbies etc. Dust and hair accumulates and it’s actually gross. I dreaded having to sit there, but the thought of cleaning it was worse. But this past weekend I couldn't take it anymore.

Got rid of all the stuff I wasn’t using. Cleaned and scrubbed it all and when I put everything back I felt like a new person...like I could breathe again! That little act inspired me to go on and accomplish so many other things that I hadn’t even planned on doing.

Decluttering isn’t about just cleaning up our physical space…it also includes our mind and emotions as well…make sure you’re taking time to meditate or sit quietly and clear your mind for 10 minutes or so every day.

Decluttering our physical space makes room for more - not necessary more stuff - but more opportunity, happiness, fulfillment. Clearing our mental space creates room for growth, self-reflection…and ultimately a greater sense of peace...and where there is peace, there’s happiness.

We can declutter in a day, but it's also an ongoing continuous process. We have to stay on top of it. If we adopt a mindful and intentional approach to handling clutter in our office, home and mind, we make the first step towards a more meaningful and balanced life.

So, take a deep breath, roll up your sleeves, grab a trash can and start decluttering!

#closetspace #declutter #meditate #gohappyyourself