Let It Go
Declutter Your Life. When you cling to the past it holds you back. When you no longer need something, let it go. Make space for freedom in your life.
Making Space for Freedom
You declutter your mind and body when you go through your belongings, sift through your memories, and are getting rid of those things that no longer serve you. This task may take time, so be gentle with yourself and take as long as you need to take with it. Your efforts will yield rewards outside of a more organized home and a tidier mind. Removing items that no longer serve you – and may even cause you distress – frees you from the negative emotions attached to them. You also gain more space.
De-cluttering can be a helpful tool when you can observe the attachment you had to things you kept and why they no longer serve you. We keep things that evoke emotions, yet some of those emotions and memories may not be positive. They may not enhance you or give you power. So why would you want to bring them into your everyday experience now?
As you sort through your things, observe how they make you feel and whether you instantly feel good when you consider them. How do you feel in your body? What are your emotions and thoughts around them? If the feelings are good, enhance your power, and you have space for them; these life-enhancing objects might be worth keeping. Remember, you are examining these things for your positive emotions attached to them. You are not your stuff. If you don’t want to have it with you, or it makes you feel bad, then let it go.
As time goes on, you can repeat this process and remove the things that no longer serve you. If they do not serve you as uplifting objects that help your mind return to a time when you had greater power in your life, let them go.
Take Your Time
If you no longer want something, let it go. When you don’t love it, or use it, give it away. If you are keeping it out of guilt, you need to forgive yourself and not be that negative memory’s keeper. This exercise is about clearing your mind and your physical space and creating more space for new things and experiences to come into your life.
Your efforts may take time. They will also yield rewards outside of a more organized and tidier mind (plus closet, room, or house). Removing items that no longer serve you and may even cause you distress frees you from the negative emotions attached to them and make space for a more positive attitude.
When I do this, I like to pack things into boxes and give them to a charity that helps those in need. There are many ways to give away your worldly goods. Consider this step as beneficial to your own growth and development, as well as giving back to the community.
I threw out some things in my own life, including several pieces of furniture that I hung on to because they belonged to my parents and grandparents. This process also helped me go through my closet and give away clothes in extra-large sizes that no longer fit me. I got rid of bags of old photos with unhappy memories and out-of-date documents. It was liberating to throw out papers that no longer hold power or usefulness for me. Yes, some grief is involved in this exercise (emotions are not logical), but the ongoing benefits outweigh the temporary pain of parting with negative ‘stuff.’
Learn To Let Go of Pain
This exercise might be helpful. As you go through your things, write down the following things:
- What are you discarding?
- Why did you keep this?
- How do you feel about it now?
- Do you want to bring this into your future? (If not, why?)
Consider each item as a part of your life and your history. Keep the items that you still feel empower you. If there is no longer a purpose for it or it makes you feel sad, then let it go.
Decluttering is a great metaphor for what you will be doing with your life in the work of becoming your authentic self, free of society’s conditioning. As you go through things, observe why you kept them, how they make you feel now, and whether you want to bring them into your future or not.
If you no longer want it, let it go. If you don’t love it, or use it, give it away. If you are keeping it out of guilt, you need to learn to forgive (not be that thing’s keeper). This exercise is about making space for freedom.
When the time comes that you no longer need something, then let it go.
You might be surprised at what you find. It reveals how you feel now by looking at some of the things you have kept and held onto when you examine why you keep them. The intention behind this exercise is to learn to let go. So what if you can’t wear a shirt? Who cares? Donate it, sell it, or use it as a gift for those who need it more than you.
Martin Butler
Any efforts toward freedom and joy should always be a stripping away process.
Click ‘More About Power’ to know more about this practice and how to empower your life through understanding.
