Spring is Here: Clear Out the Old to Make Space for the New

Clutter has a way of keeping us stuck in the past and not supporting us as we move forward in life. We hold onto things that provide us with a false sense of security instead of trusting that things will come to us as we need them. In fact, the less attached we are to things, the happier we are.

You will discover that after letting go of items you do not need, use or love, you open up to new possibilities. You will feel lighter, have more energy, and become aware of how all these items actually weighed you down. Still, you may be concerned that if you let go of things, you will forget the occasion or the people who gave them to you. The truth is these memories will be forever in your heart.

One practice I invite you to do is to create an album or scrap book to hold photos of such items.

You can date the photos and write a little note with the story behind the items. Then, instead of having an entire garage or house over packed with things you do not need, instead you will have a lovely little book to enjoy. After a time, you may even let go of the book. Such a process will unfold step by step.

Just because someone gave you something, you do not need to keep it. Perhaps the item was a gift or an inheritance. If you do not need, use or love the item, it becomes clutter. So pass it on and remember: What is the highest good for one is always for the highest good for another.

If you are keeping things “just in case,” that attitude may represent a feeling of lack in your life. Trust that everything comes to you exactly as you need it and stay light-filled instead of clutter-filled.

If you have items that are not serving you, let go.

If you have items that are not serving you, let go, and see how everything will flow better in your life. You will have more time to spend with your loved ones instead of spending hours looking for things. You will feel more peaceful when your home looks and feels simpler, with less stuff.

When you think about clutter, think also about your wallet, for this is the place where abundance flows in. There needs to be space there as well as in your car’s glove compartment and the boot; these spaces relate to how you journey through life. Your computer desktop and email inbox are one of the forms of communication in the world. Check to see if your phone has contacts that you no longer need?

Other simple ways to keep clutter to a minimum involve checking in with yourself while shopping. Before buying, ask “Do I really need or love this?” Then, every time something new comes in the door, let something old go out.

Schedule time to clear the clutter as it will not clear itself. You can make the time fun by having friends over to help, by playing music and being certain that you are not angry while clearing. In that case, you may let go of things you did not mean to!

Do I need or love this? Am I keeping it for my highest good?

Prepare and organize by having bags or boxes ready-one each for recycling, charity, trash, and gifts for others, wherever you feel is the best place for these items to go.

Be truly honest with yourself as you clear. What are the reasons that you are keeping any item? Do you keep this just in case? Because you are going to fix it someday? Because you spent a lot of money on it? Because it was a gift? Because you inherited it? Because it is left over from a previous relationship? In fact, these are good reasons to let go of the items!

Please remember: “Rome was not built in a day.” Clutter does not have to be cleared all at once.

But when you do clear, let these questions become your special mantras:

Do I need, use or love it?

Am I keeping this for my highest good?