The Best Way to Declutter Your Space

And uncover your joy

Americans have an unhealthy attachment to their stuff.

We collect more than we need. We stock up. We impulse buy. We hold on after things lose their value. We rent storage units to hold onto everything we can’t fit in our house. None of it brings joy.

Our media encourages us to buy things to boost our economy. Companies plan obsolescence, so we keep buying the latest product. Cell phones are a good example. The latest software becomes useless on our “older” devices before they break. We can get stuck in a feedback loop of buying, discarding, then going back for more.

It’s no wonder we’re enamored by decluttering gurus like Marie Kondo, best selling author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. We feel an intense urge to Konmari so we’ll stop slogging through the sludge of our old junk. Surrounding ourselves with too many things that don’t spark joy leaves us yearning for change.

During this unprecedented time of economic breakdown, we’re not consuming like we used to. We’re beginning to break the habit of overconsumption and resulting misery. We’re moving away from the hamster wheel of materialism.

Getting rid of stuff always shifts my energy. I’m fiercely sentimental, and I still love letting go. I know when I do, I allow joy to flow again.

Here’s a glimpse of my current life situation to illustrate my point.

We’re moving back to Eugene, Oregon, in October.

I don’t waste time when it comes to planning and organizing. We’re not leaving for a month and a half, and I already started clearing out. I’m adept at moving across the country in my little red Honda Fit. I’m gifted with a high degree of spatial awareness and an ability to play Tetris in all the nooks and crannies.

Instead of paying a load of cash to haul everything in a trailer, we’ve only packed what we cherish, along with a few practical items. We give everything else away. I replace what we can’t bring with us.

This morning I awoke to a synchronistic text response that initially baffled me. We’re planning to travel by car, and I’d requested the help of my kids’ father, who lives in Bend, OR. He agreed to pack his car with whatever we couldn’t fit.

We wanted to load both of our cars so my kids wouldn’t have to give up some of their cherished toys. I told him the projected date last night and suggested we might stop in California, where our parents live. The idea was to give him time to work before heading back up to Oregon. He suggested maybe we ought to meet up in California. Since the plan was for him to come pack our belongings here in Albuquerque, it made zero sense.

Here’s why I share this part of our story. After I shook my head in disbelief at his utter cluelessness, I had an epiphany.

There’s always more than one choice. Everyone can choose myriad options to get what they want. We can opt-out of owning anything. We can keep what we want and leave the rest.

I want us to get rid of our stuff and keep it simple. My kids are attached to their things. I got the brilliant idea to package up some of their toys and send them to their dad. Problem solved.

Every time we move, I take stock of my material possessions.

I KonMari the crap out of the entire house. It’s not only about the item sparking joy. I want the joy of simplicity and ease of travel. I start to get more practical the closer we get to moving.

KonMari’ing goes beyond the thing in your hands. The essence of the process is to find what lightens your emotional and spiritual load. Letting go of things no longer serving you opens up a world of possibilities. You’re sending the message you’re willing to let energy flow where it once was blocked by unnecessary stuff.

I know my motivation for saving some things. I have about a dozen plastic feta containers and a lot of jars for convenience. I feel safe knowing I have enough. My collections eventually turn into more than enough. I don’t need all of it, but I’ve habitually kept them “just in case.”

When we’re moving in my small car 1,300 miles away, it changes my perspective and motivation. I get ruthless around this time. I recycle, do thrift store runs, and use up whatever we have, so we have fewer space invaders.

How do you declutter your space and uncover your joy?

Though you’re letting go of what’s not working, remember to hold onto a few key elements during your process:

1) Inspiration

Inspiration comes from a place of a genuine wish to move forward. Inspire means “to breathe upon” in Latin. You’re breathing life into an idea or task.

Inspiration is slightly different than motivation, in that your spirit is called forth to make a change. Move your stuff, change your life, as the title claims in a Feng Shui book that inspired me. I once moved a bookshelf to another room, and my life took a positive turn.

2) Motivation

We’re motivated to change when we’re faced with an outcome, pleasant or unappealing. My motivation is a combination of both. I want less stress when I pack and unpack. I crave simplicity and feel better with fewer things.

Whatever motivates you, use it to its full potential. Whether it be a push or pull factor, it’ll work to help you take action.

3) Trust

Trust you’ll always have everything you need and desire. Know that your memories stay in your heart forever. Letting go of the physical representation doesn’t mean its gone.

There were times I tossed out journals and photos when I needed to let go of a person. I hold the memory inside when those things are no longer in my possession. No one can take memories away from you.

Trust you’ll have access to practical items, like kitchen gadgets. These are replaceable. I’m bringing a few plates and bowls, a can opener, one pan, and our silverware. We can add the rest back later.

Final thoughts

We have choices. We don’t have to buy a bunch of stuff, and we don’t have to keep it. Decluttering does wonders for creating a new, clear space for clean energy to flow.

Follow your inspiration, get motivated, and remember the Universe always provides. You don’t have to move across the country to let go of what’s no longer needed in your life. You don’t have to strictly follow the dictates of KonMari to find your joy.

Joy hides under the old easy chair you’ve kept since 1978, or the pile of clothes you haven’t worn in years. Move your stuff and see what happens. You’ll discover a fresh new perspective and welcome joy into your life.

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