avatarTrista Signe Ainsworth

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Goodbye Old Clothes! Let in Joy: 3 Ways to Declutter

A New You Awaits

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“We often mistake letting go for giving up. Knowing the difference between the two can make all the difference in the end” ― Gina Greenlee

Yesterday I decided to go through all of my drawers and my closet. It was time to start letting go of who I used to be and leave space for the person I am becoming. On my 100-day journey exploring abundance, this is an important step.

To create space for more in life, we need to let go of the old. Even as a minimalist, I have hung on to some sentimental clothing items for far too long.

It is time for me to let go. I want to create not only a physical space for something new but also an emotional space.

As I went through this process yesterday, I noticed myself ready to let go of some things more readily than others.

It is all part of the process. Allow yourself to be where you are now. Tomorrow you may be able to let go of more.

Today I recall some more items that I am willing to part with to call in the new me that is in the process of becoming.

Here I will share three ways to let go of clothes, shoes, and accessories to let in more abundance.

Start Easy:

I recommend starting with clothing in drawers. Go through your socks and underwear first. It is simple and straightforward. Notice the comfort of what you own and their condition.

I noticed that I had a lot of novelty socks that were fun to see. However, I rarely wore some of them. I usually only wear these like slippers in the evening. I was able to part with ones that I had not chosen in some time.

Next, I looked through tank tops, t-shirts, leggings, and workout clothes. I got rid of any tops I had not worn in a while and leggings that I found out were not comfortable.

It is paramount to let go of anything that you keep passing over because it is uncomfortable.

Starting with going through your least sentimental clothes helps you gain confidence. Once I filled one bag from my drawers, I gained momentum to go on to my closet.

Think About Your Plans:

My future dreams are all about travel. While I need nice clothes to wear at home, I love to think about other locales.

When going through my dresses and sweaters in the closet, it was easy to let go of some. They still fit, but they do not go with who I am now.

It is okay to fall out of love with a style. Notice when you keep choosing to wear one thing over another. If clothing gets passed over often, it means it is time to let go.

The last step was to go through my formal dresses and more sentimental items. It was a trip down memory lane.

I encountered everything from vintage dresses from my grandma’s cousin to my emerald green prom dress.

They are fun to look through. However, I feel I have moved on to where that clothing is no longer serving me sitting in my closet.

I found those dresses said too much of the past and not enough of the present and future. I was ready to let go of a few of them yesterday will get rid of more today.

Call In the New You:

The last step is to step back and observe who you are today. What do these clothes represent for you?

If you are hanging on to something just because you think it will make someone else happy, let go.

I ended up with four bags of clothing to give away. Today I realized I am not my grandma, my mom, or my aunt — I am me. They are all a part of me, but I choose to be uniquely me.

Give yourself some time. This work is a kind of grieving process. We are saying goodbye to parts of our lives. That brings up emotions.

Part of me knew I could dig deeper. I now know I can let go of more today. I was not ready yesterday, but today I am. That is the beauty of allowing yourself to be.

My prayer for you today is to delve into your drawers and closet. Let go of who you were and reach for who you are becoming. You will dress accordingly.

Day #97 How will you let go of old clothing?

I am tagging some amazing fellow writers on this journey. They joined me on my 100-day spiritual journey, and it is an honor to have them here on this journey.

I ask that you read their beautiful work here on Medium. Thank you for your generosity!

Bob Jasper, Charlotte Zobeir Ali, Amy Marley, Jenine Bsharah Baines, Vishnu*s Virtues, Annick Batamuliza, Lanu Pitan, Neha Sandhir S, Rasheed Hooda, Gurpreet Dhariwal, Aurora Eliam, CMP, Terry Mansfield, Tree Langdon, Henery X, Nihan Kucukural, Sherry S, Annelise Lords, Cocoa Griot, Desiree Driesenaar, Dr. John Rose, Noma Dek, Tony Young, Jr., Melissa Bee and many more! Thank you!

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More from Trista Ainsworth:

Abundance
Joy
Decluttering
Life Lessons
Personal Growth
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