This combined May/June blog post was going to be about spring cleaning, but I recently heard a podcast on NPR’s Hidden Brain about why we hold on to things, and it was fascinating so I decided to write a little about that and include the link so that you could enjoy it too.
If you are at that point in the year when you look around, feel overwhelmed, and realize that you need to clean out, then you really should listen to the podcast episode I just referenced; however, you might want to ask yourself a few questions too: 1) why am I really keeping this stuff? 2) if I donated it, would it be the end of the world if I ever needed it again? 3) would I use the space better and appreciate the simplicity more than keeping the actual things that are taking up that space now?
Sometimes when we think about why we are holding on to something, we realize that it’s out of fear. We fear that we *might* need it someday. Or we fear that we’ll feel guilty if we get rid of it. Or fear that we’d be judged by someone close to us if we were to part with something.
There are lots of great resources out there that delve into the psychology of why we keep stuff and buy stuff and allow ourselves to be ruled by our stuff; check out the resources on my website or reach out to me for some targeted videos and books on the topic! I love to help people live happier lives with less stuff! As you start your decluttering project, think of this quote by Joshua Becker of becomingminimalist.com: Maybe the life you’ve always wanted to live is buried underneath everything you own.
Cheryl Russo
May/June 2021