Over the past few weeks I have been continuing a series on decluttering, talking about the whys and the whats, and to a certain extent the hows. Musing on this, the subject is far bigger of course than simple physical stuff. How tidy our sock drawer is one very small end point of an issue of considerably greater complexity. 

Two issues bookend this. 

Firstly, how to maintain the order that we manage to create in the first place, which is where we will go next week. 

Secondly, addressing some of the mindsets and belief systems that might hinder us from taking a proactive approach to decluttering in the first place. 

I have observed this with people in different contexts.

Our beliefs about what we are doing are foundational. 

We might start off feeling hindered by previous failed attempts to declutter in a consistent and disciplined manner that achieves the end point we desire. Our beliefs are that we will fail again so what is the point. 

Perhaps we limit our ability to succeed in a sustainable way as we struggle to break down an overwhelming task into small and manageable chunks. Our beliefs revolve around not being good at this, so we don’t know where to start.  

Or there is some significant emotional underlay. The stuff that has accumulated – be it physical, emotional or mental – is filling an otherwise gaping hole. Comfort buying on eBay. Keeping items of sentimental value. Retaining things for what they represent of a former life, relationship, version of ourselves. This is straying into the realm of psychology and counselling, where I am not trained to go. But as always, awareness of what is going on is a key first step. 

More obscurely perhaps, we might believe that the outcome will not be positive for us, and therefore we are less inclined to proceed. 

This latter potential obstruction is an interesting one. 

I mentioned last week about MB’s changing views on order and structure. I imagine he is not alone in this, and it is unfair to single him out as an example, so let me explain in more general terms. 

For highly creative types, freedom and artistic expression are very important. Big picture visionaries generally are gifted at big ideas, vision casting, intuition, imaginative and subjective thinking. In contrast to this type of thinking is the objective, analytical, rational and systematic thinking of the more logical types.

This is the theory behind right and left brain thinking, which has largely been debunked, but contains some salient points. 

What is interesting here is that if you are approaching a task that seems to you to constrain your own natural tendencies, motivation will be considerably reduced. 

Why would I impose structure and order – that would simply lead to me feeling constrained, contained, boxed in?”

Or so you might think if the idea of order and structure is not one that fits naturally with you. Your beliefs about decluttering are negative and constraining. 

The interesting outcome here has been shown to be the exact opposite (at least with our loft). The right systems that work well to achieve the desired outcome actually create greater freedom and expand space rather than constraining it. 

Clutter takes up space.

Head space, emotional space, physical space. 

Bringing order to that clutter takes time, organisation and a degree of disciplined structure. This is not always fun for those who – unlike me – dislike order and structure. 

But in pursuing order in a manageable way and gaining clear achievable results during the process maintains motivation and expands the mind from constrained to greater freedom. 

What are your beliefs about decluttering?

When you think about any kind of clearing – physical, emotional or mental – what are the mindsets that are in the way?

What are you believing about yourself in relation to the clutter? What do you believe about what decluttering will achieve?

A more challenging question: what are you most afraid of?

Until some of these questions can be answered, it can be hard to continue to clear and maintain the freedom and space gained with any long term effectiveness.

If this has hit a nerve…..perhaps talking the underlying issues through with a trained counselor is needed if there is complex emotional underlay.

Or if there are mindsets and beliefs here that we could explore and unpick together,  get in touch. There is always a way through.