Before I start rambling off my list of reasons, I’d like for you to participate in an exercise
with me, if you’re interested.
And if so, let’s try something.
Comment below why you believe people keep so much stuff.
What’s the most common excuse you’ve heard or better yet, what excuse have you given?
Why is it, or was it hard for you to get rid of things?
Take a moment and comment below one or two reasons.
And as you’re doing that, let me explain why I asked you to do this.
See, people have a variety of reasons and rationale for holding on to things.
And by having you comment below your reasons or beliefs, it will allow others who may stumble
across this conversation later, to see that they’re not alone in both how they feel
and why it’s so hard for them to get rid of things.
Because if I’ve learned anything on this journey personally and through conversation
with others, it’s that many people are emotionally attached to their possessions.
And that alone can make it difficult to part with things, especially those things that
have had a place in your life for quite a long time.
So as I share my list of reasons with you, keep in mind the things you commented below.
I’m almost positive that there will be an overlap of some sort.
And if not, that’s great too, because every comment left today is an opportunity for someone
else to learn later.
Reason #1: It was a gift.
Truth is, most people can't even remember what they gave you for your birthday or Christmas
last year, let alone any year prior to to that.
So in the unlikely event that they do remember, they’re probably not going to ask you where
it is, and if they do ask, first off, wow I’m impressed.
But in rare moments like that, don’t be afraid to tell it like it is.
Something I’ve learned about gifts over the years is that when someone gives you something,
they give up control over that item.
They do not get to determine whether you keep it or how often you use it.
So if you receive a gift that that you don’t need, don't use, and don't love, don't be
afraid to give yourself permission to let it go.
Reason #2: I need to find a good home for it.
A major hold up for many people and why they tend to hold on to things longer than they
should, is the perceived need to find the perfect charity, donation center, etc. for
their unused items.
But here’s the thing, there are many many many good-enough places out there that will
happily take your unwanted items and put them to good use.
Now I completely understand if there is a certain mission you enjoy or prefer to support.
Whether is a charity specific for young girls or special needs.
I get that.
But don’t waste hours of your time searching for the perfect place.
At the end of the day, all that research you’re doing will simply prolong the process and
cause you to hold on to all those things you don’t need, way longer than you intended
to.
If the place you're donating your items to has good intentions, a plan and a purpose
for those things that's all that matters.
Reason #3: If I get rid of it I won’t remember it.
This is a very common reason people give for why they hold on to things they’re not quite
ready to let go of—especially sentimental items.
And if you’re struggling with this, I’ll link to a video I did that highlights 10 ways
to declutter sentimental items.
However today I’d like to leave you with something to think about.
See, I doubt your memory is so poor that you need to save every bit of everything in order
to remember that family member, family vacation, or unique life experience.
So before you hide boxes in your basement, or stuff so much stuff in your hallway closet
that door hinges are screaming for help.
Strongly consider downsizing.
Perhaps you can save items selectively, instead of saving everything.
Remember if everything is sentimental to you, then nothing truly holds sentiment to you.
They also say a picture is worth a thousand words.
So try snapping a few of those rather than keeping a box full of stuff you haven’t
looked through since the day you packed it.
Reason #4: It was expensive.
Now it may be true that you paid a lot of money for an item, but that, in and of itself,
is not a reason to keep it if you aren’t using it.
See the truth is this.
Regardless is that item is sitting in a box in your garage; hanging in your closet not
being worn; given to a friend; donated to goodwill; or thrown away; in all of those
scenarios, the money you spent doesn’t magically reappear in your bank account.
The money is long gone, so I want to encourage you to stop using that as an excuse, if you
are using it, to keep something you aren’t using and don’t need.
As a matter of fact, think about that wasted money the next time you’re shopping online
or in a store and ask yourself, will this item get enough use to justify this purchase.
Reason #5: Every time I get rid of something I need it later.
Ok, I’m not going to lie to you, it is possible that after you spend a great deal of time
sorting, organizing, and decluttering your things, you may find a use for something you
chose to discard.
But here’s the deal.
If you hadn’t spent that time sorting through the clutter, you probably wouldn’t even
remember that you owned said item.
And if you did remember, I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t have known where it was.
Which means one of two things would have happened.
1.
You would’ve spent hours trying to find this missing item.
And every minute you spend doing that is a minute lost in your day.
Or 2.
You would’ve went out and bought a new one.
Wasting money and adding more stuff to your already cluttered space.
See at the end of the day, it’s better to have a clutter free space with an assigned
home for everything you own.
And if you have to rebuy something so be it.
At least this time you’ll know exactly where it is when you need it next.
I hope you enjoyed this conversation and if shared something that matched what you commented
below at the beginning, reply to your original comment and let me know.
I’m curious but also if you shared something that I didn’t mention let’s talk about
that as well.
Keep growing, keep learning and always stay true to you.
I’ll see you in the next one.
Peace!