Clutter isn't just stuff on the floor.....
Clearing out your outer and inner house for an epic 2025
“The question of what you want to own is actually a question of how you want to live your life.” Marie Kondo.
I have to admit I’d to read that a few times before I could get my head around it.
I’ve never really seriously considered whether what I own supports or hinders how I want to live my life. Have you?
So how do you want to live your life in 2025?
This feels like a perfect time to ponder this question before we head into the busy period of Thanksgiving and Christmas when it’s harder to find time for this type of self-reflection.
It feels like the “me” of 2025 is going to be a good deal different than the 2024 version.
I know I want to live a lighter, freer and simpler life.
I want to have space and time to create, explore and play.
I want to have time and energy to listen to my heart and the hearts of others.
I want to be amazed by the unexpected and the wonder of being alive.
How do you want to live your life in 2025?
If you pondered that in a dreamy type of way I wonder what the answers would be?
And when you know how you want to live your life in 2025 does what you own align with that?
Living a lighter life and changing the world
Years ago I went over to Sausalito CA to sit my coach certification exam. It was the culmination of nearly 2 years of learning and hard work. My coach at the time was also the President of the Co-Active Training Institute (I’m a great believer in learning from the best) the mighty Jim Patterson. He was taking me out for the day to see the redwood forest though we were both ocean lovers at heart so we ended up having dinner overlooking the Pacific. It was heaven.
Jim rocked up at my hotel in his VW Golf with the entire contents of his life in the car as he was moving house the next day. Yes that also included his furniture!
Let’s just pause for a moment to consider being in your 50s and being able to have everything you own fit into a VW Golf. Talk about travelling light.
Jim, for decades, went round the world training professional co-active coaches and changing people’s lives. He didn’t waste time, money or energy on accumulating stuff. That would only have held him back.
Jim played and danced with life rawly and freely. He truly blessed the lives of so many of us. When he died thousands of us knew and felt he’d live on in our hearts forever - I miss him dearly to this day.
We don’t have to be as extreme as Jim and I know a lighter life allows more in.
Being guided by the natural cycle of Mother Nature
At this time of the year I’m also nudged and inspired by the natural cycle of Mother Nature. I live in the countryside in southern England surrounded by wonderful trees. They’re in the process of changing colour into those magnificent hues of gold and red and soon they’ll start to let go of their leaves surrendering them back to the earth.
It’s like a trusting in the natural cycle of life whereas it feels like we humans try to control life and want it always to be spring or summer.
Yet there seems to me to be so much beauty in the letting go.
How much have you accumulated over the years?
My husband and I aren’t natural hoarders though in truth our garage is pretty full, probably a case of out of sight out of mind. Getting rid of some clothes seems so much easier than dealing with bigger stuff but it all feels heavy - like we’re lugging around the past just in case we might need it in the future.
And here’s the thing….
“Clutter is not just the stuff on the floor, it’s anything that stands between you and the life you are wanting to be living.” Peter Walsh
Clutter is therefore more than just “stuff” it can be anything from:
Clothes and material things in your home.
Online junk obviously eg all those folders or bookmarks you’ll never use again.
Relationships that don’t lift your heart anymore.
Difficult conversations you’ve parked.
Emotions you’ve locked away and use energy to keep hidden.
Mindsets and limiting beliefs that it’s time to challenge.
Old stories you keep telling yourself that aren’t in alignment with where you want to be headed next year.
So it’s not just the physical clutter we can free ourselves from.
Getting practical - Find your way of decluttering that works - Forget the gurus
These two quotes are famous though they don’t work for me in that I get flakey too quickly with my intention - and one of them may work for you in terms of helping you shedding things.
“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”. William Morris
“Let go of the things that don’t spark joy” Marie Kondo
The question that works for me:
Does this fit with the me of 2025 and how I want to live my life?
This connects me directly with myself in 2025. There’s power in it.
As I choose what I’m letting go of or keeping with that question I naturally have my vision for myself in 2025 in mind.
The Alison of 2025 is the one who’s doing the choosing. She’s the one taking a stand for her life not the 2024 version.
My invitation to you.
Dream the dream of how you want to live your life in 2025.
Have fun and enjoy the process. Let it be revealed to you - please please don’t try to figure it out with your head!!!
Then ask yourself:-
What do I want to let go of so that I can live that dream?
What’s no longer a reflection of who I’m becoming?
Then be true to your inner wisdom and it’s answers.
Celebrate each leaf that falls away! With every one you are becoming lighter and freer.
Have fun with it! The 2025 you will thank you for it.