Curiosity Can Affect Clutter Anxiety In A Positive Way
I am going to show you a way to declutter for the very last time! Being a little bit curious will help you get rid of the clutter. It is not at all useful to continue thinking about this situation you find yourself in.
If you are anything like many others, you may be unconsciously procrastinating getting through the clutter. Procrastination leads to negative thinking, wastes energy and the clutter is still there!
Let’s try something…
What emotion comes up when you think about your clutter? Can you name the emotion? Is it frustration, anger? Do you beat up on yourself? Does your heart beat just a little quicker?
Now let’s get curious
Out of curiosity, ask yourself if the emotions you feel now apply to just this present situation of decluttering or do these emotions present to you during other times.
Here is an example: Maybe every time you think about having to declutter your house you get frustrated and angry! Why is this?
‘Well if my house was bigger or if I had more money I could pay someone else to do this.’ Or ‘I just decluttered this mess not too long ago, why does this keep happening! I must be a slob and just don’t know how to clean.’
Stop the negative talk now!
Now let’s stop ruminating on all the negative chit chat and get curious. Why do I get so frustrated and angry every time I think about decluttering my home?
It really isn’t that my home is too small. I love my home! I work really hard to support my beautiful home. This makes me feel proud. I can’t afford to pay a cleaner and I work 3 jobs and still never have enough money. ( Hmmm… does this cause you anger and frustration too?)
It is just so hard because there is so much clutter here. Why do I keep buying so much stuff? I don’t need this stuff.
I would much rather be able to come home from work and relax, maybe start a garden, than keep tripping over all this stuff that I am not even using. Didn’t I once buy all the stuff I need to make a garden? Sound familiar?
Now we are getting somewhere
What that exercise illustrated is we interrupted the endless loop of negative thoughts and we put our curiosity to work to uncover part of the real issue.
This example shows the clutter is simply the symptom of buying too much stuff, over spending in general to name a couple things. Working many jobs is tiring and frustrating in itself. Feeling lonesome is a very real emotion.
Using another example
Ask yourself why you over spend or buy stuff you don’t need. Perhaps you will come to find you like to shop because it is filling some need within. Maybe you are lonely? Maybe you have money now and are making up for living frugally in the past.
Continue being curious. Keep asking yourself questions! You will get to the root of this thing that is owning you. What a cool gift it is to know if you just stop these behaviors and clean out your space one more time you will never have to do this again!
Alcoholics Anonymous has a saying. ‘If you never pick up a drink again, you will never get drunk!’ Sometimes it is the simplest thing. If you stop bringing unnecessary things into your home you will never have to declutter again!
Cleaning will be a breeze because you will come up with 10 minute systems to make this chore manageable. Or all the money you are saving by not shopping you may just hire a cleaner! You will have the freedom to choose.
Curiosity will lead your way
Pretend you can see your thoughts in your mind the way you might see sailboats float by on the river. Be curious watching for the ways your mind is making up a story or interpretation about what is actually happening.
By being curious notice that the facts of this present time are possibly different from the story your mind created. Just because you think it doesn’t make it true.
Remember the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.
Declutter for the last time
You will never have to declutter again because you have identified the problem and feel just bouyant at the thought you only have to clean declutter this last time because you are not going to continue to buy stuff you don’t need.
You will replace these habits with healthy habits. If you are lonely instead of going shopping join a class! Painting? Yoga? Pickleball? I’ll hazard a guess there are plenty of volunteer opportunities in your community!
If you have a whole lot of money you want to spend find someone that needs something and contribute to this. That pride you feel about working hard and having a beautiful home will double!
Writing
I am big fan of writing my way to my truth. By using a pen and paper or keyboard writing is the best tool I know of to use to unlock your truths. Be curious! Check out more tips about writing from Declutter Buzz and download 10 free writing prompts to peak your curiosity!! Then go start a garden!
Marj Bates is a life long ridiculously organized declutterer and artist. Less is more are words Marj lives by in everything she does except collecting dogs. “Dogs are like potato chips! Can’t have just one.” says Marj. Marj wonders if growing up with a fanatically clean Jewish mom means her decluttering and organizational skills are in her blood.
