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!
