Everyone has clutter. Some of it we can see in our homes, cars and offices. And some clutter we walk around with daily-deep inside where no one can see, not even us.
I started my journey into professional organizing in 2008. Little did I know that back in 2006 when I discovered I had ADD, that organizing would become my business. During my childhood, teens and into my adult life I would sort things small to tall or by color or category. The exercise calms me and gave my space a more serene look. It also gave me something to focus on other than the chaos around me that was too much for me at the time. (I didn’t have a name for it way back then but it definitely was organizing)
Some of the chaos was external such as too much noise, too much stuff, even overpowering odors or too many people, loud voices and loud music would affect me. My internal chaos came in the form of in my head thinking and going over scenarios or things I wish I would’ve said would have done. Also procrastinating or going over all the things I needed to do. On things I didn’t have enough confidence in myself to accomplish and since they wouldn’t be done perfectly why even try? Or holding onto something negative someone said to me years before that I just couldn’t forget.
We all hold on to old habits and thoughts for many reasons. Sometimes I am afraid of change and I like staying in my comfort zone or I’m just not even aware that the old habits and thoughts are holding me back. Therapists say we only hold onto these thoughts and behaviors because they serve us in some way. We get a charge, a benefit and even a thrill. So how does holding on to too much stuff, mentally and physically serve us? How does holding onto fears, past mistakes, vendettas and false beliefs about ourselves serve us today?