And How to Finally Let Go Without the Stress
Your closets are bursting. Your garage is a maze. There’s a growing sense
that your home is less a space to live and more a storage unit for memories,
obligations, and “maybe someday” items. Everyone tells you it's too much. You
know it's too much. But every time you try to declutter, you get stuck. Why?
It’s Not Just About Stuff
Decluttering sounds easy in theory—just get rid of what you don’t use.
But for many of us, clutter isn’t just physical. It’s emotional. It’s tied to
grief, identity, guilt, and hope. That’s why even broken lamps, yellowing
greeting cards, and old mismatched mugs can feel impossible to part with.
1. You’re Afraid of Forgetting
That chipped vase? Your mother gave it to you. The chair you never sit
in? It was your grandfather’s. You’re not really keeping the item—you’re trying
to hold on to the person, the memory, the moment in time. There’s a quiet fear
that if you let go of the thing, you’ll lose the connection.
What to do instead:
Take a picture. Write a note about its story. Keep one meaningful item from
that person instead of twenty. Memories don’t live in objects—they live in you.
2. You Think Your Kids Will Want It
You imagine your children someday taking these things into their own
homes. The fine china, the antique mirror, the hundred family photo albums. But
more and more, adult children are saying: “We don’t want it.” It’s not
because they don’t love you—it’s because they want to choose their own life,
just like you did.
What to do instead:
Ask them directly what they want. Respect the answer, even if it’s hard. If
they say no, consider selling, donating, or giving those items a new life with
someone who will appreciate them.
3. You’re Tied to “Someday” Thinking
You might be holding onto clothes you haven’t worn in a decade, gadgets
you never used, or fabric scraps for a quilt you never started. There’s comfort
in the idea that you might need it, that someday you’ll be the
person who uses it.
What to do instead:
Be honest about who you are now, not who you might be in some
hypothetical future. If an item hasn’t been used in years, it’s probably not
going to be. And that’s okay.
4. You Feel Guilty Letting Go
There’s a silent weight of guilt with certain things: gifts you never
liked, things that were expensive, items you inherited but don’t enjoy. Giving
them away feels like a betrayal—or a waste.
What to do instead:
Remind yourself: the gift has served its purpose. You appreciated the gesture.
Keeping something out of guilt is not honoring the person—it’s burdening
yourself. Free yourself to let go.
Less Clutter = Less Stress SM in your home, your business and your life
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