cluttered attic, whispering mind

You know that thing we do, when we keep something we don't really need, just in case it comes in handy?  Or when we keep too much stuff through guilt or duty or sentimentality? 

And we do this over and over again.  Until the attic gets full of forgotten stuff in boxes.

Maybe we'd love to convert the attic into an office or an art studio, but we don't want to go up there, because it's dark, dirty and musty.  And everything's covered with cobwebs.  And maybe the mice have moved in ...

So we shelve that passion.   And we add more stuff in boxes, as we try to ignore the tension it creates inside.

I find physical clutter extremely stressful.  And I'm not alone - here's an article about the link between clutter and stress and self-esteem.

I have to keep things very simple (and easy to clean).  Just enough furniture to be comfortable and a few ornamental things.  And everything must be something I love.  Including my clothes.  This cool article shows the simple steps I use to declutter my home (the Marie Kondo way). 

It's the same for anything new I consider buying.  I tune into it before I buy and if it doesn't give me a happy, relaxed feeling then it's a no. 

And what about our relationships?  How many do we tolerate through duty or fear of confrontation, rather than letting the relationship go or establishing better, healthier boundaries?  This article has some great tips about managing our intimate relationships ...

And the ultimate stress is a cluttered mind.  Maybe it's our beliefs, our limitations, our programming, our feelings ...  with us 24/7.  Making life so much harder than it needs to be.

So how do you know you're cluttered on the inside?  Do you get a stressful thought or an  uncomfortable emotion?  Or something more physical?  Maybe a pain, an ache or even an illness?

Mindfully tuning into that intuitive, inner voice is a skill that can come amazingly quickly with regular practice.  And it's the vital first step to decluttering yourself. 

You might need help to tune in at first.  Because, although your subconscious is very strong, its voice can be barely a whisper.  Or it may like to communicate with images or memories instead.   Or there could be something blocking the transmission.  Or your subconscious may have given up trying to talk altogether. 

But as soon as your subconscious mind feels heard, it turns off the alarm bell.  The mind clutter and pain can disappear like magic and you get a beautifully clean, roomy attic back. 

Now, I wonder, what could YOU do with all that space ...  ?


Image by Levelord on Pixabay