Deep Cleaning of Stuff and Soul

Dealing with the clutter of life is something that you know you need to do,

whether it's written on your to-do list, or a growing whisper from your subconscious.

The books you’ve never read, the clothes that no longer fit, the piles of broken things in need of mending, all beckoning for your attention or telling you a lie about your lack.

Then there are the items hidden away...slowly accumulating.

Finally, there’s the fear of the unknown.

What will you find if you look at the shadowed corners of your closet?

Then a day comes that you’re ready to begin to deal with all the stuff.

You might be inspired by a new organizing system, philosophy, or idea to implement.

A fresh start, new year, or new chapter. You swear this time will be different...

You might be nervous about what you could find behind the dust bunnies and cobwebs.

You might be overwhelmed looking around, wondering where to even begin.

Slowly you start to examine the contents of your life, carefully discerning what stays or goes.

Clinging to some, while swiftly discarding others, as you sift through your carefully collected memories.

At some point, you look around at the mess and wish you never even started.

Simultaneously embarrassed by the excess and grateful for the abundance.

In order to deeply clean your stuff and soul, you need to pull out everything

and face the circumstances and choices of your life.

You then give yourself a pep talk about finishing what you started.

Momentum builds through the complex domino effect of handling one thing at a time.

Finally, you know what’s there and feel like you can breathe again as you create space.

Thoughtfully making a place of belonging for each item saved.

In the back of your mind you know it won’t stay that way, but that’s okay because perfect isn’t the point anyway.

Sometimes it doesn’t look that much different on the outside and you wonder why you spent so much time and effort doing the behind-the-scenes work, the back of the closet & cupboard stuff, the inner work.

Although it may not appear different to others, it feels different to you, and that’s what matters.

You finish feeling tired and exhausted, yet lighter and more expansive.

*This was written in 2017, but has been included in my new book and 100-day self-reflection journal Empowered. Embodied. Enchanted.: Reclaiming Wisdom, Wellbeing & Wonder - available now at www.artofpresence.org/eee