Decluttering Beyond the Closets
 | Author:
Ellie West, Certified Master Practitioner of NLP, Time Line Therapy, and Hypnosis
Inside Inspiration: Certified NLP Coach/Practitioner Of Hypnosis and Timeline Therapy |
Decluttering Beyond the Closets
Ellie West
Certified Master Practitioner of NLP, Time Line Therapy, and Hypnosis
While decluttering is commonly associated with organizing physical spaces, closets, drawers, and storage areas, its significance extends far beyond the tangible aspects of our lives. It becomes a journey into the depths of our hearts and minds, aligning with biblical principles, releasing possessions, shedding emotional burdens, and fostering a compassionate connection with ourselves.
In a recent transformative week with a client, we dug deep into both inner and outer decluttering, focusing on cleansing. She also experienced a rejuvenating time at the hot springs and a facial that helped her cleansing journey, leaving a lasting impact even after returning home.
I checked in with her a few days later and asked, “How are you doing?” I was a bit surprised to hear her response. She said something remarkable, “I tackled the clutter in my closet and drawers.” The ongoing decluttering and cleansing manifested even after our intensive week. I was so proud of her and her progress, inspiring me to do the same.
Decluttering highlights the interconnectedness of our physical and emotional spaces and the transformative power of decluttering on multiple levels. However, I don’t believe the decluttering journey ends there; it extends to every area of our lives, the desire to declutter and enjoy the freedom, peace, and joy bestowed upon us by God.
The simplicity of having less stuff creates space for what truly matters and can provide opportunities for what matters most.
Internally decluttering is undoubtedly challenging, and attempting it alone can be even more daunting. In biblical teachings, the emphasis on community and seeking guidance is clear. In Proverbs 15:22, it is written, "Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers, they succeed.” It is okay to ask for help to reach out to another person.
Life can leave your heart full of clutter; clutter is just delayed decisions, often reflecting on other areas of your life. So it is essential that you need to clean it out periodically. The best place to start decluttering is to be honest about where you are. If you have clutter in the physical, you have it in the spiritual. Ask yourself, “What’s going on in your heart?” Does it match your physical surroundings? Seek help, as doing it alone is more challenging than it should be.
There is no shame in getting help from a professional heart-declutterer, counselor, coach, therapist, or pastor. A supportive community is vital to your success when doing deep and challenging internal work. You need people around you to support, encourage, motivate, inspire, pray, and check in to see if you are progressing. When working through significant traumas and complex situations, you may require extra help, and you know what? You are worth it!
As you engage in the internal work of decluttering, consider the biblical wisdom of having a trustworthy ally. Find someone rooted in faith, someone with your best interests at heart who can speak love and biblical truth into your life. The journey may be arduous, but the rewards of healing, improved thoughts, and uplifting words are well worth the effort of renewal and restoration.
Sometimes, we find it challenging to extend grace to ourselves if we have cluttered hearts. We are much better at offering it to everyone else but not extending it to ourselves. The exciting thing that happens when your heart begins to clear from all the clutter is that you begin to heal in other areas of your lives. When your heart starts working better, so do your thoughts and words.
Embrace this transformative process; your heart will open, and you will receive gifts of healing that internal and external decluttering can give you…a renewed heart and mind.
As the year draws to a close, let's take a compassionate pause to reflect on the clutter that might be holding you back, approaching each step with gentleness. Recognize that this clutter has built up over the years, and letting go will be a gradual process. Be patient and give yourself some grace as you release what no longer serves you, understanding that it's a spiritual journey and a journey of self-care and personal growth.
The renowned decluttering expert Marie Kondo said, ”Tidying is the act of confronting yourself; cleaning is the act of confronting nature. ”Embrace this journey, and may your decluttering bring you both inner peace and spiritual growth".
To connect with Ellie FB @coachelliewest Certified Master Practitioner of NLP, TLT, & Hypnosis
