I have moved more than 20 times—anywhere from 1 to 2600 miles away from a prior location. Moving taught me the importance of keeping what is important and discarding what is not. Not just personal possessions, but people, feelings, behaviors, thoughts, beliefs, and habits. By learning to let go, I learned to live an intentional life.
Is there anything on your path that is getting in your way? Quit stepping around it and move it off your path. By releasing what is unnecessary, you may meet with pleasant surprises—ease, freedom, clarity, happiness, opportunity, creativity, and more space for what you love.
Creating space is about lightening your load—mentally, physically, and spiritually, as well as properly managing your resources—time, energy, and money. Specifically, creating space is about getting rid of what you don’t want to make room for what you do want. It is about prioritizing that which is most meaningful and inspiring.
Buying a big house because you think it will make you happy might exhaust your time, energy, and money. Getting a high-pressure job may cause undue stress and health problems. Hanging on to clothes that have not fit in years can cause anxiety and depression. Maintaining stale relationships or uninspiring spiritual practices can be deadening.
What’s Behind the Clutter?
Tight spaces are stifling, not allowing new life in or out. It is hard to think clearly when you have too much on your mind. It is hard to navigate in a space that has too much stuff in it. It is hard to feel spiritual when your beliefs are too confining. Here are other things that could be draining your energy, time, and financial resources:
· Physical: disorganized spaces, overloaded schedule, spending beyond one’s means, unhealthy physical habits (poor eating, inadequate exercise, addictions), negative people in your life
· Mental: overwhelmed with too much to do, unfocused direction in life, clinging to past, focusing on success rather than happiness, stress at work, criticalness about self and others
· Spiritual: disempowering beliefs, meaningless routines
Clearing the Clutter
Creating space is about making sure that what is in your path is there because you intentionally put it there, not because you never bothered to move it out of your way. By consciously attending to what is on your path now, you can discard what doesn’t serve you and make space for what does.
· Physical: go through every space you occupy (home, work, vehicle) and release what is no longer useful or meaningful to you. Be honest when evaluating if items are worth your time, energy, and money. Toss or give away select items appropriately.
· Mental: explore your habitual thoughts, beliefs, and emotions. In what areas of your mental world do you feel cluttered, unclear, misdirected, or ineffective? Consider how to release what you do not want. How can you constructively redirect your thoughts and emotions? Devise a plan and begin work on it right away. Consulting experts, like a therapist, a coach, or a teacher might help you develop insight and effectiveness in your pursuits.
· Spiritual: consider ways to cut activities that are meaningful in your life. Mindfulness approaches, like meditation and journaling, can add clarity to your process.
Once you have created space by releasing the things that do not serve you, there is an opening to create or pursue what matters most to you. What is meaningful to you?
· Physical: positive and supportive relationships, fulfilling vocation, physical health, living within your means (money, time, energy), ability to help other people, fun and adventure
· Mental: clarity about your purpose, balance in work and home life, nurturing creativity, motivation for personal goals, mindfulness in daily activities, optimism about future, positive mental health
· Spiritual: deeper spiritual connection, inspiring and empowering beliefs, practices that encourage happiness and positive growth
Here are some real-life examples of people who gave up something they thought was important—and surprisingly gained more than than expected:
· James (who is also my husband), a successful business owner, gave up his demanding job and retired early. He sold his big house that required a lot of his time and money and bought a smaller but easier to maintain house. He feels calm, healthy, and deeply appreciative. He found a sense of purpose while taking care of his aging parents and tending to the family farm.
· Samantha experienced significant trauma, which led her to drugs to numb the pain. After the death of her mother, she hit rock bottom. With therapy, she released many harmful emotions and behaviors. She is now healthy and lives a meaningful life, helping recovering addicts.
· Tim felt scarred from a breakup with Rene, the girl he planned to marry. He felt heartbroken and stuck for years. When he chose to release his emotional ties to the past, particularly his relationship with Rene, he felt enthusiastic about his future once again. Releasing past fears allowed him to find Becky, his best friend and wife.
· Mr. Smith, a high-ranking official at a religious institution, was an outspoken critic of other members trying to hide and cover up abuse allegations. When Mr. Smith was silenced, he left his position to become an advocate for victims of sexual abuse.
What you get from letting go is the physical, mental, and spiritual space to do with as you wish. The interesting thing is that many people choose to use their newfound resources to help other people. While the selfless person gives something of value, they are also receiving something of value—appreciation, meaningfulness, and purpose. Isn’t that what we all want? As you start to plot your adventures with your new space, be sure to put your efforts on what matters most to you. By letting go of what you no longer need, you may discover what you’ve been looking for all along.