Every time I save things I don't need
or make plans that I don't really want...

I TRASH MY FUTURE!

Every time I let go of things and activities
I don't really need,
I create S P A C E for a new future.

- Marilyn Paul

Our theme quote for this month comes from the book It's Hard to Make a Difference When You Can't Find Your Keys: the seven-step path to becoming truly organized, by Marilyn Paul, Ph.D. (Viking Compass, 2003).

I have had these words taped next to my computer ever since I heard Dr. Paul speak on this topic at a women's networking luncheon about a year ago. There is a graphic that goes along with this quote - a trash can overflowing with papers. This quote and graphic has inspired me to forge on with my experiment and has served as a daily reminder.

There are many excellent books out there on the subject of clearing clutter, Feng Shui, and organizing, and this is one of them. Think about the title for a moment: It's Hard to Make a Difference When You Can't Find Your Keys.

Isn't that what we all want - to make a difference, to accomplish something important, to have our lives count for something? And how often does some kind of clutter - external or internal - get in the way, sap our energy, desire, or opportunity?

So, what's the point of all this letting go?

To open up our physical, emotional, energetic, mental, psychic, or spiritual space in order to lighten our load and make room for new opportunities to enter our world.

The following articles explore different aspects of Letting Go.

June 10th, 2007 marked the end of my 365-day Letting Go Experiment. During that time, I released from my life, on average, one material or non-material item each day - or a total of 365 items!

Thus begins the blog article that describes my year- long Letting Go Experiment in detail.

If you are curious about how I set up the experiment, what kinds of things were released from my life, or what I learned from this experiment, you can read the complete article by clicking on the link below.

One thing is for sure. There weren't enough days in one year for me to release everything I wanted to release. So, the experiment continues. How long? Until it is finished. Stay tuned.

As a result of actually doing this experiment for 365 days, here are some practices I found to be particularly helpful:

1. The First Step: Start by sweeping through your living space and putting away or discarding the most obvious clutter - the out-of-place items on the surfaces of countertops, furniture, and floors.
2. Mail: Handle all mail as soon as it arrives. Put bills, personal mail, business mail, and the like in specially labeled files for immediate attention. Toss junk mail immediately. [Hint: Buy a mail shredder and place it near the spot in your home where you first drop your mail, and use it daily.]
3. Newspapers: Discard yesterday's paper (and all the earlier ones) whether you have read them or not.
4. Magazines: Read them within the week or month you receive them. Then toss them or donate them to a place where people might read them: waiting rooms, laundromats, hair salons, etc.
5. Kitchen clutter: Wash and put away dishes after every meal. Clear off counters and kitchen tables. It's amazing how much clarity and peace of mind can come from this practice alone!
6. Clean out the refigerator once a week. Toss stale or spoiled food or old leftovers.
7. Clothing: A rule of thumb (not invented by me) is that if you have not worn it within the past year, discard it. (Exception: specialty clothes like formal wear) If it doesn't fit and you like it, have it altered. If it is dirty, stained, or in disrepair and you like it, have it washed, cleaned, or repaired. And if it is out of style, doesn't flatter you, or is not your size, give it away! (No more hanging on to a complete wardrobe in 3 different sizes, just in case!)
8. Time-dated supplies: Discard all food, sundries, medications, cleaning supplies, etc. that have have gone past their expiration dates.
9. Pacing yourself: Pick one manageable space or project to tackle at one time - one drawer, one shelf, one closet, one room - and complete that one task. Then rest, have some fun, and return soon to another manageable project feeling refreshed and ready to go again.
10. Discarding your items: Create and label special containers (bags, boxes, plastic bins, etc) with a specific destination for your discarded items, e.g. Trash, Goodwill, Yard Sale, Swap Shop, Cousin Johnny, etc. Each time you come across something to give away, put it in one of these containers. As soon as possible, bring these items to their designated location. They are not truly released from your life until they have left your premises (including your car) and have arrived at their final destination.

Ah, this is really the nub of it all!

The practice of letting go of material clutter eventually becomes a state of mind that permeates the non- material world as well.

We are talking about releasing all sorts of non-material things that don't serve us, that block us from doing what we long to do and from being the person we long to be, are meant to be. We are talking about things like non-productive thoughts: mind-chatter, negativity, limiting beliefs, false assumptions and interpretations, reliving unhappy memories, criticisms and judgements, and the like.

We are also talking about releasing emotions and behaviors that no longer serve us.

Imagine letting go of doubt, worry, fear, self-criticism, judging (of self or others), anger, envy, jealousy, resentment, and the like. How might our lives be different?

Or what about letting go of behaviors that don't serve us - overeating, smoking, excessive drinking, taking illegal or unprescribed drugs or medications, watching excessive amounts of TV, couch-potatoing (I think I've invented a new word!), working too many hours, over-shopping, over-consuming, spending too much money, etc. How might letting go of even one of these behaviors change our lives in amazing ways?

It has been my experience over this past year that the process of releasing excess material stuff from my life has opened the way for releasing thoughts, emotions, and behaviors as well. For example, in previous blog articles, I have written about releasing fear, about releasing old resentments towards a parent, and about releasing stuff - internal and external - in order to allow the flow of money and other forms of abundance into our lives.

What might you release from your life in order to open up the flow of abundance, peace, and joy in your life?