The single best thing you've said to me is that everything will end up in a landfill. Yes I was raised by frugal depression-era parents and throwing out stuff that's still good is like ripping my toenails off. To believe that it's going there anyway really really helps. I mostly have been listening on Spotify but no idea if I can comment there. I just marathon listen while I declutter.
I watched this this morning and finally was able to drop off my box of donations. The idea of it is all trash at some stage in the life cycle and this point helped me move the box to the local charity. And I will remember life cycle for future stuff additions and removal. And yes grandparents with the Great Depression experience taught to waste not want not. Released guilt.
Your comments above helps me to think about my closet, clothing, etc. in a new way. I can be really compulsive with buying items of clothing. Often it is cheaply made and by the time I’m getting rid of it. I just want it gone. Yet, I have a tough time letting go. I think, as I’m going through different items which have not worn well, or held up or which simply disappointed me once they got here from an online purchase. But then they hung around too long to be returned . I will look an item and remember how much I wanted to get it. Try to remember why I wanted it. Then walk myself back to this place. What did I imagine that thing was going to do for me? Did it live up to that promise? & what can I do when I reach that compulsive place to mentally, in advance, go all the way through the cycle with it. (I hope that made sense!) Having these items in front of me is a painful reminder that I need to make more careful decisions, and also remember that it’s just a piece of clothing. It’s not going to make me more attractive, make people like me more, or make think I am this that or the other thing. They really do convict me in the need to love myself more!
Hi Nic, thank you for your comment. Do not let the guilt eat you up!! You deserve a home that is perfect for you and you are learning and growing as a human. That's amazing.
When my kids were little, they loved to wander through the toy aisle holding all the things (my youngest especially loved hugging all the stuffed animals...this was WAY before 2020 and we never hugged stuffies during cold and flu season). But every time, before I even headed that way in the store, I would remind them of our motto..."We'll go look, but what's our motto? Not today, not today." I'm sure they hated it, but it kept impulse purchases to a minimum and made them think about what they actually wanted for their birthday or Christmas rather than it just being Toys! Toys! Toys! We are a family of 4 living comfortably in a 900 sq ft house because of this motto :)
THANK YOU JES!! You are FABULOUS!! I have learned so much from subscribing to your program -- beginning with the idea that more has to go out than comes in! FLOW -- what a concept! And THIS one about feeling guilty tossing stuff is fab. The BEST concept you teach is the Henry David Thoreau one about not wasting time dealing with something that is not important to you.
For me it is what I throw away or donate i feel angry with myself that I spent x on an item and it is okay to get rid of so loss of money I could have had.
I live in a small house and no more space. I think what if one day I move to a larger home I may need to fill the space and will I be able to afford stuff so should I keep?
Hey Sarah, Don’t forget the most important thing: Focus on what you already have and make the most of it! You don't want to waste your time or your energy, so create a space you can be comfortable and productive in. Remember, there’s always an opportunity to grow and earn more in the future, but you can never get that time and energy you use back!
This is my biggest struggle. Especially when it comes to those decorative storage boxes. They're usable but they still have a chemical smell. I don't know if anyone honestly wants that. I'm just done with extra storage containers and want to focus on getting a business going and moving in the future without all this crap. Never again. 😂🤦♀️
I know! That's why we really don't recommend purchasing extra storage 🤷♀️ This is one of the main topics we discuss in our Clutter Bootcamp which will start this Monday. I hope you can join us! jesmarcy.com/bootcamp
