Decluttering your mind isn’t usually the first cluttered area that gets your attention. Usually it’s a countertop, junk drawer or an entire garage. I think that’s for the best. When you first start to declutter, I recommend starting with the easy stuff.
Getting rid of clothes you don’t wear or extra coffee cups is often easier than an attempt to declutter your mind. Working on the stuff around us is less challenging than working on the stuff within us. That said, to reduce stress and live healthier, happier lives, working on both the outside and the inside are important.
In the Soulful Simplicity Course, we start with the heart because that’s where everything starts.
Why it’s important to declutter your mind
We are really good at holding on to things. We hold on to our thoughts, to what other people have said to us, to what’s happened to us and to our fear and concern about what may happen to us, or what other people may think of us.
Then we layer on things like guilt, regret, expectations, disappointment and sadness. It’s one thing to experience these things, but then to store them and hold on tight is something else completely.
At some point all of that holding on gets heavy, too heavy. It begins to disturb our sleep, which then changes our moods and impacts how we feel about ourselves and how we treat others. Sometimes, we don’t even know what’s bothering us because we’ve been holding on to it all for so long.
One simple way to declutter your mind (and heart)
Here’s one simple way to declutter your mind and heart. It’s not the only way but it is a good place to start. Try this right before you go to sleep. Write down what’s on your mind and heart. It can be happy things, sad things, heavy things or light things. Write them all down and promise to revisit the list when you wake up. This promise gives your mind permission to let go overnight. When you wake up, honor your promise and review your list. Is there an action you can take to resolve anything on the list? If there is, take it. If there isn’t, let go. Symbolically let go of everything on the list when you let go of the list itself.
Each night, make a new list. You might repeat something from the night before and that’s ok. Continue the process of writing everything down, making a promise to revisit in the morning, and then taking action when you wake up.
Over time, you’ll notice that some of your worries begin to fade, or you take action to resolve them or forget about them completely. You’ll begin to notice that it’s not worth holding on to things you have no control over.
Even though you can’t see the results of decluttering your mind as easily as you can see a decluttered countertop, you can feel it. You can feel it on the inside, and it will change your view of the outside.
A course to help you declutter your mind and heart
Learn more about the Soulful Simplicity Course. All along, I’ve been saying that this is not a decluttering course, but maybe that’s not completely accurate. What I mean is that we aren’t going to spend the entire time decluttering the physical clutter in your home because I know that you know how to do that already. You might not want to, and it might be hard, but logically you know how to do it.
We are going to do some decluttering though.
You will learn to declutter your mind and begin to let go of busyness and expectations (of yourself and others). In the live calls we’ll work on letting go of worry and other emotions that keep your mind spinning.
You will learn to declutter your heart and begin to let go of guilt, regret and judgement (of yourself and others). I’m going to share a practice with you that will help you connect with your heart, remember who you are and what matters to you.
We’ll tackle other things too in the making space and making time modules. You can see what else is included here on the course page, or read below …
Module One: Making You
- An in-depth look at my personal story and how simplicity changed my life
- Thoughtful questions to get you unstuck so you are able to do what you really want to do
- Encouraging tips to help you move past any roadblocks and build healthy habits that support your new life
- Discover the gift of presence and being more attentive so you can make the most of every day
- An introduction to a heart practice that can help you align yourself with what your heart really wants
Module Two: Making Space
- Practical strategies that will help you let go of clutter, including photographs and sentimental items
- Embrace space in your life by bringing fewer things into your life with the 3 Myths of Ownership
- Step-by-step help to clean out your closet as well as any emotions you have in your closet
- How to create a “Simplicity Summit” where you have an intentional discussion with loved ones and grow closer together
- Reconnect with your heart so you can also reconnect with yourself
Module Three: Making Time
- Make personal boundaries and learn to honor them so you can be happier and healthier
- Say no in a respectful and meaningful way to take better care of yourself
- Give yourself more space, energy, and fulfillment by changing how you use your calendar
- How to unplug from digital devices and connect more to your heart and your loved ones
- Find more clarity, happiness and ease from lingering longer and avoiding busyness
