I recently started the process of decluttering the things in my life that were no longer working well, and replaced them with new habits. A part of this entailed canceling my Netflix subscription and replacing the binge watching with picking up some books and a journal. I also bought a gym membership and challenged myself to learn how to exercise. “Do I really have to give up Netflix?!” you’re probably asking by now. The answer is, no. You don’t have to be as drastic as I was – although, you may consider reducing your screen time so you can get more out of your days.
This process was as difficult as it sounds; it takes a lot of work, inside and out, and it’s definitely given me a lot to think about and change within myself.
When I jumped off the Netflix wagon, I pondered some questions that I found helpful in my decluttering journey, and wanted to share some food for thought:
Do my actions align with my core beliefs and values?
How often am I taking risks and putting myself out there?
What am I letting get in my way?
Am I following the herd instead of my heart?
Having clutter clouded my values and made it harder to decipher between what my true identity was and what identity I was hiding beneath my mess.
When I spent 5 weekends dedicated to bagging old t-shirts from over 10 years ago, dusting off my forgotten university textbooks and exam notes, I noticed a shift.
I felt lighter and more clearheaded. I was able to discern the difference of who I am versus who my clutter tells me I am. Yes, I enjoyed studying during my undergrad, but no, that is not my full story.
I may have worn Converse a decade ago to stay “on trend”, but is that truly me? No, it isn’t! Our belongings are a part of our stories, but if we own too many items, or hold on to excess due to being sentimental, it can start to hold us back. This can keep us in the past and make it all the more challenging to let go of a false self.
As much as I love holding onto fond memories and belongings to look back on, I do believe there is a sweet spot. We can still acknowledge when we went through a certain phase or era of our lives, without those parts taking over our present day existences. I’m going to tell you how. Rather than keeping a pile of stuff around the house, consider doing the following: taking photographs, talking to our communities and ourselves, writing and reflecting. These are the actions that will be a guiding factor to our personal growth, while commemorating the past, celebrating the present and staying hopeful for the future. When we learn from our past memories, we can accept those parts of ourselves and keep the momentum to move onwards.