Have you ever felt like something was holding you back from reaching your full potential but you didn’t know what it was – you just couldn’t “put your finger on it?” I’ll often hear someone say, “I must have an energy problem; I can feel something keeping me from my success, but I’ve made every attempt I can think of to get rid of the blockage and it’s still there.”

Most people need look no further than their own home. The biggest energy drain on the human psyche is clutter – all clutter, physical and mental.

It amazes me how so many people will hold on to things out of guilt or fear. Guilt and fear are the two most wasted human emotions and yet we hang on to them relentlessly by hanging on to Grandma’s doilies fearing that she’ll haunt us from the grave or from guilt over not spending enough time with her before she passed away. I’ve known people who hang on to things from a divorce because “it was the only thing she didn’t take – I hate the item, but it’s the principle.”

Let it go. Let it all go. The Quakers had a saying: “The beauty of an object is in its usefulness.” If you’re holding on to something that doesn’t serve your present dreams, give or throw it away. If it brings you joy to look at, put it somewhere that you will see it on a regular basis. If you’re holding on to a belief that no longer serves you, let it go. We are constantly evolving and becoming more.

I had a rather unique experience with evolving and becoming more while writing this post that I’d like to share with you. I’m sure many of you will remember taking Speech 101 in undergrad. For my demonstration requirement, I prepared a recipe. It was made of simple ingredients that we could purchase at the store on campus and was prepared in a microwave. Several of my classmates told me for a couple of years after that class that they had prepared that dish on their own, several times, and really enjoyed it.

In searching for something different today for lunch, I thought of that dish for some reason. (-had no idea I would be writing about it.) I got out the recipe, checked to see if I had all the ingredients, I did, and I prepared it. It was . . . okay, but not something I’ll ever fix again. (Trust me – I made a note on the recipe.)

My point is that I used to love that recipe. And although it tasted exactly the same, it didn’t appeal to me any longer. My taste buds have advanced, along with my cooking skills!

After writing a note on the recipe, it occurred to me that maybe I should take a second look at the other recipes I had marked from all those years ago. As I perused through the cuisine of my past, I decided to throw the entire book away – who cooks in a microwave anymore? Then I remembered what I was writing about and thought, “how appropriate.”

Sometimes it takes more than one run-through to get rid of everything. I’ve kept that cookbook for several years now even though I haven’t used it. My husband is finally on board with the de-cluttering philosophy and I’ve been cleaning out our basement. The more I get rid of the more I want to get rid of and I’ve made three passes over just one wall. Some items have been down there for over 26 years and I’m just hoping that they are not the structural support for the house at this point! One thing’s for sure, we’ll find out.

Now it’s your turn to find out how freeing and energetically uplifting de-cluttering your life can be. Use this list as a guide but obviously add your own.

1. Clean off and out your desk, both at home and in the office.
2. Throw away all the useless stuff in the kitchen drawer, and any other “junk” drawers in your home or office.
3. Donate to a school or library all of the books you’ve hung onto and will never read again.
4. Empty your purse and put back only what you really use.
5. Organize your wallet.
6. Rid your bathroom vanity of toiletries you brought home but decided you don’t like. (Anything collecting dust probably needs to be thrown away.)
7. Give or throw away all those ugly ties that you received as gifts but you’ve never liked or worn.
8. Throw away your old underwear, socks, and shoes.
9. Toss the pile of magazines by the bed or next to the sofa, or anywhere they might be piling up.
10. Recycle everything you can around your house. If it can’t be used, get rid of it.
11. Weed out your closet. Take out anything you don’t wear or love and send it to Salvation Army or Goodwill.
12. Grab a trash bag and a vacuum, and clean out your car.
13. Clean out the garage.
14. Clean out your refrigerator.
15. Chase out the dust bunnies in the basement.
16. Empty all your wastebaskets and clean them out.
17. Return all your wire hangers to the dry cleaner.
18. Get rid of all the ugly sheets and towels you’ve had since college.
19. Clean out your cleaning supplies - pitch out the half-used and clumped up Comet, the dried up and filthy sponges, and the gray pieces of soap.
20. Clear up unfinished obligations and commitments.
21. Clear out your inbox and Outlook tasks.
22. Pay any money that you owe.
23. Resolve any arguments from your past if you can, or just let it go.
24. While you are at it, throw away any bad attitudes and the tired old stories of misery and failure as well.

Life is great. It really is. You just have to let it be. Get rid of anything, anything, that tells you or reminds you of times when life was anything but great.

Until next time,
Live joyfully!

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