Winter Clearing and Preparation!

The energy of Spring is vibrant, energetic and powerful, even as it is contradictory in nature, and the high energy of Summer is productive even as it allows for balance between ‘Doing and Being’ - work and play, indoor projects and time in the garden, fun in the Sun and holidays. Personal time and time spent with family and friends, meetings, lunches and celebrations!

Which means the time of Winter after the Winter Solstice, is for prioritising, clearing and preparation for the approaching Spring and Summer.

If you consider it logically, who wants to spend a warm Summer Saturday, doing paperwork, filing, sorting clutter, standing in line to complete tasks.... when you can be outdoors in the garden, at the park or at the beach? Or even relaxing by the pool or off enjoying a weekend in Nature!

So this time of Winter is best used to clear those things that no longer serve you, shelve or complete projects, complete indoor chores, prioritise those things that are important, and get rid of clutter, clearing space in your life and time in your schedule to allow for the enjoyment of life in the approaching Summer months!

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Clutter?
“Detracts and Distracts”

Do you have Clutter? Clutter in your home, Clutter in your garage and your garden?
Clutter in your office and work space?

Clutter consumes more time, energy and space than anything else in your environment, and usually, can fairly symbolise the Clutter in your mind and the emotional baggage you carry.

And some people, hardly consider Spring Cleaning anymore, because the Clutter that crowds their space is just too overwhelming. Clutter and unused items also hold more energy, that becomes stagnant and depresses the energy in the immediate environment.

Clutter bogs us down and affects every area of our life, diminishing our efforts in productivity and our ability to attract prosperity and abundance.... consuming our time and diminishing our relationships and enjoyment of life.

Clutter, whether physical, emotional, mental or spiritual ‘Detracts and Distracts’ us from enjoying life, and stops us having the life we are born to live..... a life that is full of joy, health, happiness, abundance.... a life of infinite possibilities!

The challenge to dealing with the Clutter in your life, is that only You can sort it out and deal with it.... you can ignore it so long, and it will effect every area of your life. If you delegate the removal of Clutter to someone else, it’s fairly certain, that this time next year, you will be back in a quagmire of Clutter, having failed to learn the lesson yourself. You can hide Clutter for so long.... and then sooner or later... Well, you will just find yourself in a much bigger heap!

The second challenge to dealing with Clutter is just to start!

Understanding Why, we have Clutter in our life makes the process simpler to deal with, and will enable us to deal with it in a more realistic way. We are constantly evolving, growing and changing.... our lives expand, grow and change even as we do. Things that we used to need and use, sometimes no longer have purpose when we change and grow.... too often we hold on to these things, which can keep us stuck in old defeatist patterns, rather than freeing us to embrace the new experiences that life presents!

If we have worked hard to achieve, buy, accomplish or gain something.... in the past, the challenge to letting it go is difficult to comprehend, as sometimes we perceive that the loss will leave a void.... and what will fill that void? 

However, you have to make space by clearing the Clutter, to attract and bring in the new!

In my experience there are Eight types of Clutter, and probably even a few more! *Grin*

1. Every Day Clutter
   Those things you use once or twice and then fail to discard immediately, newspapers, magazines, left over food. These things are unused, really unwanted and are unnecessary, messy, extra stuff that takes up space and that just collects dust.
   
   Effect - Environment Energy Constipation
    
2. Physical Clutter
   Unused, unloved, unneeded items that take up space. Broken stuff, things that need to be fixed or repaired, clothes that are too small or too large and that you no longer wear, unfinished projects, depressing artwork. Letters and bills unopened, paperwork not filed.
   
   Effect - Detracts and Distracts
    
3. Body Clutter
   Feeling stuck, off track, heavy, eating to much junk food.
   Over weight or dissatisfaction with your Body and skipping meals [ Read More ]
   Unable to concentrate, overindulgence in food, alcohol, sugar and caffeinated drinks.
   
   Effect - low energy, lack of enthusiasm, tired and listless, feeling sluggish.
    
4. Mind Clutter
   Negative thoughts and self-criticism, unconscious negative inundation.
   ‘To Do List’ that’s ignored, with tasks continuously left undone. Worry, stress, stuff that is always forgotten. Too much TV, and watching videos and DVDs. Full email inbox, and articles printed to be read. Information inundation. Books waiting to be read.
   
   Effect - confusion, chaotic thoughts, lack of sleep and rest, indecisive and
   stops the flow of your creativity.
    
5. Busy-ness or Schedule Clutter
   Saying Yes, to more projects when you really don’t want to, and already have such a busy schedule your head spins just thinking about it. To many ‘Guilt or Duty’ involvement’s, saying Yes when you really want to say and mean No! School Board, PTA, Tuck shop, etc. Continuous Study Courses, Seminars, Workshops etc. without ever applying or using what your learn.
   
   Result - Detachment and Disassociation from living, just existing.
    
6. Relationship Clutter
   Unresolved emotional issues with family, friends, colleagues and clients. Energy drain through worry and stress. Unable to say what you want, lack of forgiveness and unable to let go. Incomplete relationship where things are left ‘hanging’.
   
   Effect - You remain attached to that person allowing them to drain your personal power and ability to form new relationships.
    
7. Past Clutter
   Books and items from a past career or interest that you no longer use, need or read.
   Paperwork and files that are no longer needed or necessary. Old collections in storage.
   Items that you are keeping ‘just in case’ you might need it in the future, yet haven’t used it in a year or more. Ongoing Debt.
   
   Effect - Keeps you focused on the past, distracted and stops you being fully committed to the present and moving forward. Imprisoned
    
8. Heart Clutter - Symbolic Clutter
   Reminders of a bad experiences. Wedding dress, wedding ring or items from a previous marriage or relationship that has ended.
   
   Effect - Detraction and Distraction, depressing your emotional energy.

Some Clutter is more easily sorted, cleared, thrown out and discarded than other types of Clutter. Essentially, it’s mush easier to sort through a pile of neglected magazines lying under a coffee table or on a bookcase, and donate them to a recycling project then to sort through a wardrobe of clothes, some of which fit and some items just no longer suit you.... then it’s much easier to sort through the contents of the kitchen cupboard than to resolve relational issues or let go of ‘Past or Heart Clutter’.

However, I have discovered that often as I go through the contents of my wardrobe, discarding items that I no longer wear, more often than not, I gain valuable insight to some of the deeper emotional issues that are causing me ‘Body Clutter’. So even as I go through the contents of our home, no matter what it is, I find clearing space and discarding physical items, often allows me to let go on a mental and emotional level.

The challenge is to start, and during Winter after the Winter Solstice is the best time...

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Clearing Clutter and Embracing Change!

The word Clutter by dictionary definition means, crowded and untidy collection of things, an untidy sate, fill with clutter, and comes from the Middle English word ‘clotter’ - which means to coagulate. Coagulate is a meaningful word all on it’s own - change from a fluid to a solid or semisolid state, clot or curdle.

In essence, it means we take the free space of our environment, home and work, and fill it with things, if we continue to keep and hold onto those things, even when we no longer use, want or need those things.... we ‘Clutter’ our space. Restricting our expression, enjoyment and pleasure in our environment. Imprisoning ourselves, limiting our creativity and stunting our growth and possibilities. This limitation in perspective, negative thoughts, depressive state and destructive pattern, coagulates within and easily manifests as added weight and the increased size of our Body!

Logically, and ideally, everything in our environment has the potential to depress our energy and also raises our energy. The artwork on our walls and even the curtains that hang at the windows have the potential to either depress us.... or uplift and inspire us.

Energy is free and moving, expressive and expansive.... embracing of change!

As we clear and discard those items of clutter from our home and work environment, we make space and clear our own energy internally and externally for new possibilities and potential, sparking our creativity and clear thinking. Creating clear space may create an internal and external vacuum.... although allows for the attraction of good fortune and freedom.

No one really makes a conscious decision to fill their life with clutter, I know I never do. *Grin* - it’s something that just catches up with you, and although seems to happen over night, is really an accumulation.... over weeks, months or years. Depending on how much clutter you have accumulated, and how much clutter you have or want to clear from your environment, will depend on how long it takes, so you will need a plan.... a workable plan!

Every year, starting in August, I would go through our home and office environment clearing the clutter.... however, in the previous two years (2004 & 2005), due to work commitments and the projects I was busy with, I have neglected to remove the clutter from my home and work environments.... and only in retrospect have I begun to appreciate the difference it has made to all areas of my life. Needless to say, the preparation I always did for the forthcoming Spring and cleaning, was also neglected, and this accumulation is proving a challenging prospect. I did however start the process slowly, at the beginning of Winter (and even in Autumn ;o) and have discovered some ‘hidden’ benefits. *Grin*
(I will share more in the following updates ;o).

Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. First, prepare yourself by reviewing you home environment (those things that can be accomplished indoors), and assess the amount and type of physical clutter you have.
2. Second, make a plan and decide when you are going to start. Begin with one cupboard of one room, and consider which room or where in your home will prove the most beneficial and have the greatest impact. (Even starting with the bathroom medicine cabinet, can prove rewarding when you discard medication and items that are long passed their used by date ;o).
3. Third, commit a certain amount of time daily and weekly - even just 20 minutes per day to clear one cupboard will make a difference and will eventually add up to plenty. Keep the bigger projects to the 2 -3 hour or half day slots.
4. Fourth, make it as enjoyable as possible. If you are going to bemoan the process you will probably stop before you even get started, so make a date, play your favourite upbeat music and just go for it.
5. Fifth, start. Start with a pile of magazines, one cupboard or one drawer and just do it.
6. Sixth, when you get stuck, neither knowing whether to keep or discard an item, ask yourself, ‘Do I love it? Do I use it? Do I really need it? Does it inspire me? Does it serve me?’ if you answer No to any of these question, well then just let it go!
7. Seventh, start with your own space first. If the space you are clearing of clutter is shared with someone else, or belongs to someone else, ensure you get their permission first, even if it’s in their best interest, and ask for their help through the process. This will avoid unhealthy conflict that can negate the benefits you are trying to achieve.

Use the list of eight types of clutter as a guide to help you identify which areas of your life need clearing the most. Start with the physical clutter, and use the list of ideas above to develop your plan, then just move into action.

I will writing updates as I go through my clearing and preparation process through the month of August, and if you decide to do some clearing of clutter as well, please share your feedback.

Love and Laughter
Mands

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Reference: “Seven Types of Clutter - Life Design Strategies
Website: [ www.LifeDesignStrategies.com ]