This article deals with one of the most powerful miracle-making actions you can take: decluttering your living space. What does decluttering have to do with getting your finances in order and manifesting health, harmony and abundance?
Everything!
There is nothing benign or innocuous about clutter. Even if it’s all hidden away in closets, cupboards and drawers, basements, attics and garages, it is steadily taking its toll on your effectiveness, peace of mind and yes, prosperity consciousness.
Think about it for a moment: WHY do you still have most of that stuff? If you trace the reasons back to their source, there is quite often an anti-prosperity sentiment at the root. And since clutter breeds more clutter, many people experience feelings of helplessness when they attempt to address the problem. Does this sound like you?
* You haven’t felt you could spare the time (or energy) to deal with it
* Your life feels so chaotic and out of control that you don’t know how or where to start
These feelings indicate that your clutter has become an affirmation of helplessness and failure. 24 hours per day, your clutter is sapping your will to succeed and broadcasting negative messages to your subconscious mind. Take action to turn this situation around NOW!
Here are some typical reasons why that unused item is still sitting around in your space:
You’re keeping it as a spare in case the main item breaks
It cost a lot of money, and now you feel obligated to keep it
You may need it someday because…
It’s a memento from some incident or relationship in the past
You mean to get around to fixing/finishing/reading it someday
Even though you don’t want it, it is “too nice to throw away.”
* Perhaps more commonly, you’ve never felt up to making a firm decision about the item and taking the necessary actions to dispose of of it properly.
Let’s take a quick look at those reasons. They fall roughly into two categories: Sentimentality and scarcity. There’s a lot to be said for reducing sentimental clutter, but for now let’s focus on the scarcity category.
If you are keeping something you don’t use or don’t like because you think you may need it some (undefined) day, or because you don’t think you could get another or better one, or because you don’t think you could afford to replace it, that is scarcity thinking. Worse yet, if you are keeping some things you don’t WANT to use again but fear you might need (crutches, “fat” clothes from before you lost excess weight, etc.) then that is worse than scarcity thinking, it is planning for failure.
So, my suggestion is to first do a “recon” mission around your home or apartment. Here are some things to look for:
What is the general state of cleanliness or lack thereof? Does the place smell fresh or are unwashed dishes, laundry or other items making their presence felt? How clean are the walls and floors? How clean are the tables and countertops, if you can find them? What about the refrigerator?
Now look for obvious clutter: things lying around that clearly are not in their place. This can include papers, clothing, children’s toys and anything else that — if you were expecting important company — would be put somewhere else with all due haste.
One way to unmask the mess is to pretend that an important guest is coming. What things suddenly stand out?
Now let’s go deep: open up those cupboards and closets, peek into the garage, attic and/or basement. If what you saw made you want to quickly slam the door again, there is work to be done.
Now, why are we making such a big deal out of this? Why is it so important? After all, you want money right? In fact, if you had all the money you needed and wanted you’d probably take a few days off and clean up your home (or pay someone else to help you), and the clutter would be gone. Bingo.
Leaving your home in a state of uncleanliness, disarray, or just plain clutter (even if this clutter is neatly “stored” in a thousand separate containers) is a powerful affirmation that your life is out of control and that you CAN’T AFFORD the time and or money it would take to fix it up properly. Your life is just too much of a mess, you are too much of a mess, you just can’t deal with it now because… you get the idea.
And THAT kind of thinking is why we are going to put decluttering near the top of our Prosperity Project checklist.
You need to treat your place of residence like a million dollars. Whether it’s a tiny run-down studio in a dodgy part of town or a luxury home in an upscale neighborhood, your home is a metaphor for your life. It will tend to reflect and also influence your state of consciousness, and it is important that it play the role you want it to in helping to shape your future prosperity and well-being.
So, let’s get to work on the home environment!
For some of you this may take several full days to accomplish, and if you are employed that may mean squeezing in a couple of hours each day after work and a few extra hours on weekends before it is done. No matter, the important thing is that you start taking action and persist until it is done. Take some action, large or small, each and every day and do not stop until your abode is absolutely as clean, orderly and beautiful as you can possibly make it.
Other than perhaps the price of cleaning supplies, this need not cost you a dime. Don’t use this as an excuse to go on a shopping binge for furniture or decorations, please. First get the place absolutely spotless and orderly, then give your budget an honest look to see what, if anything, you can afford to spruce the place up a bit. Then if you find some small item, say a new floral arrangement for the mantlepiece or dining table, feel free to purchase it as an affirmation of prosperity.
Note: clutter is closely associated with procrastination. If while reading this you found yourself saying that “someday” or “pretty soon” you will take action on this, think again. Do you want to be healthy, happy and prosperous “someday” or NOW?
Also: if it is taking time for you to implement (or complete) this assignment, keep on reading and doing the exercises that follow. Above all, do NOT make this a sticking point that stalls you from continuing the series. Keep on reading, thinking and doing to the best of your ability — and keep on pecking away at that clutter.
Here are some great online resources to help you get started and keep going:
