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toys. Together, we reframed the items as gifts that could brighten another child’ s day. She was able to release them with a sense of joy rather than remorse.
Anxiety: Anxiety often shows up as a flood of“ what ifs.” For example,“ What if I need this later?,” or“ What if I regret letting it go?” Our possessions offer a sense of safety and control so releasing them can feel risky. Anxiety can also reflect a deeper fear of scarcity, a concern that letting go may leave us unprepared.
Strategies to manage anxiety: Focus on abundance rather than scarcity. One effective method is the“ maybe” box. Place uncertain items inside a sealed container, label it with an expiration date, and set a calendar reminder. If the box remains untouched by that date, release it with confidence. Another approach is to look for evidence in your life that you have what you need when you need it. Recognize that emptiness is not a void. Instead, it is a space inviting new opportunities. Even the simple act of clearing a single shelf can create momentum and a reassuring sense of control.
Sadness: Decluttering sometimes stirs grief. A wedding dress, a baby blanket, or an old coffee mug can hold strong emotional ties, representing people, places, or chapters of life. Letting go can feel like saying goodbye to those experiences. It is normal to feel sadness during decluttering, and resisting it can prolong the process.
Ways to honor sadness: Allow yourself to feel these emotions fully. Capture memories through photographs, journaling, or storytelling before releasing items. You can curate a small, meaningful collection rather than keeping everything, creating tangible touchstones for memory without holding onto every object.
One woman I worked with kept three of her grandmother’ s kitchen tools instead of the whole collection, arranging them on a small shelf as a living tribute. This small act honored her feelings while freeing physical space.
Loss of Identity: Some items represent who we once were. These may be in the form of business suits from a former career, craft supplies from a hobby you no longer pursue, or sports gear from a time when your body moved differently. Letting go of these possessions can feel like erasing a part of yourself. Our belongings often serve as evidence of the roles we have played and the people we once were.
WISDOM & SELF-GROWTH
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