Spring is here and with it comes the motivation to spring clean. It can be an overwhelming task. We simply have too much stuff! It’s not just material stuff either. Our houses are overcrowded, and our minds are overwhelmed. The solution for this dilemma is to declutter and simplify our lives. Studies have proven that mess causes stress. We likely all know too well the exhaustion and overwhelm that comes with living a crowded life. We may even want to simplify our lives but don’t know where to start. It is simple but it is not easy. It requires hard work.
To embrace this kind of living we must begin digging out. First, of all, we start by digging into the storage spaces of our homes to remove those things that are not serving us well. The rule of thumb could be, “If I don’t use it lose it.” Secondly, we must dig into our minds. Emotional attachment to things might be something we have to investigate a little further at this point. Why do we feel the need to hold on to things? What power do they have over us? That’s where the hardest digging takes place. But dig we must if we are to find our way out of the mess.
Are you ready to start digging? This spring brings with it another opportunity for a fresh start. Let’s take advantage of that! Moving towards a more simplified way of living will be satisfying because simplicity leads to a less complicated and chaotic life. But don’t mistake that for an easy life. Life will still be difficult, but we can make it much more manageable and efficient if we embrace simplified living. This lifestyle will allow you the freedom to live more fully in your purpose. When we declutter our lives we live with more clarity, calm, and contentment. It’s the place where less becomes more and where we learn the significance of the words of Jesus when He said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in a steal but store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.”
If this topic is of special interest to you and you are ready to dig deeper here are a few of my favorite books on the topic:
1. Simplify: 7 Guiding Principles to Help anyone Declutter Their Home and Life (Joshua Becker)
2. The Minimalist Home (Joshua Becker)
3. The More of Less (Joshua Becker)
4. Living Well Spending Less: 12 secrets of the Good Life (Ruth Soukup)
5. When Less Becomes More (Emily Ley)
6. A Simplified Life (Emily Ley)
7. The Truth About Clutter (Erica Lane)