The Toxic Box, Part 2

“Wow… I never thought of it like that… I’m so relieved! But I should have cleared my boxes by now,” Ruth insisted.

According to whom?

It’s important to decide how and when to clear your clutter in the context of your current life.

It didn’t matter that Ruth hadn’t gone through her boxes yet because they were not interfering with her living a productive, full life. What matters is that Ruth felt bad by thinking that she should have cleared them by now, and would feel even worse if she failed to do so, and have to bring them into her new home.

I explained this to Ruth, and continued, “I want to take you off the hook. If I were you, I would not go through those boxes now. You have more than enough going on.”

Incredulously, she said, “You’re kidding… Really?” (I could hear her wondering how it was possible that a de-cluttering expert was telling her not to de-clutter.)

“You’re putting too much pressure on yourself. You’re moving in just three weeks. It’s not the right time to go through belongings that make you very, very sad. You need all your energy and wits to prepare and conduct your move. You said you wanted to reduce your stress. This is one good way to do so.

I said, “Ruth, you’re really happy and excited with your new condo. Going through your boxes now would only diminish your joy. Why do that if you don’t need to?”

What Ruth needed to do was put the boxes in their rightful place.

“Remember, you’re choosing to let go, not purging. You’re in charge of when and how.”

To reduce the power of the Toxic Boxes, I suggested that she rename them to “Sad Boxes” or “Other Life,” anything that felt true and right to her, now.

After determining that there was room for the boxes in her new home, I asked Ruth, “Can you imagine respectfully putting them in a safe place where you don’t see them every day?”

“Yes, yes, I can do that…Oh, I feel so much better,” her voice lifting with her mood.

Ruth could go through the boxes when things settled down, possibly in the wintertime when she would be more housebound. I promised her that clearing her boxes will be much easier now. Much of the burden had been lifted because she cleared up her thinking before she cleared out her clutter.

Within an hour, I received an e-mail from Ruth: “Thank you so much, Laura. You have no idea how relieved I am!”

It doesn’t matter why Ruth felt such relief. What matters is that she feels better, and will therefore, be able to face her clutter with greater ease.

Get Relief Now!

Contact Laura for a ½ hour Complimentary Phone Consultation with Laura www.ClutterClarity.com or 978-897-1222.

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