Is Your Clutter Clinical?

Next week, I’m launching a fun little clutter clearing adventure called Sick of Being Stuck September! and last week I invited Care2 members to come play along, to lighten their load and freshen life up a bit! Interested parties needed only to send me an email that said, “I’M IN!,” and, I’m not too proud to admit that I was surprised by the response. It took me four days to process and respond to all of those emails, and they are still coming in today. For the record, it’s already easily 10 times the response I’ve gotten from every previously extended professional invitation. This issue seems to be a serious one.

The emails are full of excitement and inspired commitments… mixed with heartbreak, and a few are straight-up shocking.

The smallest space is 400-square-feet and the largest has 5-bedrooms and a pool house. Their spaces are everything from meticulously clean and organized mounds of clutter to what we might call mainstream or normative clutter. A few are just this side of the qualifying for one of those shows about hoarding and may need more help than I can offer. This is a reality that any decent professional is prepared for in a situation like this. It would be cruel and unusual punishment to reel someone in with serene stock photos and dramatic promises when we might be talking about a situation more serious than a month of emails, 2-minute video tips, expert interviews, and group coaching calls can help.

Nobody is going to be told that *this program* is all they will ever need to change their lives forever. Nobody needs to feel like a failure… again. And a couple of these emails reminded me that we must be gentle (not to be confused with easy on, don’t get excited) with ourselves while making these changes.

Clutter (like our bodies and our money) represents our inner most state of being. Lots of old emotions are tied up in those things. We want them gone but we don’t, or at least we don’t know how. Sometimes, we feel too embarrassed to speak of the reality of our situation. Clutter (or extra weight or financial challenges) seem to attract more of the same. Add in the shame, and soon we’re alone (or at least we feel alone), suffering, and unwilling to ask for the support we need to make a change.

Next: Is my clutter clinical?

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Brittany S.

7:55PM PDT on Aug 31, 2011

What superb timing! I was just writing yesterday about how much I need to de-clutter and organize, and then today I stumbled onto this article. Honestly, I like a little bit of clutter and find it sort of inspiring, but I also like to be able to walk to my bed. My clutter has crossed a line. I have stacks of books everywhere and the remnants of my college dormitory still have to be sorted through even though I graduated months ago. I would like to move to another state, but I can't possibly bring all of this rubbish with me. Relocating is my motivation for clearing out the excess stuff.

August 31
send a green star

Nicole G.

3:32PM PDT on Aug 31, 2011

Realizing that donations of clothes, books, shoes, etc... could be a tax write off helped motivate us to clear out some of our crap!

Edo R.

1:06PM PDT on Aug 31, 2011

Great article! Thanks for this!

Bill K.

3:55PM PDT on Aug 29, 2011

i would hate to live in some of the cluttered homes i see many people living in.

i saw a doctor on tv once say he can tell a person's health before examining them by looking at their wallet or purse. someone who keeps either cluttered generally tends to have the same attitude towards how well they take care of their bodies. i also find people with the most cluttered homes are also unhealthy.

August 29
send a green star

Judith C.

2:37PM PDT on Aug 29, 2011

I usually go through my stuff/clutter once every so often and get rid of stuff I don't need.If people are getting rid of things it would be great to freecycle or donate to charity,up to you but would help others out.

2:36PM PDT on Aug 29, 2011

Michele W.

9:27AM PDT on Aug 28, 2011

Thank you

August 28
send a green star

Abbe A.

1:50PM PDT on Aug 27, 2011

Breathing room is liberating.

August 27
send a green star

Patricia H.

10:25AM PDT on Aug 27, 2011

This is an interesting but slightly different take on clutter. I have a friend who "knows" she is a hoarder. Her motivation to get things cleared out..she is having work done on her house that will require workers inside the house. Its working like a charm.

Edgar Z.

8:43AM PDT on Aug 27, 2011

Interesting article.