The word “clutter” comes from an English word that means “to coagulate”. Clutter represents the stagnation of energy, a slowing of movement and a struggle for making progress. As already mentioned, we are more comfortable when the environment is orderly. And, the flow of energy needs space and organization in order to more freely.
Clutter is a distraction, it affects our ability to concentrate, which means less productivity, frustration and less ability to enjoy life and business (not good for an entrepreneur!). There are five types of clutter; as you read this list, consider what is in your space right now because it could be sabotaging your progress!
1. Everyday clutter: anything that is unused, not loved, not needed, broken, messy, extra “stuff”, a dust collector. The effect of it is your emotional stagnation, because it is stuck energy.
2. Physical Body clutter: anything that causes you to feel heavy, slow or bloated. The effect is that you don’t have the “juice” to do what you need to do physically.
3. Symbolic clutter: anything that is a link to a negative memory, former relationship, promotes depression or a sinking feeling, something left undone. The effect of it is your energy goes “down”; you might experience “beat ‘em up” at yourself or wistful yearnings to something unhealthy or other emotions that don’t pull you forward.
4. “Past” clutter: anything that is a “leftover” from a career, relationship or old way of being. The effect is that you aren’t able to move forward cleanly, that you feel unresolved in some way with the break, or there’s something left unsaid or undone to complete a situation, or that you don’t trust the new way of being.
5. Mental clutter: anything that fills your brain to excess – to do lists, information, TV, busywork. The effect is that you are not as effective as you could be, with no space for creativity and in a state of constant over-stimulation.
6. Emotional clutter: unexpressed or unprocessed emotions can get stuck and often associated with physical items in your space. Find a way to honor those emotions or they will find a way to release and, sometimes, it’s when you least expect it (and that can get really messy).
7. E-clutter: your e-files on your computer, email inbox, social media messages, digital to-do lists… anything on a screen that is not organized or handled is e-clutter. It takes up your mind space and keeps you over-stimulated and possibly overwhelmed.
Where there is order and an open space that reflects who you are now, there can be positive energy flow. And that is a generative force to create more of the results you want in your life and business.
About de-cluttering
A word about the de-cluttering process… many people find it’s not that they want to hang on to stuff they don’t want, appreciate or use anymore – it’s that they don’t know how to process the emotional attachment to the item to let go of it. Whatever the clutter item is can often be of sentimental value or some other perceived personal value to that person. It’s easy to get rid of stuff that has no meaning… but, if you remember the day you got it, or it is family memorabilia, or you think your kids might want it someday, it’s tough to make a decision to let it go.
So, explore those feelings, enjoy the memories, honor what the item brings up for you, and then decide again. If it’s not an immediate answer, set it aside until you’re ready to make the decision.
Remember that if you can’t say yes, it’s a no. And, by the by, any time you say yes to one thing you are saying no to something else. If you decide you want to keep something, you are taking space for something new that could be coming in to you and, without having a place for it, you could be sending out the vibration that you are not ready to receive it.
