When Less Gives You More: FREEDOM

Being given some extra freedom and viewing it as a beneficial thing may be one of the few universal agreements we have. When we reduce the amount of 'stuff' we bring into our home -often turning into clutter over time- the number of freedoms we give ourself tend to occur naturally; and it's an addicting realization.

No matter your income, when you buy fewer material items you end up with more freedom to spend your money on things you actually want. (Hint: it's almost always associated with curiosity + experience, and rarely connected solely to an object.) Even if money is not an issue, when a home becomes disorganized, often the items we do use get lost in the shuffle of daily living, causing us to purchase more of what we already own to save us the effort of a clutter-filled scavenger hunt.

Following closely behind the freedom of spending money elsewhere is the freedom of time to do the activities you actually want to do. This is directly conneted to the 'more time' concept in my list of organizing benefits. Fewer items in the house means fewer things to clean up, maintain or worry about. Increased time and intentional spending allow you partake in your favorite hobbies, social outings with family and friends, new experiences or travels, or anything else that interests you. Not to mention the increased mental capacity for it all because you're no longer thinking about that pile of [dishes/clothes/toys/etc.] you've been meaning to get to.

the gift of feeling free

Mountainous piles stacked around the house, under the bed, on every table, counter or flat surface available; all seeming to continually grow and eventually spill over into much-needed living space. Floors so minimally visible you can't remember if it's carpet or hardwood down there. Closets bursting beyond the hinges of unused gifts that you can't let go of, but never intend on using...

Okay fine - maybe that's a bit dramatic. Or maybe it's not. Either way, no matter the actual level of clutter, whenever items don't have a permanent home and are left out unused, our visual of the space becomes skewed and feels like the home just described. And perception very easily becomes our reality.

Decluttering and organizing gives us permission to rid ourselves of one of the heaviest weights we can bear : guilt. Letting go of certain items can release us from guilt associated with them. We hold on to objects out of emotion rather than use for many reasons such as gifts from a loved one, a fond memory, or items from someone who has passed away. Sometimes we consciously feel its weight the moment we acquire it; other times we don't realize what we were carrying until we've finally felt the weight lifted off. No matter the reason, one concept I truly believe in is that every item brought into your home should affect you + your family positively. If there is negativity, shame or guilt attached, but you can't bring yourself to let it go, it's time to find some extra help so you can feel free in your own home once again.

Once you feel free from unwanted items, the fun continues in discovering the items you DO want. The amount of 'stuff' is going to vary by each person based on financial stability, space, family members and lifestyles; and while we can minimize and practice intention, our hobbies, outfits and favorite activities are typically attached with some sort of physical item. The best part is choosing pieces that get you excited. When you find the freedom from less in quantity, you can quickly learn the joys of higher quality. Items you know you'll keep and use, each with a home that you can tuck away or proudly display. When you truly believe in the value of each piece you own, that feeling of freedom eventually creates an increased sense of joy; and that opens up a whole other conversation. (Which can be found in my next post.) 😉

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