Letting go of what we value:

Top 10 Tips to change your relationship with the things that you own

     People have many reasons for holding on to their stuff. Among the most popular are the original cost, sentiment, or someone we know may need it someday.  

     As soon as something enters our space, we tend to assign a particular value to it. Expensive items will forever be seen for their original price tags because we believe that the retail cost equals the value of the item (e.g., we did not overpay!), even though we know that most stuff loses value as soon as it leaves the store. Still, we remain dogged in our opinion that our stuff holds its original value.

     A gift from a favorite aunt or dear friend holds a sentimental reason for keeping it forever. We even keep gifts from people we don't like (a co-worker or relative) or gifts that we don't care for at all. Why? To avoid hurt feelings! But whose? Certainly not our own! But we hold on to things we don't like and end up with little room to store what we truly do love; we give away our precious space to something we don't need.

     Finally, we keep stuff because we want to be a good resource and believe that someone else might benefit from our saving. We stock up and save everything: paper bags, rubber bands, canned goods and batteries in the event that we, or someone we know, may need it someday.

     This month's newsletter is to help you think differently about your stuff and the value that we place on our things. By assigning a "lesser" value to our things, we may be able to let go of some of our clutter with greater ease.

Presenting the Top 10 Tips to help you re-think your relationship to your stuff.

Top 10 Tips to help change the way we think about our stuff  

1. Work on clearing psychic debris - the stuff floating around our head that has us convinced we cannot let something go even though it no longer serves our needs. Make a new rule: If it doesn't help us meet our needs, goals, or our aesthetic sense, let it go.  

2. Less is more. If you have more than you need of regular, daily-use items, consider keeping 5 and donating the rest.  

3. Our stuff is made to be used. If we aren't using it, let it find it's use elsewhere.

4. Keep what you love but be sure it loves you back!

5. Don't clutter others. Consider changing the way you give gifts. Instead of making a purchase (or cluttering your space with gift items through the year), donate to the recipient's favorite charity. If you think the recipient has plenty of stuff, a gift card to a restaurant or coffee place means they have to consume the purchase thereby eliminating clutter in their space.

6. Be honest in your gift receiving. If someone in your life consistently gives inappropriate gifts, gently tell the person that you simply don't need a thing for the holidays, but if they insist, you would be honored if they donated to your favorite charity, then provide them with an address.

7. Re-gift what you can't use or don't like. You may not want to re-gift back to the original giver so attach that person's name to a little note to remember where you got it before you re-wrap it.

8. Make a decision about keeping gifts you have no use for. Be strong. It's your space. Don't hold on to something because you think the giver will hate you for giving it away. If you feel you have to justify or explain your actions, do so with love.

9. Storage facilities: Do not let the lure of low prices on storage places keep you from making decisions about the stuff that no longer serves your needs, goals, or desire for cleared space.

10. Family "treasures" handed down to your care is a tough issue and requires deep reflection.  

• The designated keeper of family heirlooms is probably drowning in clutter. Into the mix of the regular household stuff are grandma's formal dinnerware, dad's tie collection, and mom's sewing machines. Dealing with this is emotionally exhausting but necessary to one's overall well-being.
• Some strategies include: Encourage family conversations about letting go. Donate or sell, re-use or recycle. Place a higher value on your well-being. Re-value your relationship to the items.

BONUS: Learn the "Let it Go" Song! (Try it! Sing along to the tune of "Let It Snow")

Oh the clutter inside is frightful.

And my dear, it's not delightful.

So let's give it the old heave' ho.

Let it go, let it go, let it go.