Clutter Less...for the Love of Harmony!

"Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity." - Plato

From the time I can remember, I've always been unable to concentrate when my physical surroundings were in disarray.  If I had homework to do and my bedroom was a mess, I could not get it done until my room was clean and organized.  For that matter, if my emotions were in disarray, same thing, couldn't get a thing done.  It's just always been that way.

Today, as I cleaned out my daughter's closet, with the clothes literally spilling over, stuffed in here and there, I realized how it just might be effecting her too.  I think of the angst she experiences picking out clothes for the day.  I think of her begging and pleading with me to help her.   Even with my help, she still has a hard time making a decision.  Well, it makes perfect sense.  How could I possibly expect her to experience any amount of harmony in that sea of clutter?  How can any of us expect to experience harmony if we don't clear out the clutter?

Click here for 20 Great Reasons to Get Rid of Clutter

It's not just the physical clutter, but it's the emotional clutter as well.  How hard is it to experience peace when you're feeling angry or resentful.  What about when you've had a fight with a friend or family member?  What if you've surrounded yourself with people you don't respect and who don't respect you?  How can you clear the emotional clutter so that you can be happy?

One of the ways in which I cleared my emotional clutter was to leave my corporate job and begin to study and practice yoga, meditation, nutrition, and holistic health.  I was many steps closer to living the life I wanted - the life that brings me joy and happiness on a daily basis.  I no longer resented my choices.  I got 'good' with making these changes, then miraculously, many other areas of my life fell into place and the sentiment took on a deeper meaning for me.

Click here for another great post on getting rid of emotional clutter.

Today, as I navigate my busy life, I'm often reminded of my need for simplicity, or more simply put, less stuff/less drama.  It has become a practice in and of itself, to continually take stock, organize and purge where I can.  I ALWAYS feel lighter and freer when I do.

When it's hard or when my survival brain kicks in, I experience fear of 'not having enough', I come back to me, come back to my breath and have faith in a universe of wellbeing.  All IS well.  My health, as well as yours, surely depends on our ability to focus and relax the mind, but this becomes very difficult to do amongst the clutter.

My recommendation: a little spring cleaning, if you will.  Take stock, set your intention and give yourself some time to organize (physically and emotionally) and get into a rhythm of keeping it that way!

And for the love of harmony, HAVE FUN doing it!!

Be inspired.  Eat well.  Live well.  Be happy.

Love, Patti (Mom, Health Coach, Yoga Teacher, Granola-maker, Your Friend)

"On the whole, I think women wear too much and are too fussy.  You can't see the person for all the clutter." - Julie Andrews