Take time to get your life in order
When you think of clutter, do you think of things or disorganization in your house? That is certainly a definition of clutter, but clutter is much more than that. Clutter can be unfinished projects hanging over your head or tolerances you put up with in life. Clutter is unhealthy relationships, bad habits, negative thoughts, and destructive emotional states. Basically, clutter is anything that gets in the way of living your best life and being your best self.
Why worry about the mess? Clutter is an instant loss of energy. Whether it’s cluttered closets, a bad attitude, a job you don’t like, or unpaid taxes, they all interfere with a happy and fulfilling life. When you get rid of the clutter, you love yourself enough to grow and do your best. You know the old saying: “Out with the old and in with the new.” Addressing the clutter in your life opens the door for new and exciting things to happen. Every time I say goodbye to something that is no longer aligned with my best life, a new opportunity magically appears.
There are four main areas of our lives where clutter tends to accumulate. Let’s address each of these areas individually.
physical environment
Your physical environment consists of your home, office, and car. Tidying up your environments includes throwing out the trash and organizing what you want to keep. When you enter your space, do you feed on it? Is it clean and decorated in a way that brings you peace and happiness? Tidying up your environment means that everything in it is in good working order. Right now, my vehicle needs several repairs and it affects me. My air conditioning doesn’t work. The driver’s side window won’t open, the power locks make a loud screeching noise, and the fuel injector pump is shutting down. Does my car work and take me? It does, but it’s annoying that these loose ends aren’t fixed. I don’t enjoy driving my car. How are your environments? Do they allow you to live healthy and happily?
Health and Emotional Balance
Your physical and emotional health is about you. Getting physically and emotionally in order means you’re taking steps to eat right, exercise regularly, and take care of your mind and body. You are addressing any health issues and having regular checkups with your doctor. Tidying up forces you to address the stress in your life and do whatever it takes to live a peaceful existence. Maintaining emotional balance includes managing your thoughts and emotional life, doing everything possible to keep a positive mind. It means you’re intellectually stimulating your brain, fostering creativity, and avoiding things that damage your mental state, like working too much or watching too much TV. When you’ve cleared up, you look and feel good.
Money
Getting messy in the area of money forces us to maintain healthy financial habits. What is a healthy money manager? A healthy money manager has addressed all of her emotional issues with money. She is comfortable handling money and uses it wisely. Sorting out requires you to address overspending or live in the dark when it comes to her financial picture. Having healthy financial habits means you’re saving money for both short-term and long-term needs. She has a will that deals with all of her assets, including her children. People in a healthy financial state understand the value of giving and not holding onto money too much. Bills are paid on time and debt is non-existent, with the exception of a mortgage. A healthy money manager is either educated in wise investing or has a trusted and trusted financial advisor. Money is a necessary tool to live life in the way that is important to you.
Relations
The relationships in your life include your family, friends, coworkers, and bosses. Getting clear in the area of relationships means that you are addressing any relationship issues and are generally getting along with the people in your life. You have removed the relationships from your life that regularly drag you down or harm you. Maintaining healthy relationships requires that we stay in touch with people through face-to-face visits, by phone, or by email. To put your relationships in order, you must forgive everyone who has hurt you and completely close the relationships that are no longer in your life. Doing your part to maintain healthy relationships requires that you speak the truth, avoid gossip, and avoid criticizing and judging others. When we’ve messed up our relationships, they provide the love and support we need on this journey through life.
Take an honest look at your life. What areas could use a little cleaning? What must you change to help you live your best life and be your best self? Our pastor shared a thought worth holding on to: “If I want my life to change, I must change.” I will go one step further. “If I want to grow up and live my best life, I have to grow up and be my best self.”