Confronting the Clutter

​“Tidying is the act of confronting yourself.           
                                -Marie Kondo
I love this quote from the Japanese organizing consultant (she has a hit show on Netflix, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo).  I have been decluttering and organizing this past month.  I noticed, painful though it was, the end result has made a world of difference in my energy and quality of life.  Honestly, I had a modest amount clutter or chaos in my office space and home, (it was not reality-show worthy, not quite at least!), but this small increase in order has left me feeling an undeniable increase in the flow of clarity and chi through my psyche and space. 
I am reflecting this month how exposed we all have been to a huge amount media information lately, as well as social media activity, some of which is very important or empowering, some of which is rather anxiety-producing to the mind and body.  Is this a form of clutter?  I argue: yes, it is.  (Or it can be!)

For many, the past few months of quarantine has forced a sort of slow down, “the great pause”, as many media groups have referred to it, and pushed some to face difficult physical or mental clutter that otherwise would have become lost in the chaos of this work-a-day world.  This has certainly been the case for me, (at least to some extent).  When forced to look at my own clutter, I have begun to ask myself:

What is cluttering my life?
What is the right amount of media exposure to being informed? 
What commitments, thought patterns, or physical items are keeping me from putting my energy to better use? 

I invite you to ask yourself these questions.  (Of course, sometimes an investment in a particular commitment is not necessarily pleasant, but worth it, based on an important value or reason).  Sometimes, unfortunately, confronting physical or nonphysical clutter involves confronting hard issues, such as our fear of hurting someone’s feelings, disapproval, rejection, facing our own limits, the uncomfortable prospect of making a change, letting go, or just being uncomfortable for a temporary period of time.  Clearing and decluttering our mind, (media exposure!),  space, and schedule has the potential for opening oneself up increased life energy, clarity, prosperity (according to the practice of feng shui, as I understand it), love, creativity, and balance.  Is it worth it?

It might be time for a change!
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As we come back out into the world from this quarantine, I pray you are protected and blessed, and that you take the lessons learned from these past four months and use them powerfully for the next chapter of your life. 
Namaste,
Anne