How Letting Go of Stuff Teaches You to Let Go in Life

Look around your home and notice the amount of stuff you have. How much of that do you really need, and how much of it is junk you hold on to because… Well, who knows why, you do.

You probably don’t even know how much stuff you have, and you’d be shocked to see it all.

There’s a sweater you haven’t worn in 5 years, then another sweater that’s so old it looks like a little blanket, then there’s a charger for the iPhone 3GS you had… A century ago? Birthday cards from people you haven’t spoken to in years, random cords, cutlery… Face it, your home is one big mess.

If you’re holding on to clutter, there’s a very big, very concerning chance you’re also holding on to something deeper. It could be the fear of change, or you’re anxious about the future.

Whatever it is, once you see that connection, you realize that letting go of stuff does more than keep your house clean.

The Emotional Power of Physical Clutter

Most of the things we hold onto aren’t useful, but we don’t get rid of them because they mean something to us.

And that meaning doesn’t have to be extraordinarily special. It may be that you have a kitchen gadget you don’t use but refuse to throw away because you’re scared of being unprepared one day. And that’s precisely the thing about clutter – it usually isn’t about the object itself. It’s about nostalgia or the identity you’re scared of letting go.

Regardless of the reason, though, there comes a time when you need to face the truth, which is that you’re filling your home with things you no longer need. And what happens then? That clutter weighs on your mind and messes with your focus, whether you notice it or not.

When you start to clear things out, you’re letting go of your emotions and fears.

You process attachments that no longer fit who you are now and, by the time you’re done, all you’ll really feel is relief.

What You Learn When You Let Go of Stuff

I remember visiting a friend in Fort Worth who was selling her house and needed some help with staging to make it sell as soon as possible.

And I remember telling her, “If you need to sell your house fast in Fort Worth, why not declutter first?” She looked at me, eyes big with shock, as if I had just told her to chop off her own arm.

The very idea of letting go of stuff you had forever can send you into an actual panic, the kind I saw on my friend’s face when I made that oh-so-appalling suggestion.

But in letting go, you can learn valuable lessons. Here are some of them.

Impertinence Is Natural

Nothing is forever; everything has a beginning and an end. Clothes wear out, relationships change, and life phases pass.

Whether you like that or not, it’s the truth, and when you refuse to let clutter go, you resist that truth.

If you release what no longer serves you, you practice accepting impermanence. It’s also a reminder that endings are a natural part of how life goes, and it’s not something you need to fear or try to avoid.

Memories Don’t Live in Objects

We often keep things because we connect them to memories and, if the object is gone, the memory might disappear with it.

But memories have nothing to do with objects. It’s nice to have souvenirs, but the memory you love so much lives within you. And letting go of the object will show that the story stays with you no matter what, with or without the physical stuff.

You’re Stronger Than Your Fear of Loss

Most of the time, clutter comes from fear that you’ll regret tossing something or that you might need it later. But each time you let go, you prove that you can handle the loss and still be okay.

That’ll build resilience for when you encounter actual, serious problems.

Freedom Feels Better Than Holding On

The moment you clear something out, you feel lighter, and that freedom is more valuable than the false comfort of keeping everything ‘just in case’.

The moment you feel that relief, you’ll be able to carry it into your work and routines.

Conclusion

Some things are invaluable, and you should hold on to them.

I’m not suggesting you adopt a minimalistic lifestyle if you’re not that kind of person. But at least half of the things you own are clutter that has no real value and absolutely no use. It’s perfectly normal to want to hold on to old photographs or the first blanket you wrapped around your child.

But do you need that old vase that you bought on your trip 15 years ago and never used once? Or that pair of hot pants that were as inappropriate when you were 16 as they are now?

Declutter and thank me later.

Because, believe me, you’ll want to thank me.