Have you ever looked at the pile of papers on your desk and thought, "I just can't take it anymore?"
Or thought about your constant clutter and wondered, "What's wrong with me?" Or, "How can I take care of my clients when I can't even take care of my house?"
You're not alone.
Throughout my first (disastrous!) marriage, my ex-husband kept a permanent "Mess Room." He didn't even pretend it was a spare bedroom or an office or anything normal sounding.
Nope, it was a straight-up Mess Room, holding everything from spare furniture and extra toilet paper to old tax files and college textbooks from years prior.
Don't get me wrong: I was equally responsible for the mess. But it drove me crazy every time I went in there.
And while my situation was a bit extreme, most people have at least one area of their home that's a permanent mess, What is it for you? Your desk? A closet? Under your sink?
Physical clutter leads to emotional clutter, which tanks your confidence. At the same time, while clutter can cause low self-esteem, it can also be a symptom of it.
You may fear letting go of items because you don’t trust your judgment. (“What if I really do need it someday?”)
You may fear other people’s judgment. (“What if my mom finds out that I got rid of Grandma’s china?”)
Or you may simply be paralyzed into inaction by difficult decisions. (“I don’t know the best thing to do with it.”)
And if the clutter is in your office or work-space, it can tank your productivity and cause you to doubt your abilities, your professionalism, and even your competence.
I'm all about the power of mindset. AND, sometimes you also have to ACT (as in, perform action, not pretend) your way to greater confidence. Clutter is one of those areas.
The more you declutter, the more you realize the following truths:
- You can trust your judgment.
- Most mistakes are not the end of the world.
- You are not your possessions.
- Your past does not define you.
- You don’t need stuff to validate you.
Do you want to conquer the clutter bug once and for all?
Click here to learn simple, powerful tips to declutter your physical surroundings and build your confidence.
And may you never, ever have a permanent mess room, office, or drawer again.
