I like to talk about holding on tight vs loosely because it's important not just for ideas and people but for things. So what does it mean to hold on tight? Holding on tight means not being willing to see something as it is. It means holding onto something because we feel we should. Sometimes we hold on tight because we are scared of the possibility that it could go away.
But when we hold onto something loosely, we aren't necessarily sending it away. We are giving it a chance to breathe and be examined. We are giving ourselves the power to choose if we still want to hold on (loosely) or not.
So how does this relate to decluttering?
When we hold onto an object loosely, we give ourselves the chance to examine the object. We can take the time to focus on how we think and feel about it. To question its importance in our lives. To see if it's still right for us or if it's time to let it go.
I did this recently with one of the programs I offer. I had a 90-Day Declutter Program and I loved it. But I also held it lightly to let it breathe and see what happened when people used it. And the feedback for the program was great... BUT... there were some flaws. You see, the 90-Day Declutter Program was set up as an email from me every day for ninety days. Each email walked people through decluttering their whole home. But the concerns were:
I wish I could pause it when I'm on vacation
My kid was sick so I missed a week
I wish I could pick what to do next
90 days is a long time to do this non-stop
So out of the feedback I created two programs:
The 30-Day Declutter Program: participants get an email from me every day for 30 days as an introduction to decluttering for 15 minutes a day. Created for people who haven't decluttered in a while and need a roadmap to get started.
And...
Declutter Your World: a NEW 6-month program that helps participants declutter their home in 15-30 minutes daily. This flexible program allows members to pick what they want to do and when. It can be done in 3-4 months (if done non-stop) but is offered as a 6-month program. If holidays, travel, or illness come up there is time to spare.
Because I was holding onto this idea loosely, I was able to be honest with myself and let the program evolve. In this case, it created two programs.
What about you? Is there something or some idea you are holding onto tightly?
I hope this helps you on your decluttering journey.
If you want to know about either program, feel free to click the "Work with me" tab to find out more. Or feel free to reach out to me on the contact page.
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