What is Worthy of Occupying the Space Around You?

Remember a couple weeks ago when I wrote about my vision re-vision — how the tiny house is no longer working for Melissa and me? Well, just a few days after sending you that note, we went under contract for a sticks-and-bricks house!

As Ferris Bueller said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

We move in just a couple of months and we are swimming in logistics.

Unless you’re in the small minority of those who have lived in the same place your entire life, you know how much moving sucks.

The sorting.
The packing.
The decision making.
The packing.
The planning.
The packing.

Did I mention the packing?

The process always takes longer than anticipated and you quickly lose count of how many times you say “Where did all this stuff come from?”

Oh yes, when preparing to move, you find out just how much stuff — and little patience — you have.

But…

Moving can also be a great reset; a chance to start with a clean slate.

Whether an apartment, condo, van, tiny house, or a regular, old abode, you only have so much square footage. And even if you have ample space, you needn’t fill it.

“Wait, what? I don’t have to fill every corner and adorn every wall?”

No you don’t, unless, of course, that’s your aesthetic and it’s what you love.

By having to pack up your world, you have the chance to go through e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g, and decide what is worthy of coming with you to your new place.

Yes. Worthy.

Imagine setting up your new home. What are the items you most want to be surrounded by? What furniture, artwork, and decor? What colors, fabrics, and mementos?

When deciding, tune into your body more than your mind. What makes your soul sing? What brings a smile to your face?

Conversely, what is something you feel you “should” take with you? Something that you’d get rid of if you wouldn’t feel guilty about doing so? Hang out with that decision a bit and ask yourself where else in your life is guilt a driving force behind your actions?

You see, the physical space isn’t the only thing that’s finite. So is your energy level and mental capacity. When you surround yourself with only (or mostly) those things you love, need, and use, you not only get to live in a visually-pleasing environment, but you also free up energy that would otherwise be spent tolerating clutter.

In fact, stop for a moment right now and take a look around. Identify one thing you’d rather not have there?

What would it take to clear it?

When could you make that happen?

By getting rid of that one thing you immediately send a powerful message to yourself that your needs matter. When you roll your eyes at it and do nothing about it, you tell yourself the opposite — that you have no choice but to put up with stuff, like it or not.

Yes, it’s that powerful.

Not moving any time soon? You can do this too! Ask yourself, “If I was moving next week, what in this room would definitely come with me? What wouldn’t make the cut?”

Wanna take things a step further? Ask that same question about your relationships, beliefs, and behavior, too!

It’s up to you who or what gets a spot at the sacred table that is your life. Be intentional. Be selective. Only the very best candidates need apply.

That’s something Melissa and I will be doing for sure.