De-cluttering the Soul

**forHISglory** · 02-01-2009, 01:04 PM

I read the threads here at FV about de-cluttering, and find them very inspiring. It's helped me to take a good look at what is around me and to realize that I have simply become used to it, and don't really see it anymore. I love reading about how you find more peace in your home after de-cluttering and simplifying your homes. You have helped me realize the materialism in my life, and you've helped me set some priorities. Thank you!!!!

Then I started to think of de-cluttering in a different way: de-cluttering the soul. Like my house, my life and heart and soul get buried under things that detract from the beauty within. I become used to those distractions and that clutter and don't even see it anymore. I don't even realize that it is choking out the simple life that I crave, and the peace that I desire.

So........

Out with unforgiveness. I don't want to carry around old scores anymore. Life is too short to clutter up with memories of how so and so said this and that, and wouldn't apologize, blah, blah, blah.......

Fling the selfishness, of thinking that the world needs to rotate around me and my schedule, me and my wants.

Bury the junk, those snide thoughts and little dirty dusty words that junk up what should be clean.

Give away my love and passion to those in need of it. I have lots more to use!

Move the "stuff" away from the mirror. I don't want to magnify the materialism, but rather be able to look into the mirror with a clean conscience. I want to see myself as I really am.

Trash the worry. I don't need that litter all over my life. I'll keep the concern, but trash the worry.

Ahhhhh..... It's better already. With all the clutter gone, I can focus on who God created me to be. I can seek His will without the distractions that took over my mind. Be not conformed to the junk, but be transformed by the renewing and de-cluttering of the mind and soul. Create in me a clean heart, O Lord.

Do you need to de-clutter the soul? What else shall we get rid of?

**Debbie-cat** · 02-01-2009, 01:11 PM

I really like trash the worry. Worry gives us nothing except ill health. Forgive and forget. Accept people for who they are and not what you want them to be.

**thesightofoneself** · 02-01-2009, 01:14 PM

i need to be less concerned with others and take care of me.

**Patty A** · 02-01-2009, 03:22 PM

Thank you, its something we don't offen think about! I know I really need to give this one some thought as I can really use some decluttering of this kind!

**forHISglory** · 02-01-2009, 09:20 PM

Here's my next step:

Box up the anger and discontent. Seal it tightly and toss it in the garbage. That's all it is: garbage.

Sort through the noise. Find and save the peace of silence and quietness. Throw away the clanging TV, radio, ipod, stereo..... or use them judiciously with carefully selected pieces. Savor the sounds of nature: the wind, the birds, the rain. Delve into my thoughts and don't be afraid to listen to my own thoughts. Too much noise clogs my energy channels.

**forHISglory** · 02-02-2009, 08:13 AM

I found a few more things lurking that need to be dealt with.

Frustration? Out! I need to realize what I am capable of doing and do it to the best of my ability. And what I am not capable of, I'll leave to others. I don't need to try to be everything and then be frustrated because I can't do it.

Bitterness? Out! Throw that poison deep deep deep into the trash bin. It squeezes my soul dry and is toxic to the mind. And I need to be sure to find the root of the bitterness and toss it as well.

**cab54** · 02-02-2009, 09:30 AM

Funny......I have been thinking along these lines also.

God has been, for some years now, putting more and more people in my life who are in need. In need of caring for, in need of checking on and doing errands for, in need of hands-on loving-kindness, in need of human contact and conversation, in need of their laundry done and food cooked for them.........He has included a couple of dogs in the mix who are special needs dogs at this time. Just to keep me a little busier.

I have been feeling overwhelmed, disgruntled (some of these people have not always been very 'good' to me), I've had such mixed emotions about my children growing up and having a bit of time to myself I THOUGHT, and now THIS.

It has been making me feel frustrated, angry, and bitter.

But recently it hit me when I was fighting for a little time to myself that I wasn't getting.......WHY fight it? If this is what God has in store for me right now......why not just do it and do it with an open heart, and an open hand, and do it to the best of my ability? I am a nurse, I am a mother.......who better to 'be there' for people?

Since I have begun to think "what can I do for ______ today?" rather than 'what can I do to get out of doing all this today?"..........there have suddenly been what seems like more hours in the day.....more energy in this middle aged body, .....more good ideas coming forth to make these people's lives easier and more comfortable. What gifts can I give?

Maybe I'll never get to take that vacation, or take that class, or sit on the couch and eat popcorn and watch TV all day....but I have been having more satisfaction in life, and feel calmer. This has only been a couple of weeks, mind you, but I am following what I think is God's will for me for the first time in a long time.

**Patty A** · 02-02-2009, 09:45 AM

I have done nothing but think about this thread, it really hit home for me how cluttered my mind is with all the chaos, noise, projects, worries, and stress.

Just like with all things it starts with baby steps and goes from there.
I am thinking that writing some of these things that really bug me down would be a huge help. Like dumping them on paper will help get them off my mind. Nothing like purging your mind of all that is going on these to help clean up that clutter!

Figure out what is most important for me to work on and focus on them, and what things aren't worth my time and effort. Get the things off my mind that I find are un-nessary, un-useful, and un-important and focus on things that make a difference for me. Let them go, and stop worring about what you can't change.

Stop making my to do list so long......take smaller steps in getting things done so that it isn't so stressful. So what if it takes a little longer, its not life and death! Just plain stop doing so much cramming stuff in to one day. Take things on in much smaller steps and take a little more time in getting them finished.

Take time to "smell the roses" and enjoy what I am doing. It doesn't all have to be about work, it can be fun and enjoyable!

Forget what other people say and think, its really none of my business what they think about anyone including me......

Stop myself-blame for things I have no control over. I can't make everything in the world right for everyone. Also stop putting myself last, I do deserve time for me, things I want to do, and don't have to be there to take care of everything for everyone else before I ever think of ME........

Stop letting others make me feel guilty for things I shouldn't feel guilty about. Guilt is an emotion I should ONLY feel for things I HAVE DONE WRONG......not for not being able to take care of everything everyone wants me to do! Along these same lines, I need to let go of all the Sh@!.....Worrying, angry, frustration and holding a grudge! I need to let go of all of it.

Stop the friendship with people that are toxic to me. People that make me feel guilty, that use me, that bring me down, that want me to do it all for them, that invite themselves to use my time and effort for their benefits and don't think about what it costs me and my health to do it all for them.

Change what I can, and know what I can't change and stop cluttering my mind with things I can do nothing about. Its time to stop, its time to declutter both my mind and home!

Thanks so much for starting this, it really has made me think!!!

**forHISglory** · 02-02-2009, 02:17 PM

More Cleaning.....

I need to drop off all my comparisons at the comparison recycle center. Too many times I compare myself with so and so and how she is skinnier than me, or richer than me, or smarter than me, or....

I need to recycle these thoughts into an image of me as God intends me to be.

**forHISglory** · 02-02-2009, 09:01 PM

I found a pile of stubbornness stacked in the corner. I had sort of forgotten about it, and how I had refused to carry it out and dump it. Just do it; just dump it. And I know that once I start carrying out the stubbornness, I'll find a pile of excuses tucked under them. To the dump with excuses!

And in another corner was my procrastination. It had been waiting there a long long while, just using up space. Dump it; do it NOW!