Shifting from impulsive to being mindful about things

**homesteadmamma** · 06-20-2004, 04:47 PM

I'm reading a book titled Unclutter your Life and in it the author talks about battling clutter. She mentions we need to change from impulsive acquisitions to being mindful about what we bring into our home, minds and hearts. She says it means pitching what doesn't serve us and enhancing our lives to make room for what does.

What a powerful statement.

Do you find you've become more mindful about what and who comes into your home, mind or heart? Are you more careful at this stage in your life, or are you still implusive about bringing things into your home, only to find out it doesn't serve us, but only brings more clutter.

Any thoughts?

**AmyMCGS** · 06-26-2004, 09:29 AM

Originally posted by homesteadmamma
She mentions we need to change from impulsive acquisitions to being mindful about what we bring into our home, minds and hearts. She says it means pitching what doesn't serve us and enhancing our lives to make room for what does.

What a powerful statement.

I really like the part about what we bring into our minds and hearts~ I tend to just think of physical clutter. The mental stuff takes a toll, too.

Right now, I am actually more mindful about what comes in (physical clutter) but it's not from any spiritual place~ it's more practical, as in "anything I take home now has to be packed up to move soon". I guess that works, too, as it has helped me cut down on impulse spending.

Sounds like a good book!

**guest2** · 06-26-2004, 07:54 PM

CJ, thanks for starting this thread. I find that I'm getting better about not bring physical stuff into the house as much, but that mind and spiritual clutter thing still get to me. I'm in the process of "weeding out" relationships that are not good for me and I'm starting to feel much "lighter".

**Heather** · 06-28-2004, 01:22 PM

GREAT thread! I always used to think of "clutter" in a material way as well but have found that heart and mind clutter is just as important. I believe that heart and mind clutter can be just as destructive if not more so. It is a definite balance.

**canadian gardener** · 06-28-2004, 04:37 PM

I'm getting better

but way far from having this thing licked! I still impulsively clutter up my life, with emotional and physical clutter way too easily.

I notice that no matter how many times in a year I dejunk, the next time is always more yet to get sent packing.

Sometimes, it's more like my time with the object is done. It served well but it's not needed anymore.

Sometimes a relationship gets that way. We drift apart, or it becomes draining when it once was fulfilling. After some effort to salvage, if it's still going downhill, dejunking is worthwhile for both.

And there are the activities which started well, and were great, but now they aren't as fulfilling or I don't feel that same call, so in order to make room for the fresh stuff that I want, I must let go.

I'm thinking hard about this today, as I'm unpacking (got home on Sat night) and doing laundry.

When I begin the medications, I don't want to lose sight of the lessons that my exhaustion taught me

namely that for joy and life and strength, things, and activities must be rationed and pared down.

I'm scared of allowing myself to become overburdened again, just because I don't have the built in safety valve of not being able to afford the energy or the time etc.