What is spiritual clutter?

With the popularity of Marie Kondo and her Netflix series Tidying Up, many of us are paying more attention to the physical clutter in our lives. Some of us are even clearing out that clutter.

Marie’s goal, according to her website, is to help more people tidy their spaces by choosing joy. As Marie helps families rid themselves of things that no longer bring them joy, she asks them to thank those items for what they’ve provided. Essentially the KonMari method not only helps people clear their physical clutter; it also helps them clear their spiritual clutter.

Spiritual clutter is lack of peace; lack of contentment; lack of forgiveness.

It limits our ability to fully develop values and actions that promote our true purpose in life.

How do we clear our spiritual clutter?

To begin clearing spiritual clutter, we must first focus on that purpose and begin doing the work it takes to develop our most important values. Here are seven tips to get you started on clearing your spiritual clutter.

1. Set limits.

Life is busy, and there’s never a shortage of expectations. Know who and what matters most to you, and fill your time with those people and experiences. As you devote less time to TV, social media, and friends who tend to be negative, you’ll notice an increase in peace and purpose in your life.

2. Let it go.

Even though we know we aren’t able to control other people, we still get stuck in the mental drama of expecting others to apologize for past hurts. You may have heard the saying that holding a resentment is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. When we fail to let something go, we aren’t punishing the other person. We’re actually punishing ourselves. Knowing peace is the ultimate goal gives us what we need to just let it go and move on.

3. Create “you time” on your schedule.

Doing for others is a big part of life for most of us. We complete projects for the boss; make dinner for the family; pick up the dry cleaning for our spouse; build scenery for the cast of the school play. All worthy acts that help us live a life full of love and connection.

How often, though, do you set aside time just for you? Whether it’s time to read, exercise, pray, or just sit in silence, time on our own is vital for clearing our spiritual clutter.

4. Show up early.

How much stress do you feel when you leave home on time for an appointment but then are slowed down by an unexpected detour along the way? It’s times like this when we allow our circumstances to take over, and our frustration at the situation bubbles over into our drive or the appointment itself. Our heart beats faster; our blood pressure increases; and our patience dissolves away. Give yourself the gift of being early—every time. You’ll save yourself a great deal of stress and will enjoy the feeling of calm you create.

5. Connect with others who are like-minded.

When we’re searching for inner calm, connecting with others may seem counterintuitive. Those connections, though, can bring us a sense of knowing our place in the world. Being with like-minded people, those who believe in what we believe, is comforting, uplifting, and needed for the clearing of our spiritual clutter.

6. Ask rather than mind read.

Misunderstandings happen when we make assumptions that aren’t correct. We notice a look another person gives us or sense a sarcastic tone in the reply we receive. Immediately we make that mean something about us, the other person, or the situation we’re discussing. To gain a sense of inner calm, simply ask about what it is you’ve noticed. Acknowledge body language you notice, and verify that you’re reading it correctly. Speak up when you sense that sarcastic tone. Be respectful. Be kind. And be assertive in asking rather than making incorrect assumptions.

7. Decide and go with it.

Decide what’s for dinner. Decide where your vacation will be this year. Decide what activity you’re participating in next month. Decide which shoes to wear today. Just decide. Then go with that decision without second-guessing yourself.

When we do just that, we experience peace. And calm. And contentment. And a lack of spiritual clutter.

Peace through Processing Life

Author and motivational speaker Wayne Dyer once said, “Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you think it should be.” Clearing our spiritual clutter helps us to achieve that peace which ultimately results in a life where we understand and live out our purpose every day.

If spiritual clutter is holding you back, schedule a call with Tracy to develop a plan to clear it.