Shannon-

I'm not a Cap, but I DO know about projects! My life is full of them! And a lot of the ones I don't choose (i.e., that choose me) seem to have a never-ending series of steps. "E.G., Oh! I can't fill out the form for the kid until I get the doctor to fill out the OTHER form, which means I have to call back when they're not at lunch and then I have to download the fax, fill it out and send it so they send me the form in 10 days and what the heck am I going to do with this stupid form that started it all for TEN WHOLE DAYS while I wait for them to send me the form I faxed about?"

When life is full of THESE kind of projects, they get cluttered along with all the ones we start to get AWAY from them and pretty soon they're practically indistinguishable. Or so my desk is telling me right now:)

I'm totally into the smudge ceremony on Dec 31 as long as I can squirrel it in when my family isn't around. They tend to clutter up my space when I'm trying to cleanse and complain about the smell. I smudged fairly recently, but on the 31st ish, i'll be moving all the furniture out of my office to paint it and put in new floors. I'd love to smudge before and after!

Thanks so much for writing this to inspire us all.

Joy- I know what you mean about straightening up and realizing it's not the space. I'm doing something similar (took one bag to Good Will tonight and a HUGE pile of books going to the library tomorrow), but I've identified that other clutter feeling - it's in the drawers, and even in my computer files. I have a few drawers that are just piled with junk. And others I have been avoiding for years. Since I have to move my desk anyway to redo the floors, I'm using this as the excuse to finally go through those drawers. I'm going to be ruthless, even scan a bunch of stuff and just throw it OUT.

I can't wait. Guh. So. Much. Stuff.....

Love, Light and Cleanliness ~Dana

Cafe Chick What a fabulous problem to have! So much love from others... I know what you mean, though. I often find myself struggling to release other's gifts. I don't know of any sure fire way to deal with that, but I will say that in my most recent decluttering (which I'm in the midst of as we speak) I'm trying to focus on whether the gift still has meaning to ME. Sometimes they gave it to the "old me" and although the love is there, the thing in me it was reinforcing has now moved on. When this is the case, I try to take the love that was meant for me out of it, stuff it in my heart (where it takes up very little room!) and pass the detritus remains on to some other person out there that may find a new bit of love to instill it with:)

At least, that's the idea. It's REALLY HARD with the stuff my kids gave me!

Love, Light and Space ~Dana

Ah, yes, Shannon, thank you.

Today, I'm working in my office for the first time in a long time. For whatever reason, I had been avoiding this room. It is my sanctuary, decorated by and for me. It houses my altar, my art, my books, my STUFF. Part of my excuse for not coming in here was that it had become too cluttered - but today I realize that's not it at all. I just needed to shelve a few books and it's back to being the breathable, energetic space it always was.

So what is this cluttered feeling? I definitely feel the need to start heaving things off of myself in time for the new year. In fact, just bought my first bunch of sage to burn once this de-cluttering happens. In this moment, though, I'm realizing that, for me, it's not so much about physical stuff (although my sock drawer could definitely use an exorcism), but about all of the energetic and spiritual stuff that builds up throughout the year. In that regard, it's been a pretty stuffy year.

I also find that when I'm on more shaky ground - feeling less sure, or scared, or confused - is when I do tend to accumulate more STUFF. I shop and consume and hold and take in. At times of greater truth and spaciousness, I am met with the urge to get out from underneath it all ... clear a space so that I can just be me -- undefended, but unencumbered as well. Another interesting pattern to be mindful of.

Anyway, clearly you got the wheels turning. I so appreciate your writing, and you! Thank you Shannon.

Blowing sage smoke your way, with love and gratitude, Joy

ooh, and stone tosser - great follow up! i so see myself in this (tho i'm crummy at decluttering and fantastic at creating clutter). but definitely a good insight to look deeper in to what this is all about for me... thanks!

Shannon Thank you SO much. Why? Cuz I thought I KNEW this - and I do - but reading your post just helped me realize something else. I have developed the bad habit of using decluttering as a crutch.

What?

I am a neat freak. I'm good at decluttering my house. I've been doing it for years, teaching my kids how to do it and got really extreme about it before, during and after a big renovation 2 years ago. But I didn't really do it to my office ("my" space). This Christmas my present to myself is a total - to the bones (including a new hardwood floor and repaint) - clearing, cleaning and reclaiming of my workspace.

But here's the trick you just helped me "see." My "work pattern" is to create clutter so that my "todo" list is simply to unclutter. Rather than stick to my list (which I'm also obsessive about), I have developed the habit of following the clutter. As soon as as I clear off my desk, I feel uncomfortable and - free yes - but untethered... so I make more clutter! I've used this prioritization technique for decades and it means I NEVER feel adequate to my work!

Gah! I must stop this! Imagine how proactive I could become on behalf of my clients and my own business if I sat down without clutter dragging me into clearing it! Imagine how intuitive I could be about where I put my energy professionally? Good thing I have a cleaning effort already underway!

BTW - along these lines, I have a friend (also a consultant) who swears that every time she cleans her office she gets a new client. I've noticed a similar dynamic and aim to make 2010 a tremendously productive - clutterfree - year!

ThankYouThankYouThankYou

Love, Light and Lite ~Dana