Clearance Sale! Get Rid Of The Clutter Within
Entering a giant warehouse store it is impossible to not be impressed with the way the merchandise is stored. There is cantilever racking, display bays, netting, wire partitions and thousands of displays easily reachable. The aisles are clear to walk down, with plenty of space. The shelves are stuffed with merchandise. On the top of the racks is the over stock, items that are stored but not needed at the moment, so they are placed out of the way. The shelves are so packed with product that walking through the store is like walking in a cornfield. Empty the shelves and the the line of sight goes from wall to wall. remove the racks and several football games could be played in the freed up space. Now imagine our psyche is like a giant warehouse, filled with shelves where memories, regrets, desires, phobias, dreams and all the workings of the soul are stored. Many therapists suggest that much of what people have stored inside of them is unhelpful to living a full and vigorous life.
Many therapists work hard to help clients free their shelves of items that can do damage and lead to self destructive behavior. Any retailer items sitting on a shelf is taking up space and reduces the value. These items are moved off the shelf to make way for something that adds value. What occurs when we walk down the aisles of our inner world and begin to take stock? For many people clearing the clutter from our minds, real or metaphorical, creates space, peace, and value.
The first step in an inner inventory is hard work. It is important to do inventory in a store, it requires time and attention. The objective isn’t to immediately restock, clear out, or change the displays. The objective is first to know what is what is there and what is not. Physical inventory used to be a process of weekly or monthly physical counting. As managers got smarter and technology allowed, inventory became an automatic and continual process. Many folks don’t regularly do a personal inventory, but as it becomes a standard practice, it also becomes an automatic and conscious process. An inner inventory requires honesty and contemplation. Like walking into a cluttered store it is overwhelming and impossible to take in all at once. It is one thing at a time. Explore what is on the inner shelves by observing without judgment.
The things on our inner shelves can range from the horrific to the sublime. Often we discover some meaningless issue taking up space. Remove it from the shelf and make room for something new. Occasionally we discover a lost desire or passion, some dream left collecting dust. It is also taking up space. Should it be thrown out or should it be dusted off and put on a shelf?
Taking the time to walk through our shelved hopes, dreams, resentments, regrets and long held desires helps to clear the shelves of the value draining items and allow for new value giving experiences and a cleaner less cluttered life.
