A lot has been said about organization, and experts agree on one thing: Purging is part of the plan. New gadgets and gismos do very little to bring permanent order when all the old items are simply rearranged. New systems alone are not the answer; other changes are necessary as well.
Taking out the excess leaves behind the useful. If everything remains, then unused items take up space that could be available for the usable ones. For example, when I clean my closet, I gain very little if I merely rearrange my clothing. However, if I cull out the seldom-worn items, I am able to organize more efficiently.
Taking out the old makes room for the new. When we add new purchases to existing items, we create clutter. Hanging on to the old diminishes the benefit of the new. For example, my husband bought me an ice shaver earlier this year because my old one wasn't working properly. However, I didn't throw away the old one; I kept it for parts. Mind you, it was broken! I didn't need them both, even if each were working; I surely didn't need a broken one. The old one needed to be tossed so the new, usable one could have adequate shelving space. By keeping both, I created clutter. Only when I threw away the old one a few days ago, was order restored to my cabinet.
Getting rid of the old signals hope for renewal. If I throw away a ratty, torn T-shirt that I wear all the time, I have hope of replacing it with something better.
Too often we try to embrace new lifestyle choices or advancements in the Spirit while simultaneously holding on to what was. Like adding sugar-free desserts to a sugar-loaded dessert intake, the change isn’t going to make the impact we’re hoping to achieve. More than likely, frustration and disorder lie ahead. This year, let’s get rid of our willingness to merge; let’s purge.
Tip: As it nears the end of the first month of the new year, analyze how you’re handling those recent resolutions. Are you trying to change without changing? What is one thing you can release (thought, habit or thing) to make room for the new and improved?
Taking out the excess leaves behind the useful. If everything remains, then unused items take up space that could be available for the usable ones. For example, when I clean my closet, I gain very little if I merely rearrange my clothing. However, if I cull out the seldom-worn items, I am able to organize more efficiently.
Taking out the old makes room for the new. When we add new purchases to existing items, we create clutter. Hanging on to the old diminishes the benefit of the new. For example, my husband bought me an ice shaver earlier this year because my old one wasn't working properly. However, I didn't throw away the old one; I kept it for parts. Mind you, it was broken! I didn't need them both, even if each were working; I surely didn't need a broken one. The old one needed to be tossed so the new, usable one could have adequate shelving space. By keeping both, I created clutter. Only when I threw away the old one a few days ago, was order restored to my cabinet.
Getting rid of the old signals hope for renewal. If I throw away a ratty, torn T-shirt that I wear all the time, I have hope of replacing it with something better.
Too often we try to embrace new lifestyle choices or advancements in the Spirit while simultaneously holding on to what was. Like adding sugar-free desserts to a sugar-loaded dessert intake, the change isn’t going to make the impact we’re hoping to achieve. More than likely, frustration and disorder lie ahead. This year, let’s get rid of our willingness to merge; let’s purge.
Tip: As it nears the end of the first month of the new year, analyze how you’re handling those recent resolutions. Are you trying to change without changing? What is one thing you can release (thought, habit or thing) to make room for the new and improved?
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