The cluttered life

 

    From the Clutterbug to the Minimal Mom, many are teaching others how to declutter their homes. I know because I have admired their different styles and techniques in keeping a clutter-free home. There are some women like Kathryn from "Do it on a dime" who can teach you how to organize your home on a frugal budget. With all the amazing resources that these ladies offer, it is still difficult for some to adapt to becoming an organized and clutter-free minimalist no matter how hard they try. Why? Simply because the struggles they have in letting go of the past. Letting go of what may have been or what should have been. Minds have been blocked by disappointment, guilt and shame. So, holding on to the memories is all they have to a life that should have been.

    How can one move past their demon of clutter? Yes, I said demon. I said it because it is an unwanted member of a person's life that keeps them in bondage to an unwanted spirit. Clutter. Again, I must remind you that this is "just my observation".  However, clutter has terrorized and bullied so many people's lives and has divided many families, 'till one may feel like they are slowly suffocating alive over it.

    If you ask me, clutter is a drug. It is an addiction and if you don't take control of it, it can transition to hoarding. Nevertheless, the question still remains to be answered. How can one move past their demon of clutter? I guess it's time to dive right on in. Let us explore the scriptures together to help us gather a wise conclusion, which will help those living a cluttered life to gain freedom from the bondage of clutter.

    We live in a "just do it" kind of world. A world that is unsympathetic to the challenges of the next person. We expect everyone to move, act and speak the same. Nevertheless, that thought process is only a dream because we are not robots that are programmed to think the same. Everyone has their own challenges in life. If you take two children both are nine-year-old boys. They are raised together with the same family teachings. However, one child has ADHD and the other has a form of autism. The child with ADHD runs faster and learns fairly well. However, the child with autism may run slower, but he excels quickly in learning anything new. His main challenges are the simple acts of life. What seems easy to us is challenging to him. On the other hand, what may seem challenging to us is easy to him. This is a prime example of our differences. I say all of this because I desire for us to respect everyone's indifferences and challenges, so we can somehow come together to help one another. Afterall, no one is perfect but Christ.

    Now, onto the topic at hand. Just like with any form of addiction the first step is that we must recognize and accept that we have a problem. Yes, I said we. I struggle with clutter in my life, and I too am searching for a strategy that will work daily for me. I find that scriptures have helped me to overcome many obstacles and I know that it will help in this situation too. 

    Acceptance allows us the liberty to accept ourselves for who we are. It grants us the opportunity to explore the very essence of our being. It grants us the will power to overcome our denial and move past the obstacles that has blocked our growth. Acceptance of self is a key part of our inner healing. At this stage we can seek the help and support that we desperately need. Christ said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28). Also, He said, "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. (John 14:13-14). Often times we spend our days trying to assist everyone else and we tend to neglect ourselves. Therefore, now is the time to set ourselves free by asking Christ for help. Turning over our will power is not necessarily a weakness, but in this case it's our strength.

    The next step is to free our minds. Honestly, our lives are cluttered because our minds are cluttered. Cluttered with everything and everyone's problems. We have allowed ourselves to become everyone's "go to person". Being another person's "go to person" truthfully does not allow us to have a free mind. We are too busy being another person's problem solver. We are not everybody's Perry Mason. Therefore, we cannot solve every problem. We are not Meredith Gray. Therefore, we cannot allow ourselves to become everyone's doctor. You are not and I am not Jackie Chan, so let us stop trying to jump through hoops to be there every time someone calls. Remember, He that the Son has set free, is free indeed. (John 8:36). To help us free our minds of clutter, let's remember what Isaiah told us. Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old (Isaiah 43:18). 

    Clutterbugs has so many excuses. Yes, I do know, because when I sit and think about it, I have made plenty of excuses for my own clutter and it just has to stop. I believe by the time I am finished with this article; I will be free from the clutterbug mind-set. Did you know that clutter is a sin? Ecclesiastes 3:6 says, there's "a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;" Though, the scripture that states that we are without an excuse, was not speaking in the context of clutter; it still is a good scripture to apply to this problem. It can help us to put things into better perspective so we can bring both harmony and balance to our lives.

    Next, we must declutter our mouths. Yes, I said it. Our mouth can get us in a lot of trouble and can put more burdens on us then we can handle. If you are like me, if you give your word to someone you try your best to keep your word. Which goes back to allowing yourself to become another person's "go to person". Also, we have to control what we put into our mouth. Why, because some of the foods that we eat does not work for us. In which, eating the wrong foods can zap all our energy and then we are too tired to complete our decluttering task. Eating the right foods will keep you focus and energized. Therefore, we must work to overcome that chucky chocolate chip cookie temptation and refuse to indulge in that smooth, delicious, sweet slice of turtle cheesecake. Not to mention Starbucks. We must learn to be an "in control star" and run past Starbucks with our bucks. With this in mind, we have to practice on eating right. Proverbs 23:2 says, "and put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite". Most of all, we must remember, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. Ask yourself, do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body.

    Last of all, we have to declutter of spirit. This may require some meditation and fasting. However, it defiantly requires the presence of Christ. We cannot do anything without Him. Too much stress is like an opportunistic infection to our spirit. Waiting for the right time, to spiritually overtake you with stress and pressure, in order to force you to give up. Keep in mind, if we give in to clutter, then another demon will show up. This demon has similarities to clutter. However, it is next level and can be hazardous to your health. Therefore, we must not give up because we do not want to become a hoarder. Scriptures tells us to, "Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. (Isaiah 1:16). 

    Time to declutter our lives. Time to give up those things that are keeping us in this place of despair. Reach out to a good friend that you can confide in and build your support with them. Allow the scriptures to help build you up to overcome clutter. Clutter is not your friend. No matter how hard it may be, remember that I said you can do it because the bible tells us so. Recall to yourself and encourage yourself by reminding yourself of Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. 

    So, go ahead take the first step and free yourself because I am on the road to recovery too.

Tyeshia Alston

@ Tyeshia's Chronicles