Chicken or the Egg?

Have you ever noticed when you are feeling blue for a period of time that you like being home less?  You tend to spend more time there than you would otherwise, but not because you really want to. You just have less energy to do anything else.

I truly believe there is a real connection between our spaces and our spirits.

It is a no brainer that when we feel down we are less motivated to do all of the boring chores like dishes and laundry. We are more likely to just set things down when we use them instead of putting them away.  Things just tend to pile up.  And I am not talking about in a ‘lived in’ sort of way.  Our homes begin to look just as depressed as we feel.

But the reverse is true, too. Over the years I have watched as people declutter their homes and get organized how much their spirits are lifted in the process.  It seems like the more work the house needs, the more depressed that person was on starting.  I have seen some people make amazing transformations that far exceeded the transformation of their homes. I have often wondered just how much of their depression or anxiety was either caused or lengthened from living with too much stuff.

Stuff has a way of sneaking up on you.  It may be that catch all room that somehow got out of hand, but usually stuff is much more subtle.  We add a piece here and add a piece there until there is not a place anywhere not filled with something.  Our eyes do not have a place to rest. Our minds are overstimulated with all kinds of things even when we do not actually notice the things we are seeing.

Most of the time when we are feeling down, we know the reason(s).   On occasion though, we just can not put our finger on what is bugging us.  Next time you find yourself feeling blue, or tired, or anxious – anytime you feel out of sorts, look around you. What story is your home saying?  Throw open the curtains and let some extra light inside. Toss open the window to let in some fresh air.  Then see how many little things you can do to change the tale. Pick one pile, one drawer, any one space and tackle it.  Remove a few decorations and make some visual white spaces.

I sometimes think organizing junkies get a bad rap for trying to be too much in control.  For me it is about lightening the load.  About freeing ourselves AND our spirits.  It is not about being perfect or even our homes looking perfect.  It is about finding our own path to simplicity.