It’s no secret that I believe decluttering your possessions + schedule is essential in order to start living your dream life. You have to eliminate the excess to make room for ALL the good. I’ve been a self-proclaimed minimalist (read: intentional, simple living) for years now. I’m pretty good about routinely evaluating what I own, and watching my shopping habits. However, life happens. Holidays come and go, other to-dos take priority, and items get more piled up than usual.

Since we moved to Virginia, I’d been meaning to re-evaluate our closet. We’re sharing a closet for the first time, and between quarantine and moving I’ve gained some weight. Getting dressed every day started to feel like a chore again. I knew something needed to change. What I didn’t expect was all of the energy and emotions that came up.

We moved to Virginia in May. It is now almost the end of August. Before moving, I decluttered lots! I didn’t want to move anything I didn’t need to. However, my closet was a big question mark for me. I avoided it for a few reasons… mostly because I didn’t have the emotional strength to face it.

Now, that may seem silly to some but others will understand what I’m saying. Clothes carry so much energy and emotional value to us. They house memories, good or bad, and ideally reflect pieces of who we are. Going through to decide what to keep and what to let go of is… more complicated than yes or no.

Why We Delay Decluttering

We often delay decluttering our possessions + lives for a few reasons. First, we just don’t want to. The idea of going through our stuff is daunting, and brings feelings of overwhelm. So, we avoid it… even though the clutter brings overwhelm too.

Another reason we don’t declutter is because we don’t make it a priority. We all have the same 24 hours in our day. We all decide what we want to do with that time. If having a tidy, organized, peaceful home isn’t a priority to you, then you probably won’t get that done. The same is true for our health, relationships, etc. We make time for the things we prioritize.

Lastly, we delay decluttering because of emotional connections. Going through stuff can be HARD and may bring up a myriad of emotions. In order to avoid feeling uncomfortable or upset, we avoid decluttering.

Before the Action

Confession time: I was avoiding decluttering my closet and dresser for the reason above. I didn’t realize I was doing it, but every time I went to get dressed I found myself feeling down. Feeling frustrated. Feeling avoidant.

Our closet had become a hot mess. I had gotten in the habit of simply closing the door, and pretending it wasn’t there. I *thought* I was avoiding sorting the mess. In reality, I was avoiding the emotions connected to my clothes, my weight, and my self worth.

This was what our closet looked like before:

As a self-proclaimed minimalist (with a blog to help others live simply) it’s honestly a little embarrassing for me to share. But, I believe it’s important to be authentic. This is my real life closet.

Some of you may be thinking “That’s not too bad at all!”, but for us this space was causing stress and simple wasn’t functional (example: that basket full of clean laundry).

Decluttering the Closet… Finally

Last Saturday, something came over me and I told Kemper today was THE day. The day we finally addressed the mess of our closet, and got rid of all the items that were no longer serving us. My husband, being the amazing man he is, said that sounded great! And we got to work.

We went through EVERY single item in our closet and our dresser. We evaluated piece by piece and sorted into donate, toss, or keep. I’ve cleaned out my closet countless times in my lifetime. In the last 5-6 years, I’ve genuinely enjoyed it. But this time was different. It was heavy, and emotional, and I felt anxious. I powered through, and eventually had a break through.

If the item made me feel anything less than AMAZING, it had to go. The super cute sweater that makes me conscious of my back fat? Gone. The shirt I used to LOVE 20lbs ago? Gone. The shoes I keep as a “backup” just in case I need them? Gone.

I gave myself permission to LET GO. I told myself this: by letting go of these items, I am letting go of negative energy in my life. I am making space for positivity and confidence to flow.

The results shocked even me. I didn’t anticipate it, but I got rid of SO. MUCH. And, I have NO regrets. In fact, I’ve never once regretted letting go of anything I’ve donated or sold.

Growth is uncomfortable

The same way decluttering can be uncomfortable, growth is uncomfortable. In order to grow, we have to unlearn our patterns. We have to remove the behaviors and items that aren’t serving us any longer.

I love minimalism and this lifestyle because it allows me to dive deep into why I give meaning to possessions. It allows me to physically clear emotional energy.

How do I know this worked? I now walk in my closet and feel AMAZING. I genuinely LOVE every item there. Though there’s much less, I don’t care. I know I can put on anything I own and feel good in my body, feel confident in the person I am today. I cannot even express how empowering that feels.

When you choose to avoid decluttering, you’re avoiding an opportunity to grow. You are in charge of your life, and how you feel day-to-day.

The After

My closet reflects a physical transformation, yes. But it also reflects a mental transformation as well. Look at all of those empty hangers! So, so freeing.

Progress is always more important than perfection. Because what might look or be “perfect” for one season of your life, won’t be for another. Make growth your priority, regardless of circumstance. You might just find that a closet can teach you something about yourself.

Want to learn more about minimalism?

Read How to Begin Your Minimalism Journey, and check out my other blog posts here. Also, follow along on Instagram for more frequent posts + tips!