Letting go, making space and looking forward
“Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure. ”
Those of you who follow any of my social channels will probably already know that I moved house this year. So, I’d like to start by saying that I’m never moving house again! It’s an enormous undertaking - both practically and emotionally - which I’m not super keen to revisit in the near future.
But one of the most important lessons I’ve learned this year is that if you want to get anything done, it’s best to start by trying to separate the emotional from the practical. Personally speaking, I have a lot of stuff and because I downsized in the move, I had to make some tough choices and let a lot of it go as there simply wasn’t room for it in the new place. I realised fairly quickly that my attachment to certain things wasn’t about the things themselves, but what they represented. The memories, the plans, the importance that I once placed upon certain objects.
For example, I have so many books. Way too many. So I had to ask myself, do I still want or need this physical book, or does it just symbolise a previous time in my life - something I thought was important to me, but isn’t any longer? It’s a tough question, but by forcing myself to answer honestly, I was able to release myself from the imaginary ties I’d placed on physical things, which was quite a freeing experience.
Being able to separate what something represents to you from the physical object - whether it’s a book or something else entirely - makes it much easier to get rid of things. That translates to less clutter in your home or office, which in turn means less dusting and that has to be a good thing!
It’s not always easy to work out what’s important and what’s not, but it always helps me to follow these three steps:
Work out what actually matters: this isn’t as easy as it sounds, so start by asking yourself which things are completely non-negotiable and go from there
Work out what space it needs: this can be physical space, as well as what it needs it terms of time commitment from you
Be flexible and willing to adapt: give yourself permission to change your mind and adapt to new circumstances. Just because you once had room for something in your life (like the entire 80’s collection of ‘Jackie’ magazines), doesn’t mean you do now.
These tips work equally well for physical objects and non-physical things like hobbies, social commitments or ongoing projects. Making space in our lives - both physically and emotionally - gives us room to breathe and the chance to think about what we want for the future, instead of focusing on what’s gone before.
As I approach the end of 2022 - safely ensconced in my new home and having liberated myself from so much junk from the past (both literally and figuratively) - I want to take some time to reflect on what the last year has held, but also to look forward to what 2023 will bring.
One of the things that I really love to do, particularly around this time of year, is to create vision boards (some people call them dream boards). These are basically a collection of ideas, goals, dreams - even affirmations - about things that are important to you. They can take the form of pictures, cuttings, photographs, quotes, really anything that you find inspiring or takes your fancy. The idea is that you put everything together in one place, to motivate you to keep moving towards your goals and dreams.
More than that, the act of creating the vision board helps you to focus on what really matters, shifting your mindset away from more difficult topics and making way for you to think more clearly about the future. It also has the added benefit of being a really enjoyable activity in itself: when I’m creating a vision board I’m always aware that it also satisfies my artistic side, and generally just makes me feel more positive, happier and more connected with the different areas of my life. Not to mention the daily inspiration I get from looking at it - and adding to it - in the weeks and months that follow.
If you like this idea, then why not try creating a vision board of your own? You can share your ideas in the comments below. It’s a great opportunity to set out your goals and plans for the coming year, and let go of whatever you feel has been holding you back. I plan to do the same.
