Lose the Clutter, Lose the Weight by Peter Walsh Read Free Book Online

I don’t use this term lightly. A malignancy, either in our home or in our body, is something that needs to be identified and removed for the sake of our mental health and physical well-being. I have found that
malignant clutter
is the best way to describe objects such as:
    The medical equipment that filled the room of a child who passed away from a long illness. Although I didn’t start to work with the grieving familyuntil 2 years later, these memories of a devastating time still lingered in their home and were made real every time they looked at the equipment.
    The divorce papers piled on an office shelf more than 3 years after the contentious breakup had been finalized. Just glimpsing the papers brought back heartbreaking memories of the failed relationship.
    The household goods that were boxed up and stored in the garage after a family had to downsize into a smaller home following a job loss. Their circumstances didn’t promise to turn around anytime soon, and those boxes served as a constant reminder of what they’d lost.
    Malignant items don’t have to be reminders of bad times, like a breakup or a health crisis. They can bring back memories of loved ones or high points in your life. But if these memories leave you feeling sad or feeling that your life isn’t as good now, then the objects are causing you mental and emotional harm and have no place in your home.
    The things you own should help you create the home and the life you want. The key to enjoying happiness and good health in a warm, welcoming home is to live
in the present moment
surrounded by items that you cherish and that have meaning for you and your family. If too much of your time is spent replaying your greatest hits or struggling with old pain, you’re not making new memories of your present life.
    You think,
I might need this thing someday
. This is a common response from my clients as I tackle the clutter and disorganization in their homes. They don’t want to throw out paperwork, clothing, books, magazines, paper clips, dish towels, or old sheets because “I might need this someday.” They’re absolutely correct. They might indeed need some of these things, and I’ll never convince them otherwise.
    If the “memory clutter” I just mentioned ties you to a past that’s gone, the “I might need this one day” clutter wraps you up in a future that might never happen. When people demonstrate this undue preoccupation with the future, I see anxiety bubbling to the surface. While remembering the past and preparing responsibly for the future are perfectly normal things to do, when your stuff takes over and limits your ability to function in your home
now
, you have a problem.
    Thanks to all the bulk purchase discounts offered by huge warehouse stores, people are taking their “I might need this one day” up to the jumbo level. They bring home towers of toilet paper and giant tubs of mayonnaise that they wouldn’t have bought if they weren’t so inexpensive. Then theyhave to figure out where to wedge these stockpiles of items they may not finish for years.
    Every single item you touch could conceivably be useful to you someday. It’s true. You can save a considerable amount of money when you buy your toothpaste in six-packs. Also true. But keep in mind that you have limited space in your home.
    All your “someday” objects have an extra cost you may not be considering: They’re taking away space from items that you could be enjoying
right now
. They’re occupying room you could be sharing with family members
right now
or using to build a happy, connected life with others
right now
.
    When it comes to your home’s cleanliness and livability, it’s best to devote your resources to the current moment—which is a very real time that is actually occurring—rather than to some future event that may never happen.
    Time to Make a Choice
    During this