A simple shift to overcome decluttering resistance

Read time: 2 minutes

I was so frustrated at the beginning of my clarity journey.

I vividly remember experiencing moments of overwhelming resistance when I first tried to declutter. I wanted a space that felt lighter, calmer, and aligned with who I was becoming. But every time I muscled up the energy to start, I froze.

Some of it was guilt—about money I spent on things barely used.

Some of it was identity—holding on to a version of myself I wasn’t ready to let go of.

And some of it was… fear.

Fear of doing it wrong. Fear of needing it later. Fear of not feeling “ready enough.”

What I didn’t realize at the time was this:

Resistance isn’t something you push through. It’s something you learn to listen to.

You see, it’s easy to assume that resistance is a personal flaw.

But in truth, resistance is protective.

It’s a signal.

A quiet alarm going off inside you that says:

“I might regret letting this go.”

“What if I need it later?”

“This reminds me of who I used to be.”

“What if someone I love gets upset?”

“I don’t know where to start, and I don’t want to fail again.”

But underneath all of that is a single, unspoken message:

“Letting go might hurt.”

And if you’ve been carrying clutter for a while, you’ve probably been carrying that fear even longer.

I’ve carried all of those thoughts, too.

And for a long time, I believed the only way forward was to push harder—to power through the discomfort and make it happen.

But over time, I realized something else:

What I really needed wasn’t motivation. I needed safety.

A way to take the next step that didn’t feel like such a personal risk.

So what do you do with all of this?

You meet resistance with curiosity, not shame.

You stop waiting for motivation and start creating safety.

Instead of saying, “I have to finish this whole room,” you say:

“I’m just going to focus on clearing one small area.”

Instead of saying, “I have to make the right decision,” you say:

“This is me giving myself permission to make a reversible one.”

Instead of saying, “Why can’t I just let go already?” you say:

“What is this resistance trying to protect me from?”

And when you treat yourself with that kind of kindness, you start to rebuild something that clutter slowly wears down over time:

Self-trust.

Your belief in your own follow-through.

And the only way to rebuild that trust is with consistent, brave action—not huge, dramatic clean-outs, but one honest decision at a time.

Even if you start slow.

Even if you’re still unsure.

Even if it’s just one item today.

See you next Sunday, my friend.

Cheers,
-Ron

P.S. If this letter met you right where you are, the Declutter Breakthrough Challenge might be the nudge you need. The next one starts in October, and it’s designed to help you create space for the life you want without guilt, overwhelm, or pressure.

Click here to be added to the waitlist to receive more information about the upcoming challenge!