Decluttering Lies That Are Keeping You Stuck

Read time: 6.5 minutes

Over the last several years, I have had so much fun decluttering my home and life.

• Giving away things that used to matter to me but don't anymore
• Gaining clarity
• Prioritizing my values
• Pursuing more meaningful work

But I was only able to do these things because:

• I view decluttering as a means to create my life rather than strip away the life I have.
• I woke up to the many lies I believed about decluttering that kept me stuck.

Changing my perspective toward decluttering and unsubscribing to the lies I once swore by put me on a path filled with decluttering success, which has also been extremely fun.

So today, I want to debunk 5 of the most believed lies about decluttering that are likely keeping you stuck on your journey.

And as it turns out, many of these are the lies I also believed.

Let's dive in.

Lie #1: Decluttering is only about the physical stuff

I started decluttering in 2016, and like most people, I devoted my attention to the material things cluttering my home.

• The unworn clothes piled high in my closet
• The knickknacks scattered across my living room

And for a while, I was making significant progress.

The excitement I felt from watching my physical environment change right in front of me was the fuel that kept me digging for more stuff to declutter.

But after a month or so of riding the wave of my decluttering success, I hit a wall and began to struggle.

Although my home was slowly morphing into the clutter-free space you see in my YouTube videos today, my life outside the house was still very cluttered.

• Mental space
• Emotional space
• Finances
• Commitments
• Relationships

This reality was the truth I needed to accept if I wanted to get unstuck. And so I did.

Here's the wisdom I want you to walk away with: Taking a holistic approach to decluttering can bring greater clarity and balance to your life.

Lie #2: Decluttering and staying clutter-free is impossible with kids

When Alexius and I got the confirmation that we were pregnant with our first child, a flood of emotions poured over me.

• Excitement (85%)
• Nervousness (10%)
• Overwhelm (5%)

A small piece of me was worried about how we would maintain our clutter-free lives with a growing family.

On top of this, many people I knew personally kept asking me about minimalism, and my YouTube channel and making comments like:

• "Good luck trying to own less"
• "You're going to need a lot of stuff"
• "When our kids were younger, we had {insert laundry list of needs}, so be prepared"

After answering many questions, I realized how many people believed this lie (and wanted me to believe it too).

But I wasn't convinced.

Now that I've been a dad for nearly nine months, I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that it is possible to declutter and stay clutter-free with kids.

And as our son grows, I will continue to share everything that works for us.

But here's how we've navigated this so far:

• Communicated with family often and early: Staying clutter-free with kids helps when you don't have a massive influx of unnecessary stuff coming in.
• Only buy what is needed: Let's talk clothing, for example. Our son has a small six-drawer dresser in his room. Four drawers contain all the clothes he needs from day 1 through 12 months (that's it).
• Prioritize experiences over more stuff: We took our son hiking a few weeks ago. To say he loved the views would be an understatement.

• Toy rotations: We set boundaries for toy storage in our home, and from that storage space, we rotate the number of toys we have out at a time for our son to play with.
• Skip the unnecessary gadgets: It's necessary to recognize that every child's needs differ. But many things that we were told we'd "need" and would make owning less complicated, we never bought.

If you have kids or plan to someday, I challenge you to swim against the current on this belief as we have.

Lie #3: I'm worried my home will look boring

One misconception about decluttering is the belief that it requires eliminating all color and personality from your home.

I often receive questions about why minimalists tend to decorate their homes using monochromatic colors.

And ironically, my home decor reflects the very essence of these questions.

But if I put myself in your shoes, I understand your reservations about decluttering.

However, based on my experience owning both a vibrant red couch and a subtle mist grey couch, I can confidently assure you that there is no direct relationship between:

• The process of decluttering
• The color scheme of your decor, and
• How your home feels to you.

It's crucial to remember that a decluttered life is filled with the things you genuinely value. And if you love color, embrace it!

There are numerous ways to incorporate color into your home, closets, and life without feeling overwhelmed or cluttered.

Lie #4: My identity is tied to my possessions

Before I began my decluttering journey, I strongly believed that my identity was closely tied to my possessions.

For a long time, this belief held me back, as the idea of letting go of my belongings felt like losing a part of myself.

However, an AHA occurred when I posed a crucial question to myself:

"Who would I be if all I had was myself and a mirror in front of me?"

This question challenged my thinking and helped me realize two things:

• The notion that my identity relied on my possessions was a significant falsehood.
• Our true identity is not defined by what we own; it is shaped by our character, values, achievements, experiences, and contributions to the world.

If you also hold onto this misconception, I urge you to release it.

Embracing this truth will empower you to embark on a decluttering journey that fosters personal growth, self-discovery, and the creation of an environment that aligns with your authentic self.

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind:

• Evolving Identities: This is your reminder that identities are not static. We grow and evolve, and our interests and preferences can change. I encourage you to let go of possessions that no longer serve you so that you can allow space for new experiences and personal development.
• Self-Expression: True self-expression comes from within, not from external possessions. This means you can express yourself through your actions, creative endeavors, and personal style rather than relying solely on material items.
• Self-Reflection: Spend quality time reflecting on the core aspects of your identity, such as your values, passions, and aspirations. These fundamental elements of identity are not contingent upon material possessions.
  
  

Lie #5: I'm wasting money

Before decluttering, I had a closet filled with more clothes and shoes than I could ever wear. Most were either worn once or brand new with tags still on them.

This made it challenging to declutter because I felt like I was wasting money every time I started to let things go.

So I had a tough decision to make.

Do I keep everything and lie to myself about wearing them someday? Or do I let things go and realize that the money I'm trying not to waste is already gone?

In the midst of this tug-of-war, I learned a valuable lesson.

Holding onto unused or unnecessary possessions can be more wasteful in the long run than the perceived loss of the initial investment.

Here's why.

• Opportunity Cost: Keeping items that no longer serve a purpose ties up valuable space in our homes and lives. By decluttering, we create room for new experiences, opportunities, and items that align with our current needs and desires.
• Maintenance Costs: Possessions require time and effort to clean, maintain, and store. (The more you own, the more you have to manage). By decluttering, we can minimize these costs associated with upkeep, allowing us to focus our resources on more meaningful activities and experiences.
  
  

In summary

Believing any of the five lies can and will be detrimental to your decluttering journey causing you to remain stuck.

• Decluttering is only about the physical stuff
• Decluttering and staying clutter-free is impossible with kids
• I'm worried my home will look boring
• My identity is tied to my possessions
• I'm wasting money

To avoid this, you must change your perspective toward decluttering and unsubscribe from these lies for good.

Do that, and you'll make more decluttering progress while having a ton of fun along the way.

⇨ This week's action step: Look at your decluttering journey and the progress you've made so far. What lie do you believe is keeping you stuck? Commit to unsubscribing from that lie and take note of the difference that makes.

That's it for today!

Keep growing on your journey, and I'll see you next week.
 

Whenever you're ready, here's how I can help you:

If you're looking for clarity and traction on your journey, I'd recommend starting with an affordable course:

⇨ The Decluttering Starter Kit: Skip the overwhelm and jumpstart your decluttering journey. This comprehensive course will teach and guide you through the system I used to transform my life from clutter to clarity. Get access here.