The Art of Letting Go

 The Art of Letting Go

We’ve all seen or at least heard of the TV show Hoarders. Some of us watch, with guilty fascination, our fellow humans trapping themselves inside walls of things. Psychologists have acknowledged hoarding as a mental illness. There’s anxiety that is associated with hoarding in an almost cyclic fashion. Anxiety is both a cause and a product of hoarding. Many of us that haven’t quite jumped the line between being packrats and being hoarders don’t realize that we are suffering from a milder version of a real condition. Not being able to get rid of that dress you’ll never wear again because MAYBE you’ll like it again some day. Or that trinket from that ex. Sometimes it’s the not throwing out some food in your fridge (that will inevitably go bad) because it’s wasteful and you MIGHT eat it. Sometimes it not letting go of that grudge you’ve fallen in love with against the person that has hurt you. We hold on to things far too long far too often.

I’ve come to believe there’s an art to letting go of things, feelings, spaces, and people that are toxic to us. And trust me, this toxicity isn’t only mental. Holding on to things prevents us from regularly clearing space. From dusting our homes, to mold growing in cracks and crevices. Holding on to seasonal things triggers un-wellness in the form of allergies, stress & anxiety, lack of focus, and more.

My suggestion is a spring cleaning of sorts. Open all the doors in your home and all the windows. Put on your favorite music or podcast. Burn some incense. Start with the things that are already out in the open if you tend to be a junkier person. Analyze anything you own that seems worn. Ask yourself why you feel the need to hold on to it. Sit with the emotions the items bring and release them as you release the items you’re holding on to. For me, I never get a deep cleaning like this done in one day. I just go room to room and do it. After this, your home will feel fresher and cleaner and your spirit will feel lighter.

Written by Del-Amina for Live Laugh Love Nashville 06/2017