Day 3 - Dealing With Mental Overload

Welcome to Day 3 in our Clutter-Free Challenge.

After seeking God’s help with this de-cluttering process, the next step on our Clutter-Free journey deals with minds.  I’ll venture to say 75% or more of our clutter problems aren’t because we don’t work hard enough, or that our homes are too small or  our children are messy.  Most of our problems start because we can’t think through what needs to be done.  We can’t get our minds under control.  We can’t make decisions.  We are on mental overload.

Do you know that feeling?

For years, I lived with an ongoing sense that I should be doing something all the time. It ate at me. Even when I was focused on something important, there was a latent unease about what else I should be doing.  It was an underlying anxiety that hung around, even when there was no pressing deadline or responsibility.   It caused stress and lack of sleep.

Day 2 - I Align My Thoughts With God

Welcome back to Day Two in our Clutter-Free Challenge.  I’m so glad you are here.
Today we are going to start in the command center of our de-cluttering journey – our minds.

It’s not usually a lack of energy that holds us back.  It’s not too-small cabinets.  It’s not a lack of a garage that keeps us from being able to make decisions about what to do with our stuff.  It’s our minds, our thoughts, our mental processing.  Let me give you examples of what I mean.

*I’ve looked at a to-do list that is waaaaaay too long, felt overwhelmed and made a decision to turn on the TV.  What a self-defeating decision.
*I’ve looked at an overflowing closet and thought “Maybe those too-small shoes won’t hurt me next time I wear them.”  Not  logical.  They will.
*I’ve held on to a gift I will never use, in order to avoid hurting someone’s feelings.  That seems like a nice thing to do, but I’m being controlled by my assumptions and fear of rejection.

Day 1 - Welcome to the Challenge

 Welcome! I am SO HAPPY you have decided to join me for a 15-Day Clutter-FREE Challenge.  I’ve been planning, preparing and praying over this for months, and I’m excited to begin.  Today I want to give you an overview of what this challenge will look like.  But first, I want to address what I know is on many of your minds. Maybe you are itching to get started, but if we don’t deal with what’s going on inside of us, we’ll only put bandages on the outside problem of clutter.  I want more for you than a temporary fix.

I know everyone is starting this challenge from a different place of optimism.  Some of you are charged up and ready to tackle the clutter in your lives.  Yet others are so discouraged and defeated, and we haven’t even started. You’ve tried everything, and you are ready to lock up your house and move.   I understand.  I’ve been in both places before.

The truth is, my mind can be my biggest enemy in this battle of the clutter.  I’m sure some of you can relate. We blame and label ourselves.  We compare and discourage ourselves.  We judge and give up on ourselves.  And so today, before giving you any tips, I want to start by praying for God’s truth to replace the lies that have held us back.  You see, this isn’t just a battle of “things,” it’s a spiritual battle.   Please pray with me before reading any more: