Cleaning a Closet

I cleaned out a closet the other day. “Yes,” you’re saying to yourself, “she lives such a glamorous life.” So true.

I cleaned out a walk-in closet in preparation for a much needed paint job. It’s been nine years since the closet was empty, let alone painted. It’s past time for a thorough overhaul.

As I toted yet another armful of hanging clothes out, it occurred to me that I have way too much stuff. I was carrying junk I don’t wear and don’t even like too much, and I was carrying too much of it. And it wasn’t just clothes. What were my high school yearbooks doing in there? Baby toys? (My kids are teens.) Two dozen books, a broken video camera, three shoeboxes full of photos, and assorted suitcases? In my clothes closet?

As I plopped the detritus of the closet into its Temporary Storage Area, I decided that the only things going back in the closet are things I really want in there.

Things I use.

Things I like.

Things that make me feel happy.

Thank goodness for paint jobs. Without this upcoming one, I wouldn’t have taken the time to take a hard look at my stuff, dust the shelves and give the corners a good vacuuming.

Then it hit me: there’s plenty of stuff to clean out of other closets. Like the closet between my ears. There’s plenty of junk in there that’s outdated, that I don’t like, and that doesn’t make me particularly happy.

How about you? Is now the time to get rid of the excess stuff you’ve accumulated — to streamline your life and your thoughts so you can be your best self?

Maybe you have an outdated idea about yourself — and it’s holding you back. I worked with a woman recently who views herself as a struggling young homemaker, although her home is paid off, there is money in the bank and her kids are ready to go to college. Seeing herself as struggling feels comfortable, controllable and somehow appropriate. It’s the way she’s defined herself. It’s her comfort zone. Not a happy comfort zone, but a comfort zone nonetheless.

She needs to clean out that closet.

Whether you’re literally or figuratively ready to clean out a closet, now’s the time. Examine everything that comes out of your closet — does it fit? Is it in good shape? Does it bring out the best in you? Do you like it? If your answer is “yes”, keep it. If the answer is “no”, give it away.

Letting go of that which holds us back or weighs us down, allows space to open for us to grow and start something new. It’s time to clean closets.