Luke 12:15 – And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

Gratitude Day 913

I didn’t just wake up one day and decide to get rid of a lot of stuff. No, it happened slowly. A little bit at a time. It has been one small change after another. A few pieces of clothing. Some books. Gifting a piece of furniture. Blessing an item to someone who really needs it.

I needed time and space to have less. A major overhaul wasn’t going to work for me. It was a slow and steady snail’s pace. I never counted how many items I got rid of. They just went away.

As I shared last week, there have been times when I was very intentional about getting rid of more stuff in a shorter period of time. And this was very helpful.

What did I discover through the process of letting go? Less is more. When I have fewer things in my life, I enjoy what I have more. I notice it more, appreciate it more and am more aware of exactly what I have because there is less competition.

Basically, the noise level in my life slowly decreased. I found empty space refreshing. Invigorating. Helpful.

Yet, I still struggle with feeling like there is more to get rid of in my life. Distractions that keep me from fully engaging with the better things in my life. Items that take up too much space in one way or another. And so, I’ve been challenging myself to think of how I could quickly eliminate some stuff in my life.

Here are a few thoughts. I suggest making these decisions quickly and having no regrets. Get rid of these things so you have more space in your life. A little wiggle room. Do it with a smile so you can feel lighter. Freer. Ready to allow for more margin in your life. If you have an hour, you might be able to do most of these things. Choose six today and six tomorrow. Or one for the next 12 days. As you let these things go, notice how you feel. Is there a little more spring in your step? I sure hope so.

120 Things to Remove From Your Life.

10 outdated items in your kitchen. Or 10 spices/condiments/sauces you haven’t used in a year.

10 articles of clothing that no longer fit. Your body or how you look at clothing today.

10 emails in your in-box. Hmmm, I could probably eliminate 50 or 100. Start with a comfortable number. Just hit, “Delete.” If they are more than two years old, will you ever really get to them?

10 goals, hopes or dreams you had for yourself but no longer serve you. If those ideas aren’t part of your future, give yourself a gift. Let me go and give yourself permission to dream up new ones that will fit into your future.

10 folders of paper that you haven’t looked at in years. Let. Them. Go.

10 books you’ve read. Give them to someone who might like them. You can always get another copy or more books.

10 social media people you follow or are friends. Are they really your friends? Would you ever have a real conversation with them?

10 broken items in your house. Will you ever really get them repaired? Unless there is significant sentimental value, let them go.

10 coffee mugs or glasses. Keep your absolute favorites.

10 items from what you would consider your junk drawer/stash. Would it be helpful to just get rid of the whole drawer? You decide.

10 items you can donate to a place in need. Find a shelter, food pantry, and/or clothing closet that could use sheets, blankets, pillows, towels and other things you have too much of.

10 storage containers. How many old Cool Whip bowls, containers with no lids or old ice cream buckets do you really need? Get. Rid. Of. Them.

Maybe there is one of these categories that doesn’t fit you. No problem. Skip it and come up with a category that does relate to you.

As quickly as you decide what to eliminate, just as quickly, make arrangements to get rid of this stuff.

I have discovered that having less allows me to appreciate what I have more. It gives me time to focus on things that are really more important to me. Provides me margin of time, energy and commitment. It also reminds me that too often, I hold a little too tight onto some things. If it is no longer blessing me, why not release it to someone else how might benefit from it? Coveting the wrong things isn’t helpful. Letting go of these things helps me be more aware of exactly what is important to me … and letting the rest of it go.

After you have completed getting rid of 120 things, let me know how this felt! Did it change how you think about what’s important to you? Do you feel more space and margin in your life? Are you curious about how this encourages you to think about what else you might be able to eliminate?

Have a blessed day.

For feeling lighter as I have less, I am very grateful.
Blessings –
Dianne

Holy God – Too often, I put my confident and faith in the wrong things. Worldly things. Earthly desires. Encourage me to eliminate some of the distractions in my life. May I discover space and margin with having less. Amen.

Looking for a bit of daily inspiration? Check out my daily affirmation posts on Facebook (Dianne Deaton Vielhuber and Simple Words of Faith) or on Instagram (diannedeatonvielhuber.)

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