Last month, we explored how to declutter items that don’t hold particular significant emotional ties. Now we’re stuck dealing with possessions that carry a lot of emotional baggage, making it harder to let go.
The Consequences of Holding On
Do you have trouble getting rid of things you no longer love or use? Often, an inability to declutter stems from the emotions we associate with our belongings. Our feelings cloud our judgment, preventing us from achieving what God wants us to do. Decluttering is difficult when we have emotions tied to the items we are sorting through. Yet we know some of our possessions may hinder us from receiving all God has in store for us.
Both physical and emotional clutter consume our time, space, and money. Clutter robs us of peace, keeps us locked in the past, and damages our self-esteem. An unhealthy emotional attachment to stuff is when we obsess over an item that we no longer love or use.
This book examines the complexities of building lasting relationships. When we focus on what love is not, it gives us a better understanding of how to evaluate our relationships. If we identify shortcomings, each chapter offers practical tips for cultivating a more compassionate expression of love.
My hope is that these lessons help you love others more deeply, especially those in your daily life. Here’s a summary of the topics we will explore.
What Do We Do?
We need to pause, examine our thoughts, and change the ones that keep us feeling stuck. I will guide you through the process soon, but first, let’s look at how these stuck thoughts affect us.
When things are not going right, they can clutter our minds. Directly confronting our emotions often doesn’t work, as our feelings are rooted in our thoughts. The Bible tells us that we become what we think about. For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. ~PROVERBS 23:7 NKJV
Our thoughts lead to feelings, which direct our actions and ultimately our results However, we can transform our lives by changing what we say to ourselves and breaking the cycle of mental chaos.
Decluttering our emotions starts with taking control of our thoughts and aligning them with the truth of God’s Word.
Declutter Your Emotion
THOUGHTS: We often experience self-defeating thoughts, automatic thoughts characterized by extremes like “always” and “never,” or highly pessimistic thoughts.
FEELINGS: These thoughts can lead to a range of emotions, including anxiety, depression, fear, guilt, sadness, shame, unhappiness, or worry.
ACTIONS: As a result, we hang on to our stuff, even when it evokes negative memories. We might feel guilty about spending too much money on an item, or because it was a gift from our mom or grandma.
RESULTS: Consequently, our closets are overflowing. We may struggle with feelings of low self-worth, drown in guilt, and hesitate to invite anyone over.
Biblical Steps to Declutter Emotions
- Capture the Thought. Take control of your rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. ~ 2 CORINTHIANS 10:5
- Ask yourself, “Is It True?” Reflect on whatever is true regarding the stuff and emotions that you continue to hang on to. ~ PHILIPPIANS 4:8
- Substitute an Accurate Thought. Replace a negative thought with a more positive and accurate one. Focus on what is excellent and worthy of praise. ~ PHILIPPIANS 4:8
- Practice Changing Habits. Repeat the steps until they become a habit. Keep putting into practice all you learned. ~ PHILIPPIAN 4:9
Next month, we’ll explore how we can apply these principles to other self-defeating thoughts and emotions that keep us stuck.
