3 Simple Tips to Get Rid of Stuff When You’re Feeling Guilty

One of the greatest dilemmas many people face as they declutter is knowing what to get rid of. Many people fear that if they “get rid of it” they might need it later. 

This attitude comes from a scarcity mindset. (In fact, I despise the “get rid of” phrase because it causes so much anxiety with it’s implied negativity.) They’re afraid of feeling regretful later, which causes a lot of pain in the moment.

I have 3 simple tips to help you work through those feelings of fear and anxiety as you “get rid of” things you might need later.

Tip 01: Weigh your options

What are you giving up in order to keep that particular item? List the pros and cons of keeping the item. List things like 

• your ability to replace it or borrow it, 
• how much time and space you have to dedicate to keeping it, and 
• your emotions surrounding the item (are they good or bad?).

Seeing it written out in black and white can help you think more logically instead of emotionally. However, if you’re still not sure, pack it away in a box for a few months to see if you really miss it. 

Or choose an expiration date for when you need to let go of the item. Decide something like, “If it’s not used in the next 6 months/ year/ 18 months, I need to let it go.”

Tip 02: Practice gratitude

I used to think that gratitude was this whole new trend …turns out the saints have been doing it for years. Why? Because it allows you to focus more on positive instead of negative. Or abundance versus scarcity.

When you’re feeling anxious about giving up a particular item, you can: 

• write a list of reasons why you’re grateful to have had that item in your possession,
• offer a prayer of thanksgiving, or 
• share the story and reason behind the item to someone who wants to listen. 

(Listening to stories about items my clients are sorting is one of my very favorite parts of my job, and it helps them to let go.)

Tip 03: Align with your Master Plan

If you do the work on a Master Plan, you can decide if the item you’re fighting to hold on to fits in with what you decided. 

Does keeping that item help you achieve those Master Plan goals by giving you the type of home you want and the emotions you want to feel inside it?

Your goals should be to curate your home so you, your family, and your guests can feel calm, relaxed, and happy inside.