“Why do I have so much clutter?”
Declutter, the
Feng Shui Way!
By Lia Menna Gross
If your home is making you feel disheveled and stressed, chances are you’re also feeling that way internally.
By now you’ve probably heard of the phenom known as “decluttering”.
You may have even stumbled upon a little known show about Marie Kondo and her “Art of Tidying Up”.
Perhaps you ventured to buy into this trend and started tossing out knick-knacks that were collecting dust and old clothes that were impossible to zip up without having to do the 1-2-3 “Heave” and jumping on the bed for good measure.
Felt good, right?!
Well, if you enjoyed that, you’ve got to try decluttering–the Feng Shui way!
But first, a little history on clutt-ah!
The History of Clutter
The clutter craze began showing up in American culture during the Victorian era when the steel and oil boom led to a rise in affluence.
A room full of furniture, paintings on every wall, vases and decorative collections - these were all a sign of wealth.
People were imitating the aristocrats of Europe and the economy by sustaining this lifestyle.
This continued into the 20th century until the Great Depression & WWII hit.
Flash forward to today’s world and the average American has so much stuff they can’t even park in their garages AND they’re paying monthly storage fees to house more things!
When I ask clients what they’re storing, the response is typically, “I don’t even know.”
Now let’s take it to 2011, and the rise of the storage industry:
Each growing suburban city has one popping up on every corner (and typically with a carwash right next door).
The clutter bug isn’t something new - it’s been going on for centuries.
So the question becomes, “Why? Why do we have so much clutter?”
This is where Feng Shui comes in.
The Feng Shui-Clutter Connection
Feng Shui originated as a healing modality as a part of traditional Chinese medicine roughly 4,000 years ago.
Everything within our home carries a story - a story that is solidified by beliefs. These beliefs (and a lot of the time, limiting beliefs) create our reality, which is what creates our story.
And this old story, it continues to play out in our minds and in our lives because it’s so tightly anchored into our being by the very things we keep in our homes. It keeps us stuck in the past and inhibits us from moving forward.
In essence, this is clutter.
How does clutter affect you physically?
Clutter at the minute level affects everyone in different ways, but overall, here’s what it’s doing to your home (and your body):
Blocks new ch’i and opportunities from coming into our lives.
Inhibits sleep which can increase your risk of depression or anxiety.
Triggers our nervous system, putting it into fight, flight or freeze. If you’re feeling dissociated, definitely declutter; if you’re in a state of freeze, start moving things around in your home in addition to decluttering.
What does science say on the matter?
A study conducted by UCLA of married couples found that women, in particular (due to their heightened responsibilities around the home as notated in this study), had higher cortisol levels compatible with how “stressed” or “overwhelmed” they described their homes.
University of New Mexico researchers found that the level of pleasure one experiences in their home can be compromised by clutteredness.
Home as a metaphor for you
The Feng Shui belief is that home is a metaphor for you.
As you begin to let go of the things that no longer serve you, you’re simultaneously pulling out the pages that no longer belong to your story.
You’re empowered to take intentional action to rewrite it.
You do this according to your own thoughts, your own intentions and your own dreams.
I invite you to see clutter and your home as an area of opportunity - there is endless potential for growth right in front of you!