The comment thread – that space where participants can connect with one another if it moves them to share their personal triumphs and challenges with clearing – is one of my favorite aspects of having online courses. I check it often.
While most everyone seems to find my baby-step approach to clearing refreshing and energizing, not everyone is convinced. Occasionally there will be a post from someone who is mystified by my counter-intuitive invitations to dial it down. Like this comment, for example:
“I’m still not understanding how these exercises are supposed to help or motivate to clear things in our homes… I would really find it much more helpful if future lessons focused instead on specific areas of the home, encouraging us to work on that area for the day. I am trying very hard to stick with this, but I really need good solid encouragement, and the ‘lessons’ here seem irrelevant to me. Thank you!”
So if you too are wondering where the there-there is in all of this clearing business that I write and teach about, perhaps my response might shed some light:
Hello everyone!
I wanted to respond to those for whom it feels like “nothing is happening.” Or were hoping for more concrete tips on how to clear their homes.
This is not a “how-to” course in the traditional sense. It is more about practicing how-to-not- “do” in order to allow the emotional stuckness and resisting patterns (that are encoded in the clutter) to soften, and bubble up, and release.
From the mind’s point of view (which is attached and locked into old habits), this concept is mystifying. For clearing to be ultimately sustainable and lasting, we need to practice ways of not engaging the heavily-attached mind. That is why this course is designed the way it is: to cultivate the four S’s: slowing down, simplifying, sensing, and self-care.
As you may recall me saying in the Introduction to this course (which I invite everyone to read over and over again): Clearing is an opportunity to bring compassionate awareness to the places in your home and life that are out of balance. Clearing is a journey that can be messy, and meandering; a journey that doesn’t always add up, make sense, or go in a straight line. Clearing is a daily practice that starts where you are.
Remember, all you need to get the energy moving in your home and life is to clear one thing – a paper clip, a toothpick… even one hairball. Every day. With awareness.
Like a butterfly’s wings in one part of the world creating massive weather changes in another, so too can baby steps lead to a sea change in your life – a clearing movement of global proportions.
Wishing you all the very best in your journey. Have fun this!
Stephanie
p.s. Some of you might find this helpful too: It’s a post I wrote some time ago in response to a participant who was feeling a lot of despair. You can read it here.
Learn more about my online courses at DailyOM HERE.
I discovered your work a few years ago. Read the first book, and am slowly working my way through the revision. Took the DailyOm class (loved it), and received the 30 day reminders and wished I could sign up for them again and again. Have even listened to a few workshops you’ve done. S-L-O-W-L-Y I think this stuff is finally sinking in. I still tend to clean in spurts, and even though things go out the door, it never feels like I’m making much progress.
The other day I realized first, that a few positive opportunities have started to show up in my life. “Hmmm. That’s new! Perhaps this energy thing is actually moving something, after all.”
Second, the real miracle may have occurred. In response to the “New Year, New You” class (I’m still on lesson 2) I decided I needed to clean the dining room table and keep it clear. Almost immediately the clutter on top of it doubled: my husband’s printer took up residence, papers, books, recipes all exploded. I began to wonder if this wasn’t mere “coincidence.” (I know, there’s no such thing…) So a couple days ago I decided to quit fighting the table. Now, I just look at the clutter and know that all I have to do is move one thing. I still need work on remembering to notice how that feels, but I am getting better at that throughout the day, so it’s just a matter of time. The clutter on the table still makes me crazy, but I AM tired of fighting it. Hopefully I’ll shift focus to the positive feelings and then watch the next miracle occur. Let’s hope.
Thanks for providing me with a different and more balanced approach to something I have KNOWN was more than just the need to round up 3 boxes (keep, toss, maybe).
Terrie
Loved your reply, Terrie! Thank you for sharing your ups and downs and miracle moments with all of this clearing business.
We can all relate to the clearing “in spurts.” And omigosh, the “fighting”! Yes, we’ve all been there and been so utterly exhausted and tortured by it. And it never works to fight, and push, and effort, and rant and rave….
So why not just embrace it, right?
What I love about your note is your willingness to surrender the reality of “stuff,” and giving the emotions (that are encoded in that stuff) space to be – without judging them as good or bad.
This IS the work, and you’re doing it, Terrie! BRAVO, hang in there and love yourself no matter what!
p.s. I hope you don’t mind if I use your comment in a future blog post. I won’t mention your name. It’s stories like yours that give us all hope! So thank you for sharing yours.