I can see how this has played out in my own life vs my husband’s life. In my parents house we weren’t allowed to leave the table until we had finished what was on our plates; in my parents’-in-law place if you didn’t eat what was served that was fine but you didn’t get anything else until you learnt to cook.

These days I have to remember that (1) just because someone has decided that a certain amount is a good serving portion, doesn’t mean I have to eat it all; (2) if I serve myself and end up realising I have too much I don’t have to eat it all simply because it is on my plate; and (3) I’m not obliged to “help” my husband finish his dinner to avoid “wasting food”. Fortunately my genetics have saved me from being overweight.

Adele – don’t you think that you’ll have inflicted a time-waste on your host? They’ll spend how long? trying to find the owner to return it. Unless you explain to them early on that you don’t want it and if you “forget” it to not return it to you.

We are not equal to what we own.

What we own may reflect our values, but I disagree with the idea that we are = our stuff.

Too many people respond to commercials on tv like this–we will be sexy if we have a sexy car, we will be popular if we have a nice handbag, by having a quality chair, we are quality, be being slim and in shape, we will be a lovely person. This is really not true. Let’s not fall for that thinking.

That’s not to say that I don’t agree with the need to get rid of stuff. I’m working on it. Of course, when hubby doesn’t feel the same, things are a bit more complicated….

Think and act in the moment and the cluttered life doesn’t happen.

As for clutter being built-in, I tend to be pretty chaotic about my stuff, but by making conscious decisions and making myself aware of what I’m bringing into the house or holding onto, I’ve learned to be clutter-free. So much so that I became an organizer!

Some other fun sayings for thought:

- “Own your stuff, don’t let it own you.”
- “Enjoy your stuff, don’t identify with it.”
- “Do the Tao now.”

I appreciate the awareness Danielle brings to the justifications people use to keep the stuff that doesn’t serve them. One thing to add is that in order to choose in alignment with my heart, I need to be able to hear what my heart is drawn to. Not everyone is in touch with that, hence, surrounding ones self with things that they get or keep for the wrong reasons.

That’s a very interesting way of looking at things.

For some of use it goes way back…back to age two. Being corrected for saying “no!” or “mine!” If you can’t say those two words, it’s always going to be tough to deal with clutter.

These are great tips. Truly simple enough to follow, and also inspirational. Thank you!

However I take exception to: “The “default” choices to let stuff into your life that doesn’t really match your true self.” [Which, now that I read it, isn't even a sentence, but I digress.]

My point is that, alas, a cluttered life, mind, heart and home is, in fact, many, many people’s true self.

Also, #2 “Keeping what we hate/don’t like just because it’s something” is an area of my life that I have recently opened my eyes to and have been working through it internally. I would have evicted that clutter long ago, but don’t have what I need to replace it. However, I am finally to the point where I am ready to get rid of it all and just live with bare walls, bare floor, whatever, rather than to keep living with the clutter. Hopefully, the universe (or maybe just a thoughtful friend or relative), will help me obtain what I will love, use and want!