What’s In Your Basement?

I was recently talking with a friend of mine who was puzzled about her very own phenomenon… “How is it that my whole living space can be completely, almost OCD clean and orderly, but I can never seem to get in control in my basement?”

We both giggled.  Having cleared my basement out last year myself, I could totally relate to her frustration! She proceeded to say that she has a bunch of “old stuff” – scrapbooks, wedding pictures, old mementos, letters, and it is all in tubs, but she expressed frustration that she just needs to get rid of it, and somehow hasn’t made the time to do it.

I asked the big question:  “What’s the stuff in the basement mean to you?” – and she said quickly… “Nothing“.  And I said  “Really?  You might want to look a little deeper…”  She paused and shook her head, a little puzzled.

Do you have clutter in your home?

We hold onto things for reasons. We can say that it’s about time, or priorities, or too much work, and to be fair, sometimes these pressing external factors have a lot to do with it when stress is high and deadlines are tight.  But, you likely do make time for things that are important to you.  You may have coffee with a friend you haven’t seen, or make banana bread for the school function, or go to the movies with your kids on a rainy Saturday, or read a book on the deck on a sunny afternoon.  You may take the time to go out to dinner, or shopping, or even go to the gym daily.  And heaven knows we all make WAY TOO MUCH time for WORK!  In my experience, we will make time for the things that we want to do.

Back to the story…

Later that evening, I attended my local NAPO Chapter meeting… and who should be presenting… but a Feng Shui expert! According to Feng Shui consultants, “storage” or “clutter” has to do with your subconscious. Stored items can exist anywhere in our lives. Take a look around your space now and consider these 4,000-year-old words of wisdom.

According to Feng Shui, the basement in our homes represents the foundation of our life, the living spaces that we inhabit daily represent our present state, and the attic of our home represents our future.  So, clutter in any of these spaces represents “blocks” of energy flow in these areas of our subconscious.  Clutter in your basement has to do with holding the energy in your past. Clutter in your attic may prevent you from fully receiving positive energy and clarity for your future. Clutter in your living spaces has to do with opening room for positive chi to flow into the present. Clearing your clutter in your home means shifts in energy, and then dealing with any unresolved feelings or emotions that are keeping you stuck in those areas.

Flashback to my discussion…

After my friend thought about her basement for a few minutes – she said – “Yeah – you know what… all those mementos, pictures, old letters… it probably reminds me of when I was younger and had less on my plate.  I guess it’s when I felt more freedom to do what I wanted when I wanted!”

Ah Ha! (And that is why I love my job!)

With her insight, my friend is now free to choose when to prioritize clearing this area.  With more freedom as her goal – she can create space for it today by clearing out the stuff that she is holding on to from the past.  Clearing her stuff will get her much closer to realizing that freedom and making more room for it to come into her life.

What’s going on in your basement, attic or living spaces?  What does your stuff represent to you? How can you make room for what is missing today?  Is it time to clear out the old stuck energy to create more room for more positive energy to enter your life?

Need perspective? Try taking my free quizzes to assess the sanity of your Space, Systems, Self and Support to get started…

Need clarity? If you’re a mom experiencing that draining feeling of overwhelm, schedule a Discovery Call.

Need organizing help? Use my Home Spaces Assessment Form to dive right into your organizing project. Unsure of when to get rid of items and papers? My Time To Toss It E-Book was designed to help you determine when it’s time to let go.  If you’re a self-starter and want to get organized today, use my Dimensions Workbook – to guide you through your own organizing project.