Whether in reaction to the current economic crisis, an unexpected change in life’s circumstances, or some other reason, downsizing is an opportunity for personal evolution. Downsizing; creating outward simplicity and inner abundance is an empowering process that calls for decisive action in response to insightful questions. What are you paying for at a financial, emotional, or spiritual price which you can not afford? Are you struggling to maintain a lifestyle built on other people’s ideas or are you building a lifestyle which will allow you to enjoy the things which you are striving so hard to obtain? The ability to effectively downsize externally as well as internally lies in our willingness to ask ourselves these key questions and to have the courage to answer them with purpose and action.
START with your end goals in mind. What do you enjoy most about your life? How can you get more if it? If wading through the “stuff’ in our homes leaves us feeling stressed and anxious we can choose to accumulate less and find ways to appreciate what we have more. We each have daily choices which can lead us closer to or divert us from our goals. Committing to your ultimate life’s goals can catalyze your desire to downsize and refocus. Knowing what you are working to accomplish gives you direction on where to invest your time, energy, and financial resources.
DE-JUNK. What are you holding onto that is preventing you from receiving more? Creating more space in our homes, schedules and minds infuses breathing space into our lives. Addressing our fears about letting go of things, as daunting as it may seem, gives us the courage to invite into our lives that which we need and truly desire. It is hard to pour fresh water into a glass that is already full. Overcoming a mentality of scarcity and minimizing cluttered thoughts allows us to cultivate an inner sense of abundance that then reflects outwardly in our lives.
RELEASE. Purging unused items from your home, removing unnecessary appointments from our calendars and dedicating more concentrated time once or a few times a week to get tasks done are all ways to simplify and release. Downsizing allows us to use our “extra” time to do more of what we love and to make time for mental rest and physical relaxation. Exercise your freedom to “terminate” non-productive behaviors and “lay-off” unnecessary appointments.
IN-JOY life. Give yourself permission to enjoy what you bring to your life. This includes both the financial rewards and the invaluable “freebies” of life. When we allow ourselves to find pleasure in all things, we create a well of abundance which is internally generating and in accordance of universal laws. When we choose to “in-joy” life, we also realize that we must make conscious choices to see the beauty and opportunity in life’s moments. Downsizing is part mental and part action. We do not have to depend on others for something which we can create and demonstrate ourselves. Most people want more than only money from their lives. We can choose to enjoy money and the things which it brings without being trapped by them or let them define us.
Stretching ourselves too thin reduces are ability to enjoy, produce, and focus. We must remember that fear, stubbornness and pride affect our perceptions. Downsizing is an opportunity to surmount these obstacles. You deserve to be inwardly rich. You can get what you want in ways that are personally fulfilling, life-sustaining and based on conscious decisions. Take time to look at where you are, your more fulfilling life could be hidden behind all of your “stuff”. Downsizing to be outwardly simple and inwardly abundant allows us to reap the rewards being more in-tune with our selves and to lead our authentic lives!
