Let it GO! Decluttering (simplifying) your life of (people, places or things) success stories?

snoo61 wrote: »

NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »

snoo61 wrote: »

NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »

snoo61 wrote: »

Snowflake1968 wrote: »

NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »

louisegreen90475 wrote: »

barbp7 wrote: »

I know, that's a bad attitude. I will really try to get rid of those too big clothes!!

Just keep one size bigger. Up ten pounds only. Get rid of the rest. When you need the bigger clothes then you know it is time to get back to work

This is a good idea. Also, I would "maybe" keep just ONE pair of my largest size ever ( mine was a 22w...which I got rid of ALL of my "fat" clothes) I KINDA wish I would have kept one pair just for the comparison when I reach my goal). I give away or toss all of the clothes that are too big for me. The reason I do that is because by The Grace of God I will not EVER be going back to those sizes or lifestyle ever again in life and I can't WON'T hold on to anything anymore that I'm done with.

I get rid of all of mine as well. The first time I lost weight I didn't and I think it allowed me to gain back without real consequence. The second time I had started getting rid of my clothes and it helped kickstart me to get back into better habits this time. So now I get rid of even more, including pajamas!

Pajamas! I haven't even tried them on, the ones that were too small but I love them, OMG! Thank you!

Girl...Pajamas indeed--who'd thunk it? I LOVE that yours were too small, so now, as you get down to size you'll be able to rock them HARD! What's funny and not so funny is a LOT of my loungewear/pj type of things I couldn't fit for the longest time--too small. THEN as I started the weight blastification in December, these things began/are NOW swimming on me. When I said "lingerie" what I meant lovely pj gowns with matching robes, super cute caftans and lounging robes mega comfortable and again, PRETTY thingys like these--things you "could" possible where outside or in the backyard--so many gorgeous things I'm actually sorry to get rid of now, but LET IT GO I will.

Ya know, super CUTE stuff like this--I held on to a LOT of stuff like this, because even though they are now swimming on me, again, I just didn't even consider LETTING GO these type of "comfortable lounging" things away.

How lovely! Just think how beautiful new ones will be!

Snoo, you bless my heart so much, so encouraging you are--I LOVE the way you think. THANK YOU! Also, as we get down to size and meeting our goals, it would be so wonderful to have a tailor or better yet, if you can and want to sew, how tremendous that would be! I've been hunting for a tailor that doesn't charge an arm and leg. The tailors I've been to thus far want FAR too much money . I've been looking around for a good tailor all this summer.

Have you tried dry cleaners? I've heard they are reasonable.

I've tried a few in the area, and the work was just okay and the price--meh, so-so too, but THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER, I'll look around some more cleaners (in different areas)--you ROCK, period.

I found this article by Stephen Guise ( I just love reading and applying his articles) and I think it may "motivate" some of us:



It's Not How, But When to Get Motivated
by Stehen Guise
Caption: Motivation is like a train. Used incorrectly, such as outside of the tracks, it won't work. But if it's moving on the tracks, good luck stopping it!

Motivation is misunderstood. Most people think that its primary use is to incite action, but that's akin to using a hairbrush to brush your teeth. It might even work sometimes, but not effectively.

What People Think: Motivation > Action > Results
What's Actually True: Action > Motivation > Results *OR* Action > Results > Motivation > Results

Some people think I'm anti-motivational, but I'm only against the way that people are taught to use it (motivation > action).

If you depend on motivation to take action, you will not achieve goals. Why? Because even a small amount of resistance, whether internal or external, can swiftly kill any feelings of motivation.

There are two types of motivation that I've talked about before. Only one type—a reason for action—is required to take action. That type does not fluctuate based on the weather or the type of morning you've had. The other type is as strong as a graham cracker—it will crumble under mild pressure.

The Correct Impetus for Action

The ideal driving force for action is not motivation. It's choice. If you choose to do something, it should be as good as done. Until you get to the point where that is your perspective, you will struggle to live your best life. The moment you decide that motivation is your driving force, you have failed.

Relying on motivation means that you'll do whatever you feel like doing. And so life becomes this never-ending battle of trying to manipulate your feelings to suit your needs.

I'm not twisting that around to fit my narrative. That's literally the definition of motivation: the general desire or willingness of someone to do something. Think about the implications of doing whatever you feel like doing. That means you have no control over your life, because no human can reliably control their feelings. It means you will almost always take the path of least resistance (which is rarely the preferred path).

Compare that mess to choice-driven actions, which aren't based on how you feel, but on exactly how you want to live. It's an astounding difference, and likely the key difference between successful and unsuccessful people. But this article isn't merely about bashing motivation, it's about wielding it correctly.

It's Not How, But When to Get Motivated

The question people always ask is "how do I get motivated?" The better question is when, and people don't ask that because they (incorrectly) assume that when is right before you want to take action.

At what point should you pump the loud music, think about your dreams, and recite powerful quotes to supercharge your motivation?

After you've already begun taking action.

As for why you'd do this after action and not before it? Motivation is not a starter, it's an accelerator. Getting motivated often fails to overcome initial resistance to action, but it rarely fails to help you run faster, lift more weight, or work harder.

There are fewer obstructions to getting motivated once you're in action. Here's some internal dialogue examples to help you see this and connect it to experiences in your own life.

Getting Motivated before action (internal dialogue):

I can do this! But I'm not doing it right now and I haven't been doing it lately... Hmm...
This is everything I want to do and be. So why aren't I doing it yet? Am I missing something?

Getting Motivated during action (internal dialogue):

I am doing this! Yes! Sssssomebody stop me!
I am in the process of becoming who I want to become! Let's goooo!

I think you get the point. When you begin action, you change the dynamic of the motivation game. Before you're in action, motivational thoughts are easily discouraged by the fact that you haven't done anything yet! But when you're in action, any motivational thought you have is like gasoline to a fire. That's why the best time to get motivated is after you begin action.

How to Begin Action Without Motivation

First, you must use a smart strategy, and the more you practice acting without motivation, the easier it will become. The best strategy I and thousands of others around the world have tried is the Mini Habits strategy, which teaches you how to shrink your goals down to bust through that initial resistance and change the motivation dynamic.

Taking action without motivation is actually easy if you have the correct mindset and aim, but it's also very easy to do things like have a small goal on paper and secretly intend to do more (which is no different from a typical goal that fails to get you started). That's where the Mini Habits book can help. It shows you how to approach your goals, mentally and on paper.

If you learn to overcome initial resistance and then get motivated, you'll experience a lot more success. Try it today. Set a small goal, like one push-up for exercise, or one house chore for cleaning, and after you begin, then try to get motivated. You'll never look back.

Cheers,

Stephen Guise
https://stephenguise.com/mini-habits/

snoo61 wrote: »

Thank you @NewLIFEstyle4ME , this verifies what I've been trying to do! I'll want to sit around all day, but I've been making myself do "just one thing". It really does get me going. Suddenly I've accomplished something!

My absolute pleasure!

Here's the Pdf of the first chapter of "mini-habits" I think you'll love it!

https://stephenguise.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Mini-Habits-Free-Chapter.pdf

christinedlg50 wrote: »

We are on the same wavelength! I feel that all the stuff stuff stuff I’ve “gathered” around me is actually mirroring what I’ve been doing to myself - stuff stuff stuffing myself and insulating myself and distracting myself rather than seeing loving being WITH myself!

I’m also in toxic people declutter mode! It’s been utterly amazing how much energy I’ve given away for so long to people and family who drain me and break me and put me down. I’ve started with one person and I plan to move on from there.

I’m reading/listening to a great book on Audible.com called TOXIC PARENTS. It’s been such a help!

I love we are on the same path and I’m grateful you started this thread! Thank you!

HOW I AM GETTING RID OF STUFF
I am giving most stuff away to local church and also donating to Salvation Army but somethings of value, I put on Facebook Marketplace and it goes pretty quickly! Also I use freecycle.org for other stuff for example, I gave away stacks of magazines to a collage artist! And bubble wrap and packing peanuts and empty Amazon boxes to someone moving! You can also post this stuff on Facebook marketplace too.

Looking forward to staying in touch here and supporting!

Hey Christine, you fabulous LETTING IT GO AND NOT LOOKIN BACK winner you! How impressive and inspirational you are. Thank you ever so VERY much for contributing to this thread. I super love and appreciate your tips as well.
{{{ Hugs }}}

Snowflake1968 wrote: »

Didn't really do anything about de-cluttering this weekend except move a couple things from the bench by my door to the car. One step closer to the thrift shop.

I moved my summer clothes to the back of the closet last night while I was putting laundry away. I'm battling with myself whether I should trust that I will continue on my downward trend this winter and these clothes will be too big next year. They were all getting loose this summer, but I don't want to get rid of them and then need them. By the time summer rolls around again we will be knee deep in wedding expenses for my daughter so I know I won't have money to spend on myself. I think that I will compromise with myself on this a little bit. If I am still losing in January I will get rid of them. I know if I can make it through to then I'll be good. I always get the need to lose hitting me in February LOL

I feel like I've let myself down in September and didn't reach my goals. I did lose, but no where near what I was hoping to. I'll take it a loss is a loss after all. Hopefully, October I can be more disciplined.

First Snow, honey you got some super good Genes, because you look mega young...maybe even in 20's or 30's. How beautiful you are. When I read "wedding for your daughter"...I'm was super amazed, because you look like you could be a mom of toddlers or babies. YAY YOU! How EXCELLENT that you've gotten stuff to the door and in the car, you ROCK!

Okay, on to this really important subject of big clothes and clothes in weight-loss in general. I'm a wee bit peeved with myself at how I got several jeans and stuff in sizes 14s and cute XLG tops and dresses in the springtime and summer and now, almost everything I got is too big, too loose and just don't fit me and I'm SORRY I got these things--makes me feel foolish and wasteful. Remember that super cute jean dress I talked about and posted a pic of? It's swimming on me now and looks, let's just say NO, now. This time, in my new size 12s I'm just getting a couple of pair of jeans, and basic (but CUTE & classic) wardrobe staples I can mix and match until I no longer need them. I thought SURE I'd be in the size 14s for much longer than I was. I want to be a better "stewart" of my money this round of sizes and plus getting/buying fewer pieces of size 12 and large/medium stuff will help with keeping my closet neat, organized and decluttered.

I aint keeping NOTHING that's too big for me, period. I've been down that road for years and years and I got my mind made up, I'm getting down to size ( after I meet my goal of getting to 153lbs--I'll be making a new goal of getting to 135-140lbs for my final size. I'd like to get into a size 7-8 and for me, that's around 135-140lbs...at least it was many many moons ago. I could CRY when I think about how much stuff I kept, with the VAIN wishing and a hoping idea that "maybe one day" and how that type of thinking kept me locked in a prison of "STUFF" and MESS, which in turn keep me all stressed and angry, which in turn kept me a tied up in knocks and confused, with contributed to me being a sloppy obese YUCK chick, no thanks. I could SCREAM AND CRY at the embarrassing amount of "STUFF" including an ungodly amount of fabulous clothes (many still with tags on them) and "stuff" I gav away and threw away. Shocking and actually disgusting amount of wasted money and out of control amount of stuff. No Ma'am--NEVER again, it's OUT with EVERYTHING I NO LONGER CAN ACTUALLY USE OR THAT I DON'T REALLY NEED. What's so shocking and enbarrassing is I DON'T EVEN MISS ANYTHING OF THE TON OF STUFF I GOT RID OF AT ALL--SHOCKING, DON'T MISS A THING--YIKES--I was soooo DECEIVED holding on to all that mess (in the name of memories, this was too expensive, i'll sell it and all those deceptions that kept me living in clutter and too much stuff and the oppression and depression that goes with that mess for years! I refuse to live in that cluttered unreality ever again as long as I live. I value lovely space and cluttered free environment (both in my head and in and around my home). The POWER that comes with living and THRIVING (no longer merely "surviving) in a lovely, clutter-FREE spacious home and thought life and not putting up with ANY mess from toxic, energy zapping, CRAZY-making and mind polluting people or stuff is priceless to me.

Nope, for me, the answer to more peace of mind, healthy relationship, watching the pounds/inches fall off of me without any exercise, eating whatever I want too, because I'm more STRESS/MESS free and at peace because of LET IT GO and the lovely space and orderliness that comes about because of the LET IT GO AND DON'T LOOK BACK, lifestyle is everythang, PERIOD.

{{{ Hugs }}}}