12 Are You Sentimental or Stuck?

 

ARE YOU SENTIMENTAL OR STUCK?

Someone who is sentimental is strongly motivated to act by emotions and may hold onto things because of how he feels about them, rather than for practical reasons.

There’s nothing wrong with this, of course, except if you do it with too many things and you refuse to let anything go, then it becomes a problem.

If that happens, you may well be stuck. By that I mean that your emotions serve as a paralyzing force keeping you from moving forward – your feelings about your things take precedence over practical (financial, health & safety!) concerns.

• SENTIMENTAL: You save a few things that have positive memories associated with them.
• STUCK: You save everything with positive memories associated with them.

• SENTIMENTAL: You’re capable of tossing something that has a positive memory if you don’t have the space for it.
• STUCK: You can’t part with a special object no matter what!

• SENTIMENTAL: The select items you save honor an experience you had.
• STUCK: You save everything even if it is not particular to your own life experience.

• SENTIMENTAL: You discover you have multiple items associated with the same emotion or memory and choose the best one rather than saving them all.
• STUCK: You save all the items because you have had them for so long.

Being sentimental doesn't mean you are incapable of making decisions!

Often people experience anxiety with the prospect of letting go of items. They become so anxious about making decisions that they get stuck and don’t make any decisions. Some anxiety is normal, but it need not paralyze you!

*Begin by simply thinking about, visualizing in your mind, your select, most treasured items that will make the move.

Ask Yourself!

1.      Is there a treasured story attached to this item? -If the answer is no, leave the item behind. If yes …

2.      Does the story make you feel good? If not, leave it behind. If yes …

3.      Is the item relevant to your life today? If not leave it behind. If yes …

4.      Will I have the space to display it? If no, then #5. If yes, then place item on your Legacy List.

5.      Is there a family member or friend who would benefit from this item? If not, then #6. If yes, set item aside to be given to the family member or friend.

6.      Is there an organization that would benefit from this item? If no, leave it behind. If yes, set item aside to be donated.

Selecting the most treasured items rather than getting stuck on keeping every item will be essential to creating a safe and healthy home for years to come!

“You can be uncomfortable and not want to do this. That’s normal, but this needs to be done, and you can handle it.”

SOURCE: Zasio, R. (2014). The hoarder in you how to live a happier, healthier, uncluttered life. Dr. Robin Zasio. Rodale.