Anna
Sometimes you don’t even realise that the way you’ve learnt to be is actually getting in the way of what you want.
I don’t say this to shame because it’s an ongoing conversation. We’re all surviving something from one degree to another.
Inevitably, life trips us all up at some point and that teaches us a lesson. Whether or not that is a helpful lesson is what I want to question here.
We all learn survival strategies to protect ourselves, and they probably work for a time.
But they have expiration dates.
Yep, we can unknowingly be living with expired survival strategies.
Anna, what’s this got to do with organising and decluttering?
For some, it’s over consumption because going without once felt unbearable.
For some, it’s hyper independence because trusting people didn’t pay off, so they refuse to ask for help.
For some, it’s holding onto everything because they’ve lost too much already.
For some, it’s avoidance because facing the truth is too painful.
Or maybe things were left unsaid so you feel you need to make sure everything is accounted for and covered.
What once served you in one season is what might be keeping you trapped in the present season.
I haven’t got an overnight fix.
But I can give you a tip to start unpicking these subconscious survival strategies.
And they really can be so subtle; sometimes it takes someone holding up a mirror to even know they’re in play.
Why hold up a mirror if you don’t know it’s there?
Because you could be living more freely, more connected, less heavy, less alone.
Once you start seeing it, you then actually have a choice rather than being bound to the survival self.
My key tip to start with:
Get curious.
Is what I’m doing with my belongings a conscious choice or is this an old survival strategy kicking into gear and making the decision for me?
Our homes often tell a story of what we’ve been through.
Yes, it is that deep.
I’m not saying to become a minimalist or get rid of everything that comes from the survival strategy. I’m not even saying go get a bin bag and chuck loads into it to feel better.
Smaller steps.
I’m saying that awareness creates choice.
Anna ✌️