Decluttering the Past: How Letting Go of Stuff Opened Space for Life and Growth

Isn't it fascinating how the same concept of "home" can feel so different to different family members?

For my mother, home was defined by fullness: A stocked fridge, a pantry ready for a month, closets filled with clothes, and drawers overflowing with "just-in-case" items. Born after World War II, she inherited the subconscious belief that safety and comfort meant having enough of everything.

For a long time, I believed the same—until life took me somewhere very different and taught me the benefits and energetic effects of decluttering.

 

From "Just in Case" to "Just Enough"

At 29, I left for my first humanitarian mission abroad. My job came with furnished housing, and I was allowed 73 kilos of personal belongings—everything I would need to feel at home for at least a year.

At first, it was hard to pack. The country and location I was heading to had no period products in shops at that time, so I focused on ensuring hygiene needs for at least 12 months. I added a few books since there was no French-speaking library either and that mobile phone was just to call and had only one game on it, and the internet was still at the slow 56k speed modem pace, a few photos, and a piece of fabric from home to have something familiar in my room. I had no other choice than decluttering my needs to carry what I truly needed.

My room felt sterile and unfamiliar. I missed the warm, snuggly cocoon of my house. It felt like I was living in a hotel, not a home.

But slowly, something shifted.

 

Learning What Actually Matters

By my second mission, I had travelled differently. I had brought fewer "just-in-case" things and more of what actually made me feel good—a few spices I loved cooking with and a kitchen tool that sparked creativity. I could also feel the energetic effects of decluttering, feeling renewed from the inside out.

On my third mission, I added things to help me unwind—pencils, a sketchpad, DVDs, etc. The need for "stuff" faded, and I became more intentional about what I brought.

When I finally came home after five years, I opened my storage unit and barely recognised what was inside—and who I once was. What once felt essential now felt heavy and irrelevant. I thought it would be my biggest decluttering, and I donated most of it. Yet, after over a decade in Switzerland, I decided to move to Greece, and again, I went through decluttering a decade of "stuff." Therefore, it is now something I do regularly.

And I didn't miss any of it.

 

My Mother's House, My House

My home has become functional and straightforward. My closet holds only what I wear regularly and a few seasonal pieces.

By contrast, my mother's wardrobe was for a long time a tribute to decades of fashion—some of it has not been worn in years. However, over the past few years, she has also begun to let go of things.

Bit by bit, she began letting go. The books she wouldn't read again. The decorations she no longer liked. The drawers of things she kept "just in case." Each time she decluttered, she started grasping fully the energetic effects of decluttering and would state in the sight of content something simple and powerful:

"I feel like I can breathe better."

 

The Emotional Weight of Objects

We don't often think about it, but objects hold energy—and emotion.

That pair of jeans from a decade ago? It may carry more than fabric. It could whisper old memories, stir up judgment, or keep you stuck in a past version of yourself.

The awkward gift from a friend you no longer speak to? That might still tug on emotional strings you thought were long gone.

These objects can anchor us to places and people we've outgrown, making moving forward feel harder than it needs to be. That is where decluttering becomes a potent tool to free ourselves from the past.

 

 

Decluttering as an Act of Self-Love

Letting go isn't just about cleaning up.

🎁 It's about healing.

🎁 It's about choosing space over clutter.

🎁 It's about making room for what actually supports the person you are now.

If you were raised with a "just-in-case" mindset, start small. Don't toss everything overnight. Begin with one drawer. One box. One stack of papers you haven't looked at in years.

That's enough. That's a powerful start.

 

The Space You Create Welcomes More Than Objects

As my mother and I learned—in our respective ways—the energetic effects of decluttering are that the more physical space you create, the more emotional and energetic space opens up, too.

And often, the things that rush in to fill it aren't things at all.

• They're new friendships.
• Exciting opportunities.
• More freedom to say yes or no on your terms.
• Adventures you hadn't dared to consider before.

So go ahead — clear that shelf.

Donate those old clothes.

Release what no longer serves you.

 

You might be surprised by what you find next.

Have you ever decluttered something that felt more emotional than physical?

What did you learn from the experience? I'd love to hear your story in the comments.

 

How about jumping into a first and fun decluttering step with all the memories you piled up in drawers?

Jump on our creative inspiration for this month! 

Decluttering the Past: Scrapbooking Your Memories to Honour Your Life

 

 

 

Photo credit: Canva