Is Your Self-Talk Making It Harder to Declutter?

Have you ever opened a cupboard, looked at everything crammed inside, and decided that organizing it could wait until another day?

You're certainly not alone! Most of us have accumulated possessions we no longer use, yet somehow find it difficult to part with them. And the problem isn't always that we don't know how to get organized. Sometimes it's the thoughts and beliefs that accompany the process.

The Beliefs That Keep Us Holding On

Think about some of the messages you heard growing up. "Waste not, want not." "Money doesn't grow on trees." "You never know when you might need that."

These were often valuable lessons. They taught us to appreciate what we had, to be resourceful, and to avoid unnecessary waste. But sometimes the lessons that served us well in the past can become obstacles in the present.

We keep things because they might be useful someday, because we spent good money on them, or because someone special gave them to us. And even when we're ready to let go, we can become overwhelmed by the decisions involved in finding the best way to donate, sell, or recycle everything.

Suddenly, clearing a little space has become another enormous project in an already busy life.

Of course, there's a difference between ordinary clutter and a serious hoarding disorder, which may require professional help. But for the everyday organizing challenges most of us experience, examining our habitual thinking can be a useful place to begin.

What If Getting Organized Didn't Feel Like Such an Effort?

I remember when my automatic response to something that needed putting away was, "I'll do it later." And, of course, later often meant that the job simply joined all the other little jobs waiting for my attention. But after I began using our InnerTalk Joy of Spring Cleaning programs, something rather wonderful happened.

Instead of thinking, "I'll do it later," I found myself thinking, "Why not do it right now? It'll only take a few seconds."

What surprised me was how naturally that change occurred. I wasn't constantly reminding myself to be tidier or struggling to summon up more willpower. My thinking had changed, and my behavior seemed to follow. And I was loving it!

Those little decisions make an enormous difference over time. Putting something away immediately instead of leaving it on the counter may seem insignificant, but multiply that habit by all the little opportunities throughout the day, and it's easy to see how a home can become more organized without requiring a major cleaning effort.

The same principle can apply to letting go of possessions. Instead of automatically thinking, "I might need that someday," perhaps we can begin asking, "Is keeping this really adding something to my life?"

Sometimes creating a more peaceful home begins with changing the conversation we're having with ourselves.

Discover the Joy of Spring Cleaning

Our Joy of Spring Cleaning InnerTalk set brings together four programs designed to support the attitudes and everyday habits that make caring for your home easier:

• Neat and Tidy — Encourages habits that help keep your surroundings orderly. 
• Decluttering Your Life — Supports a more organized approach to your possessions and activities. 
• I am a Good Housekeeper — Helps develop a more positive attitude toward caring for your home. 
• Freedom from Hoarding — Addresses thoughts and attitudes that can make letting go of unnecessary possessions difficult. 

Despite its name, this collection isn't just for spring. And with the holidays approaching, there's something particularly appealing about creating a home that feels welcoming, comfortable, and peaceful.

Regular combined value: $139.80 

Special offer: $69 for MP3 downloads or $79 on CDs

Explore the Joy of Spring Cleaning Set

Offer expires Monday, November 16, 2026, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.

InnerTalk programs are educational self-help tools and are not a substitute for professional treatment of hoarding disorder.

Want to Read More?

In my latest article on InnerTalk.com, I share a rather personal story about the day I gave myself permission to stop agonizing over the perfect way to get rid of things—and the unexpected joy I felt when I finally cleared the space.

I also explore how the beliefs we carry from childhood can influence our relationship with possessions, and why changing our self-talk can make such a difference.

Read the full article: Is Your Stuff Taking Over Your Life?

Warmly,

Ravinder Taylor

"I am not a hoarder, but I am not good at putting things away. I started using the hoarder program more out of curiosity than anything else. It was not long before I realized that not only was I putting things away, but this effect has spread into other areas. Now I am organizing many aspects of my life and even my inner thoughts. This whole experience has me feeling younger. I have regained my zeal for life—that get up and go spirit that I thought I had lost. Thank you so much!"
~ J. S. C.