What Part of Organizing Do We Resist the Most?

Part 5 in a series with Organizing Expert Pinky Jackson as featured on the podcast “Things I Need to Learn in Life I Didn't Learn in School” with WAVE news anchor Dawne Gee

Dawne Gee: What do people fight the most?

Pinky Jackson: The things they are afraid they may need one day. "What if one day..." is a red flag, as it does not apply to our current needs or lifestyle. “What if one day I need that?” or “I'm keeping that because my grandchild might want it.” “My nephew is getting married.” “My mother passed it to me, so I have to pass it to someone else.” For people who grew up in the post-Depression era, they are accustomed to keeping everything. Another category is the things we assume have more value because we paid a certain amount for it. "I paid a lot of money for this, and I don't want to just get rid of it.”

Dawne Gee: But they're not using it.

Pinky Jackson: Correct. And if they're not using it, then that item, whether it's a collection of cosmetics or books or furniture, is not paying its rent in your home. If you don’t love it, don’t use it, and keeping it is an obstacle to your happiness, it needs to go. You are paying financially and emotionally to store it - mortgage, insurance, maintenance, upkeep, the visual stress of looking at clutter. And it is not doing its part in your life.

But I don't tell anybody they have to let go of anything. I say, "Well, let's go back to your goals for changing this space into a meditation room or an office (or whatever they want)." What is the goal? How does keeping this item support your goal?

And that's what I coach them through - that understanding. Sometimes when we want to add organizing to our life, we have to take other things off our counters, our calendars and our minds. We have to let go of some things and some habits and some mindsets to get the organized beautiful home that we deserve.

Pinky Jackson is a home organizer in Louisville, Kentucky. Her goal is to transform the homes of overwhelmed clients. She and her team organize homes in person in the Louisville, KY region and beyond and also offer virtual organizing sessions. Potential clients can review her pricing and services and book a free assessment at pinkyjackson.com.