Homoring your Emotions as you Organize
When organizing, it's common to experience a wide range of emotions. It’s completely normal. Whether you're excited and celebrating progress or feeling a bit sad or guilty about the volume of stuff, it's important to remember that emotions are part of the journey. Here are a few things I've learned about emotions through my work as a professional organizer.
Emotions can be intense, and they can be incredibly helpful during the organizing process. Our emotions allow us to both deeply feel and joyfully celebrate our progress. Whether it’s letting go of items that have been cluttering up our home or enjoying beautiful new storage options, emotions stick with us. They reinforce that we are capable of both making hard decisions and creating spaces that bring us joy and peace.
By taking time to honor the emotions that rise up during the organizing process, we gain energy from the joyful parts and we diminish the power of the scary parts. WE have less fear of the unknown and we strenghten our organizing “muscle”. These emotional milestones make it easier to continue making decisions that align with our goals and values. We learn that organizing can be fun and remember that we can do hard things.
That being said, please remember that it is perfectly natural to feel sad, especially when sorting through items that belonged to loved ones. Whether you are grieving a loved or are overwhelmed with the volume of items they left for you to manage, it’s okay to feel sad. It’s part of honoring those memories and acknowledging the emotional weight that comes with them.
One emotion I see frequently is frustration—often directed inward. Clients might feel ashamed or guilty for letting things get out of control or for holding onto things for too long. But here’s the thing: there is zero judgment here. My role is to help you achieve your goals, not to judge you. Shame, blame, and guilt are speed bumps on your journey to a more organized life. They can slow you down, but they don’t have to stop you.
Just remember that our emotions, even the tough ones, serve as reminders. If we feel bad about buying something we never used, that feeling can be a powerful teacher. The next time we’re deciding whether to hold onto something or considering buying another item, remember how you felt and what you learned. It’s all part of the process of creating a space that truly reflects who you are, the space you have, and the life you want to live.
If you need assistance, don't hesitate to reach out for help. Visit pinkyjackson.com to schedule a free assessment. We would love to help you with our Onsite Organizing services if you are in the Louisville, KY area or our Virtual Organizing services if you are more remote or prefer to work online.
Pinky Jackson is an Organizing Expert and Decluttering Specialist. She and her team organize homes & offices in Louisville, KY. For more information about Pinky’s pricing & services or to schedule your free assessment, go to pinkyjackson.com
Photo: Oleg Moroz @tengyart
