This was very insightful and a good characterization of a potential rationale for my reluctance to part ways with some of my older clutter. I have invested them with the memories of their acquisition and as happy memories, they serve as mental bookmarks in my scrapbook of personal history. But I could just as easily take some time to write a brief paragraph or two about those most significant items, then release the actual item itself. Perhaps take a digital photo of it to accompany the description.
As a genealogist and family historian, I have not only my own clutter, but material from multiple family members who have passed on. I do not wish to carry all of this forward, however, so I must sit with these items and carefully curate what will remain and what I will release to serve others as they did my family members.
I am a psychologist and counselor by training, and have extensively investigated reasons for my challenges with decluttering. I have come to the conclusion that it is a unique situation for each individual, but avoidance is in some way at the heart of it all. Whether it is avoiding the confrontation of the self, as you noted, or challenging memories, physical constraints, time, a mindset ready to move forward, the resources necessary to sort and dispose of the clutter in the ways you desire (eg donating rather than dumping in a landfill), being busy with family and life, or the very real sense of animism you describe here - which I know I have done with books and stuffed animals from my youth that are still with me to this day - it seems that avoiding the situation is a common denominator, and one which also allows the clutter issue to grow by not being addressed.
In that sense, clutter could be likened to a home's front lawn, and avoidance is the lawnmower. Putting it off leads to overgrowth, but tackling it directly, even in small chunks (depending upon the level of overgrowth) will eventually lead to a usable and more attractive yard. There are plenty of other analogies that could and have been made. I think the first step is not to go out and buy organizers or books on the subject (been there, done them all), but rather to sit down quietly with yourself and have a heart to heart about what the real reasons are for holding onto some of these things.
For me, much is a combination of sentimental, time/physical ability avoidance, fear of releasing something I might need (reflective of a past where I was unable to simply purchase a new item, as I can do today), and holding on too tightly to past identities that no longer reflect who I am now and who I am becoming moving forward. I do not need that work polo from the job I held in college decades ago, for example, so why do I still have it in my closet?
I am currently beginning what I refer to as a "past lives purge," though it is not all-encompassing. I'm starting with specific areas, then shifting to genuine clutter to clear out and get a better feel for what I actually have to deal with under those empty shopping bags, boxes, and bottles that haven't yet made it out to the recycling bin. I am making up a list of places to donate or dispose of my items, along with their addresses, phone numbers, and hours, and setting items aside into specially marked boxes for each location. As a box is filled, it is sealed and immediately taken to a vehicle to be dropped off at the appropriate location (by either myself or my spouse, who is much less of a clutterer and glad to help me divest myself and our home of the unnecessary items).
I greatly appreciated your bringing animism into the clutter conversation, as that has been part of my personal experience since reading story of The Velveteen Rabbit as a child. It's interesting to note how things from one's past stick - or don't - and how that affects one's life trajectory overall, years later.
I have bookmarked this track and will be re-listening to this talk multiple times, I am sure. Thank you so much for putting your reflections into words and sharing them with us here in the Insight Timer community. I see you and the light within you. Be well. 🤲🏻💖🤲🏻
