Clutter Costs Us Our Dreams

Clutter. This word conjures up visions of messy houses, disorganized piles or as I call it, horizontal filing systems, dishes loaded in the sink and utter chaos. Not that I would know from personal experience or anything.

What does clutter cost us when we are pursuing our dreams? It costs us more than we think. According to 1 Corinthians 14:40 (NLT), it says “But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.” God is one of order. He always has a plan and His plan in perfect, but we can’t see His plan if all we see around us are the obstacles of clutter.

God created all of us to be creative, but sometimes it’s in different ways. There are those who are creative with a paintbrush or pen, then they are those who are creative with a mathematical equation. Each takes equal amount of creativity, so if you’re more practical, take heart, you are creative as well. But, the creativity engine stalls when we are surrounded by clutter.

There is hope for those of us in the clutches of clutter. Here are three places where clutter becomes an opportunity for change.

Our Home

This is the most common place for clutter to accumulate. There’s stacks of mail, kiddo’s projects from school, piles of laundry and dishes. Once again, not like I know from personal experience or anything. Here’s the difficulty with physical clutter. It stifles our creativity which in turn stunts the growth of our dreams. It requires decisions and willpower to clear it out that some of us just don’t have at the end of a crazy day. I ask God for wisdom about what is weighing me down and to show me what to get rid of or to keep. Right now, our family is going through what I termed, the “Great House Clean Out of 2017.” Our goal is to get rid of 2,000 items by the end of 2017. This means clothes that don’t fit, things that are broken or we don’t use anymore are going out the door. I can claim the name as my own, but I can’t claim the concept, it came from a book called, “Clutter Free: Quick and Easy Steps to Simplifying Your Space. It’s an awesome book if, like me, you struggle with getting out from under the physical clutter.

Our Mind

I’m one of those people that will mull a problem over in my head until I’m exhausted and can’t think of anything else. This mental clutter limits my ability to think creatively in any area of my life, not only in my writing or coaching processes. I’ve found the key to getting things out of my head is to write them down. It become clearer when I see it in black and white. This enables me to release the mental gymnastics going on in my head. If you are averse to writing anything down, consider talking it out with a family member, friend or consider hiring a coach who can see the situation objectively. The point is, if we are continually focusing on our problems, we can’t see the possibility of our dreams.

Our Heart

This is where we need the power of God. Only the light He offers can cleanse our heart. Our hearts become cluttered when we keep things from God. Guess what? He already knows about everything we’ve ever done or thought about in our past, present and future. Luke 12:2 (NIV), says, “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.” We can clear our hearts when we confess everything to God. Allow Him to take on our burden so we can feel less cluttered. He can handle it.

Is clutter an area of your life where you struggle? How to you combat the clutter in your home, mind and heart? Share it in the comments below to encourage others.