evoke a sense of sadness that’s similar to the heavy thoughts you might feel when pondering your mortality. So reframing it requires a similar change in your thought process.
It’s normal at downsizing milestones to feel like you haven’t accomplished enough. These feelings are especially common when your career is coming to a close or you’re thinking about the declining vitality or death of a parent whose accomplishments seem bigger than yours.
Reframe this sadness so that you’re looking at this turning point as a fresh chance to achieve something that does feel meaningful. Give thought to your old goals. Do you still want to achieve them? Are they even achievable now? If your answer to either question is no, let these goals go. They are now as heavy and unusable to you as all the physical possessions you don’t need. But if your answer is yes, then make them happen!
Here is your opportunity to create new goals, too. Make sure that they’ll be possible in your new environment and with the new resources you’ll have at hand.
Whatever has kept you from attaining the meaning you want in your life—whether it’s your attitude, a possession, or a sabotaging person—leave it behind in this move.
On a similar note, if you’ve been overly wrapped up in the stuff you own, I guarantee that your life has less meaning than if you had spent your time on learning, loved ones, profound experiences, and helping others. With this downsizing, let stuff go and fill the empty space with these ingredients.
Reframing tip: If you’re asking fundamental questions about the meaning of your life, it tells me that you’re serious about taking the right steps to ensure that the next phase of your life is the best it can be. Don’t let this moment make you sad—get started on making a change!
#7: I’m scared that I’ll discard something I’ll need later.
I’ve already discussed the all-too-common concern that you might get rid of an irreplaceable memento, heirloom, or other treasure, then want it back. Here’s a related worry: You might let go of a useful item that you’ll actually need someday, whether it’s a tennis ball, remote control, or pair of pants.
This is also a type of anxiety, and it’s one that’s easily reframed. Remind yourself that during the Let It Go downsizing process, you’ll take ample time to ensure that you’re surrounding yourself with only the things you truly need.
These useful, functional items aren’t treasures, but they aren’t trash, either. They fall into the category of potential I-Might-Need-It Items that you’ll be deciding whether to take or leave behind. I’ll provide more guidelines in the next section to help you make the right decisions about these items.
Still, you might part with something that you later need. It happens. But it’s not the end of the world. Borrow the thing from your new friends or neighbors. Buy another one. Or do without it. If it’s an expensive tool, rent it for the day, or hire someone who owns the tool to do the job for you. If that day comes, you will find a solution. It will be okay. Don’t let this anxiety about an imagined future that may never occur distract you from making smart, informed decisions that make sense to you today.
Reframing tip: Keep in mind that if you’ve created the home and life you want, and you’re surrounded with the things that bring you joy and happiness, being without one useful item someday won’t be the end of the world!
#8: I’m scared of the emotional turmoil I’ll feel during this process.
I can guarantee that some part of this downsizing will be emotional. How can it not be?
It’s very possible that you have stuff down in the murky depths of your mind that you’d prefer not to think about. We all do. That’s a big reason why people distract themselves with their smartphones and their streaming television binge-a-thons. It’s why they acquire stuff and pile it around themselves. These activities protect you. They allow you to cover up the threatening emotions deep inside. They even act as a shield against reality.
The fear of having to confront whatever’s lurking down there is an anxiety. Dig down into your buried memories and emotions and reframe this anxiety. The Let It Go way is already preparing you to find the calm that’s waiting for you on the other side of this downsizing. Working through your emotions is a normal and healthy part of getting there. Accept it! Embrace it!
Read the