The Inner Child

Whether you will admit to it or not, we all have an inner child, a playful spirit. The inner child lets us explore and sees things very differently than the responsible adult that deals with organizational issues. The inner child is free and doesn't feel worry. The inner child has a very different view of clutter. Through the eyes of youth creativity is born. Perhaps you will see solutions from a more juvenile perspective. There's a risk you might end up with a kid size mess but there's also the possibility that you will bring some joy back into the equation.

Without rules and deadlines and without expectations, what can I make of the chaos? What is in the piles that interests me? Being free of guilt and worry my inner child can already see that I've got a bunch of stuff that's no good for me. I'm not going to waste my time thinking about it. Why be concerned about material attachment? Look! There's that cool thingamajig I've been looking for! Wow! That deserves my attention, the other stuff can go.

Maybe your inner child isn't as immature as mine. Perhaps yours can see creative solutions that mine can't, or maybe you don't see clutter, you see potential. When there is disorder there is no boredom. Will the inner child see the problem? My inner child sees projects to create out of the stack of magazines and storage containers, not empty plastic tubs. Broken jewelry can be born again and ribbons are sacred. Too much potential = clutter.

I can remember one solution from my own childhood, one way of quickly getting the job done that my inner child can grasp with open arms; any chore can be made into a game and games are more fun than work. First of all, there's no rules. And no time limits. The game can never be the same twice. If there are cupboards to go through, I will find out how many things go together and what doesn't belong. When I clean off my desk, paper going into the recycling will fly into the box and two points will be awarded for every slam dunk. Music will be danced to while I clean and the louder it is the more I will sing. When I finally do think to look at the clock I will be amazed at how much time has passed but impressed at how much I accomplished. Are you willing to let your inner child make a game of decluttering? If you give it a go, make sure you find the fun in it all.

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