How Clutter Clearing Can Change the World

Finding peace in a world in pieces

A world in pieces or peaces? © Stephanie Bennett Vogt

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A few years back I received an email from a reader in response to a newsletter I had sent. My message that day was brief. It began with this quote by Byron Katie:

“World peace can only be found within you.”

I went on to say:

“There’s been a lot to process these days and I cannot even begin to unpack it. When I do, I will share what has been meaningful and hopeful for me about these unprecedented times.”

Her concern is a question that I have thought about a lot and dedicated my entire life’s work trying to answer. And no less so now, with the big changes we are seeing.

You can read her question and my answer to it below.

Ahhh 🏡

Q&A: Finding peace when the world is in pieces

Question:

Dear Stephanie,

I have always liked you and your work including this. I look forward to your wisdom when you unpack this one.

It does feel superficial to me to only address this avenue to inner peace (not that I do not badly need to do so!😏), when our country has big issues that I do not believe will be solved by my clutter clearing.

I live next to Richmond, Va and have been concerned about groups** of people being disenfranchised as it affects humanity and our country.

**whether different from ethnicity, differentially able bodies, size, age, education and miseducation, etc.or trauma.

–A.B.

My response

Dear A.B.

Thank you for your thoughts. You’ve certainly hit a chord that most of us humans can relate to which could easily be summarized like this:

How can my small, “measly” clearing efforts make a difference in a world that is in turmoil and pain? They seem so puny against the tsunami wave of chaos and need that we are facing right now.

Good question!

First let me just say that this common fear and worry comes from the (illusory) part of us that believes we are separate, limited, and small. It is the kind of thinking that cannot grasp or speak for what is more accurate and true: that we are limitless, generative, and connected to a much larger field of infinite possibility.

If you’re willing to stretch a bit, and expand your perspective and range of what is possible with regards to clearing, here’s what I can tell you that may change the game for you:

1. Clearing clutter – be it physical, mental, or emotional – is not the endpoint, destination, or goal. It is a pathway – a journey that doesn’t always add up, make sense, or go in a straight line. Clearing, ultimately, is not about freeing up some space, it is about freeing you. Free yourself and you will free others.

2. We cannot clear what is holding us back with the same mindset that created it. It is precisely our thinking that will keep us stuck in our patterns and yield nothing but more pain and struggle. Clear the thinking, overwhelm, and fears first and the rest will follow.

3. At its very core, clutter is nothing more than a form of energy. Clearing the “stuck energy” in your life with intentional awareness and compassion creates a powerful ripple effect. It may not look like much is happening at first, but if you are consistent in your efforts (no matter how small and insignificant they may seem) and willing hang out in the messy middle, over time you’ll start to see that something is beginning to shift — something real and tangible that creates more energy and openings and changes that you couldn’t even imagine before. Work with what you do have control over “in here”— your closets, your relationships, your overwhelm, your worries, your stuckness — and watch what happens “out there.” It can change everything.

In short, if want to make a difference in the world, here’s my advice: focus on clearing your world. It is all connected.

And to quote Lao Tzu:

“If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of yourself. If you want to eliminate all of the suffering in the world, then eliminate all that is dark and negative in yourself. Truly the greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation.”

Blessings and happy clearing!

Stephanie

Question to journey home with today…

You don’t need a long weekend or an excuse to release some clutter (stuck energy). You can begin any time. Like right now.

Where do you want to begin? Go with your first impulse and tell us in the comments. Just naming it is the first step to clearing it. Even just a hint of an idea gets things moving.

If you could use some support, keep reading.

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Support your clearing journey

If you who would like to get better at conscious clearing in the way that I teach and write about I invite you to get a copy of Your Spacious Self (either in its 10th Anniversary abridged version or the original longer edition shown above) and work with it.

It is the first in the series of three books that will give you a whole new way to look at this thing we call clutter, and help you grow a clearing muscle that can lead to lasting change.

Learn more here.

Feeling overwhelmed? Click here first.

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Share the wealth

If found today’s post helpful, please forward it to others and let’s build the clearing energy that can change the world!

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