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Post by Ally on Jul 7, 2012 15:21:08 GMT -5
This is Part 2 of a discussion of the book: SHED Your Stuff, Change Your Life: A Four-Step Guide to Getting Unstuck, by Julie Morgenstern. The initial thread is located at: takeonestepatatime.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=18519Step 1: Separate the Treasures begins on page 57 in my book. It includes: Chapter 4, Finding Physical Treasures Chapter 5, Finding Time Treasures Chapter 6, Finding Habit Treasures Step 2: Heave the Trash includes: Chapter 7, Heaving Physical Attachments Chapter 8, Heaving Time Attachments Chapter 9, Heaving Habit Attachments Some notes: 1. The discussion here on the General Board, will not be private. So avoid giving details that might reveal your identity. 2. The book is copyrighted, which means that quoting from the book must be kept to a minimum. Extensive quoting is illegal. Edited to add Step 2 because Step 1 and Step 2 are interdependent on each other, and as Miss Jean put it: "It's definitely not a linear book but rather a pick-your-own-adventure sort!" |
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Post by missjean on Jul 7, 2012 17:48:22 GMT -5
This is a lot different from what I thought it would be, initially. It's not decluttering or desqualoring exactly. It's more like mining for precious minerals and bringing them to the surface.
It went along with one of the first mini-treasures I found: an article from The Writer magazine called "Declutter Your Writing Space in 2 Days." The first Day 1 activity is creating clusters of materials used in writing. Well, that's like what finding the treasures is like: figuring out what tools, habits and such help with daily life.
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Post by Ally on Jul 7, 2012 19:03:34 GMT -5
I've been a little confused by what she means as a "point of entry".
On the second page of Chapter 3, page 40 in my book, "points of entry" are areas where there is a "sense of stagnancy".
How I'm starting to interpret this is that if I am attempting to get unstuck in my life, I need to look at areas where there is stagnancy, and determine what the treasures are in those areas. As I Separate the Treasures, it will become more clear to me that much of the remainder is trash, and this trash is holding me back from achieving my goals/dreams.
So the "point of entry" is a stagnant area that keeps you stuck, and as you enter into this "point", following her steps, you begin "living" the new chapter in your life, your new theme.
Honestly, I don't think there are many areas of my house that aren't stagnant, so it might prove a little challenging to pick an area to start.
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Post by missjean on Jul 8, 2012 6:32:25 GMT -5
Ally, I figured that the "point of entry" meant the space, habit, etc. that if you made some movement there, you'd start to change things in your life. Like if you were trying to get out of a cave and you saw the pile of rocks just sitting there (stagnant), you'd figure out that if you moved THIS rock or THAT rock, you'd see daylight.
I have a couple of Points of Entry that I saw and could tackle right away:
1. Playing games on the computer - just by stopping this, I have freed up time and am using the computer as a tool (which is why I bought it in the first place).
2. Bathroom counter - Almost everything was on the counter, not in the cupboard or the medicine cabinet. I didn't even use everything each day, so there was no reason to have it out. Because it was a hassle to remove everything to clean, the entire counter was covered in a film of dust (and bacteria, no doubt). When I tackled this area looking for "treasure," I found that I had about 3 things out of 20: hairspray, soap, and tile cleaner. The rest belonged to a lifestyle I no longer lead (e.g. products/accessories for long hair).
Having a counter with just two things on it (hairspray and soap) has made it easier to clean the bathroom AND means I can dress right after I shower instead of dashing in the nude to my room. (And THERE'S an example of personal details that will live in ignominy on this board. Ha ha!)
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Post by fluffernut - now Jannie on Jul 8, 2012 10:00:34 GMT -5
I'm at a sort-of maintenance level in my home, all rooms but one. My Room of Doom is a spare bedroom where I've piled up stuff I just don't know what to do with. I've been going thru the stuff in that room, tossing as much as I can and piling the rest into piles of "like" stuff. Books in a pile, magazines ditto. I've had an ongoing goal to permanently remove 5 items a day, whether 5 things put in trash, or two in trash and 3 books donated, etc. It's working for me, pretty much. I either find a proper storage spot for an article, or I decide it's junk I don't need and it goes in trash.
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Post by Ally on Jul 8, 2012 12:24:47 GMT -5
Ally, I figured that the "point of entry" meant the space, habit, etc. that if you made some movement there, you'd start to change things in your life. Like if you were trying to get out of a cave and you saw the pile of rocks just sitting there (stagnant), you'd figure out that if you moved THIS rock or THAT rock, you'd see daylight.... Jean, I love the cave analogy. That explains it really well. I really like that you have already started the process. Most of my focus will be on Chapters 4 and 7, because my house is full of clutter from top to bottom. It is so full of stuff, I can't even begin to analyze it the way she says to. I think I'm just going to develop my list of questions about how important the item is to me, and then go through my house, room by room, corner by corner, pile by pile, box by box and start working at it. Also, after reading Chapters 4 and part of 7, I think I'll add the "Heave" section of the book to this thread, since they so interdependent on each other, and basically you keep working back and forth between the two sections. What do you think? Ally |
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Post by missjean on Jul 8, 2012 16:50:08 GMT -5
Also, after reading Chapters 4 and part of 7, I think I'll add the "Heave" section of the book to this thread, since they so interdependent on each other, and basically you keep working back and forth between the two sections. What do you think? Ally I think that's a great idea. It's definitely not a linear book but rather a pick-your-own-adventure sort!  |
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Post by Ally on Jul 8, 2012 17:46:02 GMT -5
I haven't officially started using the methods taught in the book yet, but I can already see my thought process change as I go through a closet, HEAVING obvious trash. I am making room for the next "theme" of my life. I don't need all this trash bogging me down!
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Post by missjean on Jul 8, 2012 18:28:41 GMT -5
Well, this section of Chapter 3 hit me like a ton!
"Pinpointing precisely when something became obselete, and then finding the pure impulse or value in it, allows you to separate your identity from your stuff." Morgenstern, Julie (2011-01-11). SHED Your Stuff, Change Your Life (p. 62). Simon & Schuster, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
This past afternoon I laid eyes on a silk flower arrangement that was a bouquet I caught more than 5 years ago, when it looked like I would marry and have children. I put it in the charity bin, and then I "found" the perfume I disliked but wore to please my boyfriend.
And right now it's rather shocking to me how I can easily find obsolete material related to a failed romance. I don't know whether to laugh or cry, but I know I'll be Heaving things this evening!
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Post by Ally on Jul 8, 2012 18:37:30 GMT -5
Miss Jean, I just checked and your pages are the same as mine. That is helpful to know. I have the paperback edition.
Yay! for tossing out stuff that has bad memories associated with it!
Ally
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Post by Ally on Jul 10, 2012 1:29:59 GMT -5
I started going through a box of stuff yesterday, but really wasn't in the right frame of mind, and wasn't focused on my goal.
I thought I could take some short-cuts. But ended up in the same place I've been.
I think it might be helpful for me to make a poster that I can place in the area where I am working that contains reminders about what my treasures really are, and how in-fact the space that results from questionable items being gone is more valuable than the items themselves.
I will never achieve my goal if I can't release these items that are occupying valuable space in my house.
I need to read through these chapters again, (Chapters 4 +7) until they are ingrained in my brain.
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Post by angelinahedgehog on Jul 10, 2012 7:17:15 GMT -5
I think it might be helpful for me to make a poster that I can place in the area where I am working that contains reminders about what my treasures really are When I was doing my paper purge 4 years ago, I found that post-it notes listing the treasures were absolutely invaluable. I'd get an idea of what the folder contained, write the treasures on the post-it, put the post-it on the folder, and then compare what I found with the list. Was this on my treasure list? No. Recycle bin. No. Shredder pile. Yes. Keep. It changed the decision making process from one where I was assessing each item individually ("is this good? do I want this? do I need this?") to one where I was simply comparing the item to the list ("is this a match?"). Much much much quicker and less taxing. I would occasionally run into things that weren't on my list but that were treasures. So I'd add them to the list for that folder. I have to say that it felt strange at first. Surely I could remember the treasures without writing them down. Surely. But... no, things worked a LOT better when I wrote them down. And I got to about a 90% purge in the areas I was working on. So, yes. Posters, worksheets, post-its - I'm a fan! |
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Post by missjean on Jul 10, 2012 7:39:00 GMT -5
Added, since we cross-posted: Angelina's Post-IT suggestion is brilliant! My Treasure Guidelines • Books – all those connected to the arts, a few each from philosophy, literature, history, etc. • Critical documents (deed, warranties, etc.) • A few photos from each stage of life, of people I still know• Practical items • Tools for writing and the arts Ally, I find it easy to determine the practical value of items, so I broke down the questions in this way: 1. Will this help me with my new theme? Or would the free space help me more? 2. What is the value or emotional currency of this item for me? Jay's comment on emotional currency also helped me : "I realized by letting something go, I would be gaining more of that currency to allocate to other things that were missing.” Morgenstern, Julie (2011-01-11). SHED Your Stuff, Change Your Life (p. 122). Simon & Schuster, Inc.. Kindle Edition So if I'm really stuck, I narrow it a bit further to #3: Is this better than freedom? (So far, I've had to use that only once!) |
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Post by Chris on Jul 10, 2012 14:00:51 GMT -5
I don't have this book yet but I'm very interested in it and may get one eventually!
I just wanted to say that over the past month I've been pulling out my favorite stuff -- in a serious way picking out what I NEED and WANT to move with me when I move (because I am determined to move to my home state) -- whether that is in a week, a year or 5 years ... but because of the fact that I may really be going soon (Mom is ill and I have a sense I may go for a long season visit soon next summer at the latest anyway)-- I've actually packed all my best favorite winter clothing, packaged up and set aside my favorite pictures, and my needed paperwork, and pulled my "can't bear to be without" things. In doing this -- a startling discovery has come to light --- I still have TOO MUCH STUFF.
Now I've been at this SOOS and decluttering for more than 2 years now and I've really worked at paring down my books and my clothing, and really everything. So I am amazed. My "stuff" is still heavy and excess.
Whenever I visit home with one suitcase and one backpack -- (typically for 3 weeks) I am always reminded how little I really actually need. But most of the time when I go on those trips I take just seasonal clothing (which for up north even includes boots for mud and a few sweaters even in the summer) and practical items along with my e-reader, a book or two, my camera, cell phone, etc. -- notebook and maybe a few spiritual readings magazines. So it's not like I normally take things like pictures or anything past the traditional travel documents.
Anyway -- right now I am having an easier time of going thru the remaining stuff now that I got out all the stuff that I know I'd be heartbroken if I left here never to return and could never see again. I'm also amazed at home many things (including books) are fully 100% replaceable. So my decisions have partly been based on that -- would I reasonably be able to replace this if I found it was a mistake and I couldn't live without it.
I had wondered why I was now able to declutter so much better and I guess it's because I pulled out all the super good - keeper stuff.
I do hope to get this book sometime soon. Or at least be able to borrow it at the library and take good notes. It sounds great.
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Post by angelinahedgehog on Jul 10, 2012 14:11:39 GMT -5
I had wondered why I was now able to declutter so much better and I guess it's because I pulled out all the super good - keeper stuff. Chris, "super good - keeper stuff" sounds an awful lot like "treasures" to me. And what you're doing sounds a lot like the first two steps of SHED, where you identify the treasures (the best, ideally not more than 10%-20%), and can let the rest go (recycle/donate/trash), secure in the knowledge that you are keeping what is really most important to you. The book may really resonate with you at this time in your life. |
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