What compels you to fill up empty space?

Do you know what compels you to fill up empty space?

After all, you finally decluttered that jam-packed closet, drawer, room, or garage — areas packed to the brim for eons. And proudly, you stepped back and breathed a big sigh of satisfaction and relief. Finally, you think, it is done! Ta-da, like magic, there is open space.

But then, before you know it, you fill it up again.

I’m sure you told yourself at that point — Why have stuff lying around when there’s this newly empty space? You decided it didn’t make sense to waste it.

And, wham! The space is packed full once again.

Of course, it makes no sense to have stuff lying about when there is a place to put it. Piles, stacks, and excess stuff are not meant to clutter our lives, homes, and living spaces. It is wise to find a home for it and put it away.

Now that I’ve said that, let me clarify what I mean about finding a home and putting it away. Here’s what I don’t mean…

Don’t put stuff away:

• Just to put it away
• To hide it from sightThat has no value
• You haven’t used or needed in a long time, if ever
• You feel guilty getting rid of – such as gifts you don’t like or want, or stuff passed down from generation to generation.

Now that I’ve shared what not to do, let me turn the don’ts into DO’s! 

Do put stuff away:

• Only after you have fully purged and let go of any excess
• You have fully curated and determined it is worth keeping
• In like-kind areas, such as linens with linens, cleaning supplies with other cleaning supplies, clothes with clothes, shoes with shoes, etc.
• You’ve discerned has value, usefulness, and meaning
• You regularly need and use – the only exception to “regularly” are items for holidays or special events.

These “do’s” are relatively straightforward. They seem simple; however, what they don’t address is — what compels you to fill space just because it is empty?

Over the years, I, too, have had to address these same issues. I was brilliant at organizing stuff that we didn’t need, use, or want. I didn’t like things lying around, so I’d find a place to put them. My closets were well organized yet, full to overflowing. Plus, I would often just put things away in areas where the stuff fit but was not of like kind.

I’d be quite proud of myself as I’d find a home for it all. Nice and tidy. All in order once again. That is until I’d try to find something which got put away with things that were not of like kind. I knew I had that thing, but where-oh-where did I put it?

My closets, bookshelves, drawers, pantry, kitchen cabinets, hutch, and garage were full. Full of what you may ask?

The same excess we all have.

Why did I keep it all? Because I convinced myself as long as I had a place to put it, I could keep it. I figured I’d use it someday, or it was too expensive to get rid of. Maybe it had value even though it didn’t have value for me.

Whatever the reason, it is for you to uncover and reveal so that you can leave space, openness, and emptiness. To sit with it in comfort, not be driven to fill it up and notice when you feel compelled to buy more stuff or keep too much.

Keep in mind those open areas make us uncomfortable and call to us to “fill ‘er up!” What if this time you got comfortable with the uncomfortable and left them open, unused, and empty?