Living a Decluttered Life

Sugar. That's my thing. No one is allowed to get in-between my sugar and me. I would sacrifice eating a real meal as long as I have my sugar. But the more I had it, the more I wanted it. No surprises there.

I had energy, plenty of it. I was able to accomplish much and still be very productive. However, I also had headaches, and crashes, spikes of energy, and bouts of fatigue. I accounted for all other things except sugar consumption that was rather excessive.

Because of my want, I settled to accept all the undesirable things that come with it. I was relatively content to appease my momentary gratifications at the cost of my long-term health.

And no, sugar may not be bad in itself with regulation and moderation. But my craving and appetite for it were excessive and out of control—the temporary satisfaction that left me wanting for more and the consequences that just kept getting worst. Losing sleep, bouts of restlessness, dehydration, inflammation, and the list goes on. I know these things. I once practiced as a nurse. I know it in my head but carried very little discipline to execute my knowledge and incorporate the facts into my daily living.

So, I finally started to do something different, something I have not done before long-term, not even when I was most fit. I am going to take myself off this sugar and kick this incessant craving to the curve. And so, I started, my cravings got worst, my dehydration got worst, and now I feel like I am sick. I had throbbing headaches, and I was exhausted beyond belief.

And this little voice that continues to nag me, "You can stop this, you know? Just go eat sugar, and these symptoms will disappear." But I am already knee-deep into this, and I hate not finishing. So, my sugar dependent self met my stubborn, resolved head. I don't know that either part of me is the healthiest either. I am going to do this thing no matter what. And so, I did.

Things began to change slowly, and I had much steady energy without headaches and crashes; I craved or needed very little caffeine. I had not more fatigue, and I could sustain longer days because I have no problem with sleep. And what shocked me more is I had more focus, my planning became easier, my thinking was straighter, and I was even quicker at doing things.

And as dramatic as it sounds, I felt like a different person. I guess I just did not know what I was missing. I exercise discipline and put some accountability and boundaries all over my life except this one thing, and it was evident when it was removed.

I was unaware of the gravity of its detriment. I got used to it and got used to feeling typically hyped up and bogged down with sugar all at the same time.

And I know my example may be silly, but have you ever thought about the things that you have allowed to intensely permeate your life that you don't even know the depth of its detriment or the center of your dependency? Something that you accept to be normal when in reality, it truly is toxic to mind, body, soul, and spirit. Things you think are carrying you but are truly an unhealthy crutch that supports the limping version of yourself that you don't want to face.

It may not even be habits; it can be as subtle as thinking and thought process. Identity and lies about yourself that you just learned to accept and live with. Relationships that are worse than not fruitful but toxic and depleting. Generational traditions or societal customs. Cultural patterns and familial limitations. Whatever it is, you willingly resolved to accept and surrender that this is the confines of your life and it is normal.

But what if I tell you that that is a lie, and there can be a new normal. A process synonymous with my experiencing the sugar withdrawal, a process of de-cluttering and "de-crutching" yourself from all the things that are not profitable to your growth as a person.

You are not made to live in bondage; you are made to live and walk in freedom.

You have a privilege and an opportunity to walk out an abundant life. That is not a far-off reality; that is something that has been paid for by Christ.

How?

Two simple words that can bring you profound freedom. "Release" and "Receive"

What's the process? Simple. Receive – Release – Receive – Release.

First, you have to receive and accept the truth that there are aspects of your life that need "de-cluttered" and that there are crutches that need to be acknowledged and removed. Without the foundation of readiness, change won't happen.

This is your life, so you get to decide. But what if there is a way to live a much more abundant life? Wouldn't it at least be worth a try? You have to receive the truth that you are worth fighting for, and if that acknowledgment of worth does not start within you, no amount of external encouragement will shift anything within you.

You have to come to a point to say, "I want to venture out at least to see if there is anything else better than this."

Is there truly a better way to live? A life that is not merely spent on undoing consequences of decisions made with a lack of forethought and discipline. Or accepting realities that are founded by perceptions or painted by other's experiences. Mindsets that are not even truly your own but have been handed down from generation, shoved by the dictation of societal norms. Behaviors that you have learned to accommodate simply because that was what you saw or taught.

You have to have readiness and receptivity to change.

Take time to recognize the unhealthy patterns of your life and create a list so you can identify them and attack them one by one. De-cluttering is not an act of miracle; it's a process. It does not happen overnight; it happens with time and patience and takes resolve to maintain. But the freedom it brings is worth it.

Accept the crutches and excuses you have put up to defend the dysfunction that you want to protect. I know this is hard, but this truth is necessary if you're going to be free.

We need to accept our part in this; we need to learn to stop the blame game and take accountability for what we let in and what we have allowed to dictate the mindset we live in. We are responsible for the thoughts and actions we allow to form, the actions that we then manifest, and ultimately giving it authority to wreak consequences in our lives, good or bad.

"This is just how I am" is not a statement of confident identity if your life is dowsed in all things unhealthy. It is a badge of brokenness that you need to do away with. You need to divorce yourself from the lie that you are incapable of change. You are worth that change, and you deserve to walk in freedom. But you have to have to accept that for yourself. No one can receive that for you. The process only works if you work it.

Receive the fact that we all need help. We need to receive grace to change and release the things that need to be cut and severed. That means there has to be an exchange between your "unhealthy" crutches and learning to walk again, putting your foot one in front of the other without it. Because releasing your crutches doesn't only re-train you to walk out different patterns, it also frees your hand to receive healthier ones.

Help comes from all sources; the best one is from God Himself. Receive the grace you need to make a change. Accept your weakness and allow it to be perfect in His strength. There is nothing you can bring before Him that will surprise Him. He delights in you coming to Him—more than just for grace but understanding. Ask Him what things in your life are not profitable for the abundant experience that He truly desires for you. He wants to help you, receive His help.

Identify the people around you that can uphold you, people that are not afraid to offend you. You need them. People that are not mesmerized by your charisma and are strong enough to call things out as it is. People that can call your bluff and don't get intimidated by your defense or, well, crying. Simply put, you need people in your life that do not feed your drama nor add to your dysfunction. God has those people. Ask Him for them.

And don't get offended, don't listen to defend. Listen so that you genuinely might hear. I understand, not everybody will be helpful for your process; in the end, this is why we seek and receive God's help to discern our relationships and discern the maturity and involvement of people around us.

After receiving and accepting the need to change, recognizing what needs changing, and receiving grace to change, do it! Release the things that hurt you.

Now release, have the courage to make the necessary changes that will be profitable to your growth in the end. Yes, it sucks, and it will continue to suck. You have to say "no" to certain things and people, you have to say goodbye to some habits, you need to stop hiding behind blame and excuses. You may just be vulnerable, exposed, and frankly humbled by this process. And yes, this will feel like you are sick as you start to see what your part was in all of this.

But don't stop here, because like any healing, physiologically or surgically. Pain is part of the process. The exposure of the source and the isolation of the root of infection is the only pathway to health. So yes, get yourself so sick of the mess that you finally gain the courage to walk out of it. Enough is enough. Until you get there and see the clutter for what it is, the truth is you won't change. You will lay it down and pick it back up and walk with that crutch all over again.

Do not let the mistakes bog you down in condemnation or discouragement. The ability to finally recognize the toxic things in your life is a good sign the process is working. You cannot change things until you have both awareness and recognition. You cannot acknowledge stuff you simply don't know exists. Simply release those things so you can once again go back to receiving.

Receiving what? New graces for abundant living.

De-cluttering is like a gift that keeps on giving. The move you see in certain aspects unfolds opportunities for improvement for other areas. It allows you to see consequences and opportunities as you move forward, creating new and positive changes. And as you move from dealing with unwanted consequences to harvesting fruits of Godly and disciplined living.

Clarity, purpose, direction, and focus will settle in the spaces that were once filled with a cloud of insecurities and confusion.

You are not the same person. The things you identified earlier in the process belong there. Released out of your life, never to be invited back in. Remember, you have the responsibility to gatekeep what you let in.

The Biblical framework of retraining thoughts and patterns are described using action words. You have a part to play. "Pull down strongholds…" "Be transformed…" "Put on the helmet of salvation…" and our foundation of truth holds a lot more.

So, therefore, we act again—this time to receive a new mindset. The old is gone. The new has come.

You either live in all that clutter that you are used to or take small steps every day to walk yourself out of it—disciplined thoughts and disciplined actions that produce a disciplined life. What was once a life plagued with possibly awful consequences, where every decision or outcome may be bad or worst scenarios, can be very well now be choosing over good and best and hopefully opportunities.

But once again, it is not a work of a miracle; it is an everyday process to untangle years of unhealthy patterns, decisions, and excuses.

But the process does not fail. The more you exchange the good, the more fruits it will eventually bear.

Does that mean all will be perfect? No. Does that mean you may be spared from the consequences of previous mistakes? No. Does that mean undesirable things out of your control can still happen? Most definitely. But your mindset and approach to these events will be different. The lens of freedom and wholeness will replace the cycle of brokenness and mentality of depravity.

Problems are viewed as opportunities for growth, trials as stretching, challenges become character building.

Shifting the thought that "Bad things are happening to me" or "being done to me" are now viewed as "circumstance that grows and challenges me."

We shift from becoming victims of our circumstances or decisions done by us or others into the overcomer that we are. Though tried by fire, we become fortified for war. We stop being sorry for ourselves but start to thrive in all circumstances, good and bad.

A de-cluttered life lives you to live a fearless life. When you patiently work through the process of living a life of disciplined decision making, you position yourself to walk into a life of positive consequences. It is not the energy you give in and out; it is a consequence, a series of reasonable action produced by healthy decision making. It's a spiritual law established by God Himself, and He will not violate it. What you sow, you shall also reap. It may take time, but it will bear fruits.

Living a de-cluttered life requires you to live in a farmer's mind: long term planting and harvesting cycles. Consistently living in everyday grit.

And a gracious warning to discern fallacy in your process of de-cluttering; self-defined freedom that brings negative consequences to you long-term and others around you is not freedom. It's a trap to end up in the same cycle. It is selfishness clothed in a false sense of identity. You want what you want now at the cost of your future and the people around you who have to pay the consequences of your decision. Be careful with that. Recognize those areas where the enemy can creep in and seed a false sense of freedom that in turn bind you in the future to walk the same toxic cycle. Your complacency today is tomorrow's depravity.

But why go through all this process, and what does it even matter?

Because the most potent proof of a life lived without clutter is a life that is beneficial for us and others.

You have a purpose, and you have a gift. There is a world in need of what you can give. So, both your worth and external impact lies in the balance of your decision to live without baggage or clutter.

Active de-cluttering and successfully maintaining it is undergirded by both purpose and intrinsic motivation. Understanding you are worth it and knowing that you carry something within that needs to be released.

You received (accepted the need for change plus the grace to change)

You released (the destructive patterns and toxic mindsets and relationships)

You once again received (the new healthier habits and mindsets)

So you can release the gifts and purposes that are hidden beneath the de-cluttered mess.

Receive – Release – Receive – Release.

A negative cycle that moved on to create positive momentum. A change within you that can cause a positive ripple effect outside of you.

First, do it for you, because you deserve better. Because you are worth it. And you are worth changing for. Then acknowledge that you now have the opportunity to effectuate that change around you, releasing what you have learned in the process and positioning yourself to spend very little time dealing with consequences and more time creating change within your sphere of influence.

True fruits of healthy change creates freedom not only for you but those who are around you.

What can a de-cluttered life look like?

A healthy relationship allows you to pour out because you are not constantly depleted. It will enable you to be resilient because you have the support and buffer you need.

A healthy financial life allows you to give, obey God, and frees you to move when He wants you to move because you are not tied to a miserable job because you have debt or bills to pay. But that comes with disciplined financial spending, tithing, and living a life of generosity.

A healthy mind no longer makes you a victim but an overcomer.

A healthy body allows you to do more without harming yourself.

You position yourself to do more for more people without taking away from the strength of who you are within. You are well enough to speak into people's lives but wise enough not to pick up their drama.

An effective place to be present for others without being destructive to your well-being.

De-cluttering brings order into the chaos. Order is not restrictive is a launching pad for greatness. A time, place and space for everything. Order is not some rigid discipline; it is a guardrail to the freedom you deserve. The more things in your life that are in order, the less time you spend time in fear, worry, and all other vicious cycles. Less knee-jerk decision making and more opportunities to think without being rushed into action.

So, as you continue to move through this year, don't let change get stuck somewhere between the feelings of excitement or the proverbial concept of resolutions.

De-cluttering is not a concept. De-cluttering is action. Action that requires your decision.

Until next time, I pray you are moved into that action. Happy de-cluttering!