We have a treat for you today!
It’s a heart-to-heart interview with one of THE best organizers in the world, Julie Morgenstern, who is going to help you create space in your life for the things you love.
What We Cover in the Podcast
One of the most frequently asked questions we receive at LearnDoBecome is this:
“How do you know what to keep and what to throw away?”
We all love the idea of clean, clear spaces, but what if we might need something later? And what if there are special memories attached? It’s easier to just keep everything.
You’re going to learn:
- How to distinguish “de-cluttering” from “organizing.
- How transitions in our lives (new jobs, new friends, new experiences) give us lots of opportunities to de-clutter.
- Why clutter is not “junk”. It simply represents an attachment we are struggling to release. Clutter is a “point of entry” into a new stage of life, a new level of development, or a new YOU.
- Why we want to keep the things that energize us and make sure the things we keep represent the best memories of the people and experiences that have shaped us. (Ah-ha moment for me!)
Now, let me tell you what I loved best about this interview:
Julie and I had the chance to talk about “things” in a very personal way.
Too often, we feel guilty because we hold onto our stuff, and we’re living in piles, and we think it is our fault–our weakness. But when Julie opened her heart and shared some of her own struggles deciding what to keep and what to throw away, she helped me to understand clutter at a totally different level.
And do you want to know what your clutter says about you, psychologically? For some of us, it’s company. It means we’re not alone. For others, it represents unfulfilled goals. Clutter in large volume can be protective barriers for us. And sometimes our clutter represents parts of ourselves we put on hold. (Julie has eye-opening stories to share here, as well.)
If you have ANY clutter in your life–or if you have friends or family members living in clutter who you would like to support, this podcast is going to be well worth your time. Honestly. I went back and listened to it again, and I was taking notes like crazy.
Your LearnDoBecome Challenge:
Enjoy the podcast–and please share it with your friends! Then come back and comment here to share how you’ve made a decision to part with at least one piece of clutter. And tell us what you did with that space you created in your life!
Wow. I signed up for the self study STEP program at Learn Do Become…I attended a couple free seminars. Found myself caught up in drama after drama and then at home, my family was not at peace still, not just because of the dramas we were saddled with, but because of my clutter. My mess. Some is theirs too, but I am not leading by example and it’s hurting me and everyone around me. So I finally signed up… I believe a few weeks ago. About a week ago I took “before” photos. Then a couple days ago I started listening to a step or a week or a module. You see the pattern of baby steps you suggested being dragged out.
TODAY: I listened to this podcast (after listening to the “5 habits” people audio). I already understood the 5 habits info and was sort of struggling (I was recently attacked and traumatized and my car is still awaiting claims to approve repairs after 6 days).
I was checking my email for anything regarding my car and this email came through with the podcast interview with Julie Morgenstern (totally know her name from my previous “bouts” of attempting to declutter). I listened while starting to clear off my dresser. Then I started to cry as soon as April mentioned about keeping things her mom had given her…
Had to keep pausing and rewinding because this is such a great interview with abundant information!
I’m feeling more connected to how to determine what I need to get rid of and what I can be ok with actually keeping (or giving away)! I kept hiding things from myself in drawers – I used the excuse “I could use it someday and I wouldn’t pay for it again” or they don’t make these anymore, etc…but keeping the BEST representations of a departed one or of a stage of life…that is a huge win. April and Julie’s stories used as examples hit home and hit hard (more tissues please)!
Her quote from her daughter was especially inspirational and motivational – please pass that on!
THANK YOU for the break through!
PS – somehow I thought you were in another state, but you’re pretty local to me! Would love to meet you!
Elana, I LOVE how you applied this podcast to your life. Thank you for your courage–and for taking steps to make these positive changes in your life. What a blessing you are!! xoxo
Fabulous !! What a great interview! Listening to this has been a “game changer” for me. WOW!! I actually feel like I can let go of some of the stuff consuming my space. Thank you so much for providing this information!
Finally listened to this while cleaning my kitchen space. It is soo good and so helpful to start to process a bunch of old thoughts. Thanks so much April and Julie!
This was VERY helpful! Thank you for making this available.
Wow! What an awesome interview. I was listening on my home and had to pull over because of the emotional release. Especially about the cookbooks. I must have at least 50! (More tissues, please). Finally the answer to my why! I mean really they’re just cookbooks and I’m not crazy. I will be getting Julies book this weekend so that I can have the overall principles as suggested. Her words have given me back my power. Thank you for your compassion and understanding.
Julie’s book is wonderful–so excited for you to read it! I love how you said her words gave you back your power. That is EXACTLY it. As we see that we do have power, we can make amazing things happen. 🙂
Sending so much love!
Wow! This was exactly what I needed to hear at this moment! Thank you!!!
Pam, we’re so glad you enjoyed this podcast! Thank you for taking time to comment. Thanks for being part of our community!
This audio interview with Julie really made sense to me. I have struggled for years to understand why i hold on to clutter. I never once thought about the emotional attachments or the fact that it can represent a part of yourself you had put on hold. I was never kind to myself, rather constantly belittling myself for being junky and moving my piles and boxes around the house to hide it. I signed up for STEP last summer, then had to have hand surgery and the energy was lost. Now I am ready to begin again! Thank you!
I am so happy to hear this, Kathy! You are in the right place! (So sorry about your hand surgery…glad you’re feeling better.) Julie’s podcast has really stuck with me, as well. It’s so helpful to realize we’re not holding onto things because we like clutter. 🙂 There’s real emotion going on below the surface, and sometimes just KNOWING that helps us solve it. So happy you are here at LearnDoBecome!
Thank you so much for your reply. I honestly would love to speak with you or someone on your team as I attempt to get going again. I do feel a like I don’t know where to begin. I saved all my emails from you in one email file. But as I listen to them, I am not sure I every really opened the STEP program. Little help please?
What a great podcast. Thank you! The make up bag idea made me cry. I’m always thinking about how to draw the best of the generations together and that was a beautiful idea. Sparks ideas for me as I’m getting rid of the stuff.
Have started the STEP program but don’t think I will ever get my email to 0 but I have hopes that I will finally be able to whittle my stuff down to a manageable level. This podcast is an eye opener! Life on hold and unfulfilled dreams really hit home. Now, if I can just decide which of over a dozen crafts and projects I really want to finish/pursue and pass on the items associated with the others, I will really be happy.
Am an 84 year old widow moving from a 2400 sq ft house to a 1300 sq ft apartment who has a very hard time letting go of anything. Maybe now I can start to really let go of the clutter in my life.
Sheril, thank you for your comments! It does take time to work through things but it’s so worth it in the end. Be gentle with yourself and keep moving forward one step at a time. We’re so happy to have you with us!
Thank you for sharing your heart ♥ and challenges and thoughts. A great interview with Julie, filled with insights and emotions …. !
This podcast was amazing and i could so relate on many levels. Thank you so much.
Such a lovely podcast ! Today I am working with a writing section and pile of old ideas that were just draining me out to process. Your podcast has been very helpful to sort through those jumbled feelings of overwhelm and give me a sense of direction to processing those ideas and organizing new ones better. Am hoping things go smoother this time around towards a more productive writing system that I can rely upon.
Thanks for being so honest and present with your emotions in this podcast. This is a timeless share! Many hugs to you April.
Listening to this podcast hit the nail on the head.
I have had an understanding of my own for a long time that I hang onto things for reasons that sometimes have no relation to the “stuff” itself, some of the things I have are related to that, but the main reason which I identified years ago was that, and this is painful to say, but here goes…..
“I hang onto my stuff because it can’t abandon me like everyone else in my life has.”
Karen, sending you a big hug! It sounds like you’ve been through a lot in your life. Thank you for taking the time to comment here. We’re SO glad this podcast was helpful to you! Thanks for being with us!
Oh Karen,
That is rough.
I will listen later tonight and hopefully get my own revelations on what is holding me back. I just wanted to say I think this is the first step In your being on a journey of being kinder to yourself and requiring others to be also. I wholly support your doing so.
This was wonderful! It gave me a real type of oh my gosh moment!
I recently lost my mother and my aunt (more my sister than aunt) within 6 months of each other. My house was suddenly stuffed with “things”. “Things” that in my mind represent “things” I will never get again. A “thing” from someone who will never be able to give me another “thing”. How can I get rid of that “thing”? I don’t even like this “thing” but I must keep it or my heart will break.
It is very freeing to think of keeping only those “things” the represent the best of my memories. I can sort out all of the stuff with a different mind set and give myself permission to do so. Thank you thank you thank you!
Lazette, we’re so sorry to hear of your losses. It’s hard to lose loved ones. We’re glad to hear that this episode has been helpful to you. Keep moving forward one step at a time. You’re doing great!
I take potos of things that are sentiment. it helps to get rid of the object.
I absolutely found great value in this podcast. thank you so much!
I haven’t even listened to the podcast yet… But reading the article and comments made me open up and begin to grieve a loved one, in a good way. That was totally unexpected, and I’m looking forward to listening to the podcast and learning to let go. Thank you.
Sending lots of love, Sarah!