I glanced at the armoire in my office and thought, “I’ve got to clean that thing out.” It’s a tall, three-door cabinet I used to convert my traditional office into a warm and inviting living room. In it, I stored all my work-related items – office supplies, files, computer, etc., so the room would be cozy for both myself and my guests.

Over time, I stashed more and more stuff in this cabinet to the point where it became nearly impossible to fit anything else in. Although the clutter was out of sight, it still bothered me. I knew it was robbing my energy, but for some reason, I couldn’t get myself to clean it out. This week, I discovered why.

One afternoon, I decided to tackle one shelf of the armoire. I picked the one with larger items first because they were easy to sort through and organize. Inspired by my progress, I tackled the second shelf that evening. That’s when things got a little tricky. This shelf had boxes with mementos that were dear to me, things like photos of me and my parents, letters from readers, and a handwritten quote by my first crush –items that evoked an emotional reaction.

As I held each treasure, I realized I’d been avoiding the armoire because I knew it would arouse grief, wistfulness, or the sadness of saying goodbye to what once was and will never be again. So, I savored each piece before deciding whether to keep the memory in a digital photo album or bless it and let it go.

The next day, feeling less overwhelmed, I arrived at the bottom two shelves that held stacks of notes from workshops I had both taken and taught, and files filled with book ideas, outlines, and potential projects. As I sifted through the paper, I felt a storm of resistance. What if I need these notes from the Enneagram course I took five years ago to teach a future workshop? Shouldn’t I keep my angel investment class summaries? What about all these ideas and outlines? Won’t I need them for a new book or blog?

I stepped away from the armoire, pulled out my journal, and wrote about my reactions. An hour later, I realized several things.

First, I’ve metabolized all I’ve learned over the last three decades and don’t need to rely on paper. I can trust myself to reach inside and find what I need when I need it.

Second, knowledge and experience have given me a wealth of wisdom and I’d prefer to lean on that wisdom moving forward.

Third, the experience of sorting through all the papers showed me that to age consciously, we must be courageous enough to say goodbye to the identities that no longer fit.

As the last piece of paper entered the shredder, I felt both relieved and a little anxious. Letting go is a necessary part of navigating the wisdom years if we want to feel free and at peace, but it’s not easy. Several months later, I can attest to the enormous benefits of releasing “stuff” from our lives once we learn to take the leap.

This week, let’s tackle the topic of letting go in our next Zoom gathering called “Clutter-Free Living in the Wisdom Years.” Join us this Wednesday (4/30) at 3pm ET (12 noon PT). If you registered for prior Zoom gatherings, you’ll automatically receive a link. If not, you can do so here.

Love,

Cheryl

P.S. – Join me for a live, in-person conversation about “Self Care in the Wisdom Years” at Circles of Wisdom in Methuen, MA, on Thursday, May 1st at 6:30 pm. You can purchase tickets here.