Book Review: What Your Clutter Is Trying To Tell You by Kerri Richardson

I can't resist reading a new Hay House book, and how could I possibly resist reading something from another Kerri? I have been following Kerri Richardson on Facebook for quite awhile and enjoy her clutter busting tips, her many live chats, and following her adventures of building a tiny house with her wife Melissa. I was very excited to get my hands on her new book. 

What Your Clutter Is Trying To Tell You - Uncover The Message In The Mess And Reclaim Your Life arrived with a little over 100 pages, I thought hmm, this is slim, not your typical 250+ pages. But once I started reading, I realized something pretty spectacular, the book is clutter free! What could get across the point any clearer? When you read a book, especially self help, and the same message is repeated over and over again in slightly different ways, it can get very monotonous. You know the point could be wrapped up so much quicker. Well, Kerri did it! Kerri Richardson's book is filled with concrete steps to remove the clutter and get to the bottom of why it's there in the first place. She also provides her own personal stories and those from her clients too. 

What Kerri reveals in What Your Clutter Is Trying To Telling You, is far more valuable than just removing items from your home. Clutter is a symptom, and Kerri helps get you to the cause. Her book is a deep dive into the multitude of ways clutter clogs your personal space and your head space. Her book provides an easy method to break down clutter clearing in more manageable chunks. It takes away the overwhelm and provides an enormous sense of accomplishment in a short time.

While I read the book I also participated in a 30 Day Clutter Clearing Game that Kerri started on Facebook. This was also a fantastic way to ease into clutter clearing. For each day of the month, you clear that number of items (1 item for day one, 30 items for day 30, etc) and by the end you will have gotten rid of 465 items! Here's more details on Kerri's site: http://kerririchardson.com/clutter-game/. She also offers private coaching, group coaching and Clutter Buster courses. Kerri has endless ideas for clutter clearing. Along with her book, I highly recommend following her on social media to join her groups and live chats (links are below). The extra support helps so much. I am also an avid fan of her new Hay House Radio show on Mondays at 11AM PT. Definitely check it out, you can call in and speak to her too! 

Thanks to Kerri I realized that clutter is more than just objects, it can be in other things that weigh us down (including weight itself). She made me look at why I was really holding on to the extra pounds. I thought I was sabotaging myself for upcoming events in my life. I would start the diet because "x" event was coming up in a few months, but instead of losing, I would gain. Through Kerri's guidance, it became clear that it was the events themselves that I was protecting myself from. I am empathic, shy and sensitive, and new situations and different energies are difficult for me. The extra padding puts a buffer between that. It's definitely helpful to know the "why" when you are trying to make a change.

Another clutter trap was my art supplies. I have always thought "I am an artist" even though I haven't practiced it in a long time. I had art supplies in my closet as far back as high school and many from college. I felt like I couldn't let them go since "I am an artist" has been my mantra for years. I even bought a whole new set of art supplies well over a year ago to inspire me to create again. But it's still sitting in the same closet. Kerri helped me examine this. Is this something I actually enjoy? Through simple exercises, I have come to realize that what I thought was a fear of doing this again, may actually be that it's just not for me right now. I don't have to be an artist. Why would I create that kind of pressure on myself? I was able to let go of the high school & college supplies, and a stinky college textbook (I just don't like old book smell) And the best part is, I didn't have the attachment to it all that I thought I would. It wasn't hard to let it go. I kept the newer supplies, and before I decide if I will let it go entirely, I will try it out again, but with no pressure. I know now that I don't have to do or be anything other than happy.

I am the queen of lists. Through Kerri Richardson's book and the "Action Time!" steps, I was able to see how the lists were keeping me from having any fun. The lists never ended. So I've clutter cleared those, pared things down to what I really need to remember to do, and added in fun things on my list! I was also able to let go of Christmas items that had no meaning (or I didn't like), along with releasing the guilt feelings that whisper that I have to keep every memory forever. I let go of items that held negative memories. Going through the bad memories was only difficult at the start of the process (Who wants to conjure up bad feelings?), once I started working on it, and got things out of the house, I felt free and clear. Everything holds energy, and avoiding them and having them in my home, was not healthy. 

I let go of excessive wrapping paper, years old unfinished crafts (I have yet to remember what the googly eyes on rocks was all about), DVDs, kitchen items, school supplies, outdated food & medicine, clothing, computer cords, cookbooks, and more. Almost everything was donate or recycled. I paired down some of the school papers I've been keeping of my kids. Those memories are the hardest for me. I really felt like I needed to keep it all, but that was just something I put on myself, and now I am more able to let it go. I don't need to keep every single memory to remember their childhood or to honor them. 

                           

                            

What Your Clutter Is Trying To Tell You shows the common causes of clutter, provides a resource list of where to donate or sell items, and even provides a section on turning clutter into cash! Kerri also points out so many additional types of clutter that may surprise you, but once sorted through and released from your life, will make a positive impact.

Kerri encourages us to look at what is coming in to our lives as the clutter leaves, and I just love that! This awareness paired with gratitude brings so much more goodness into our lives. Throughout the last month and a half of reading the book and letting go of physical, digital and mental clutter, so many blessings have arrived. I received an invitation from an Instagram friend to participate in goodness packs she was putting together. This resulted in a large order for Kindness Cards and paper butterflies that will now be distributed around the U.K.! I also received an affiliate check from Hay House, a free life insurance policy, a new TV for my office (also free), and many other blessings of kindness and abundance. The best part is feeling lighter, a sense that good is flowing in my life, and I am putting more positive energy into the world as a result. This is an ongoing process, but one I feel confident and positive about thanks to Kerri Richardson and What Your Clutter is Trying To Tell You.

Here are some ways to reach Kerri Richardson and buy her book:
Kerri's book: Hayhouse: http://hhafftrk.com/?a=3653&c=6166&p=r&s1=  
Kerri's book: Amazon http://amzn.to/2Fq5Oxa
Kerri's website: http://kerririchardson.com/
Kerri on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KerriCoach/
Kerri on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerrioke/?hl=en
Hay House Radio: http://hhafftrk.com/?a=3653&c=1445&p=r&s1=

In Gratitude & Love,


Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com

21 Days of Art

My three weeks of space clearing were wonderful. It was challenging at times, yet so freeing. I am still clearing, and every time I work on this, I feel lighter and happier. More wonderful things are flowing into my life because of it. My next 21 days is being spent immersed in art. I have enjoyed drawing, painting and creating since I was young. For college, I went to the School of Visual Arts and studied advertising design. I really had an urge to go into fine arts, but I was worried that I wouldn't be able to make a career of it. Now I know, the things that call to you, are the things you should pursue.

When I was in college and worked at a pharmacy, the owner was so kind and let me paint the windows of his shop. It was fun and made me feel like an artist. I met so many fun people at college, and I wish I had spent more time with them. I didn't engage in college as much as I should have. But, I was working quite a bit to afford the supplies, commuting, and more. I put too much on my plate and stretched myself too thin. I also wasn't very good at saving (or asking for help), so I'm sure I could have made this easier on myself and enjoyed more. I was always coming from a place of lack and struggle. I have come to realize that everything is always provided for, the only lack is what I create in my mind. There really has never been a time in my life that things didn't end up working out. The worry really isn't necessary, trust in the universe is.

After college, I ended up working in direct marketing, and there was no artistic outlet in that at all. It was numbers, spreadsheets and lots of phone calls and emails. I still felt like an artist though, and I stayed as creative as I could in my personal life.

As the years went by, the artist in me went away. I let "life" take over. The best parts of that life are of course, my husband and sons. But the rest of it left me drained, because I wasn't filling it with the personal things that made me feel like me. I didn't realize this was happening, I was just going through my life. I was always too busy. Filling my life up with so much busy had buried the artist.

So now is the challenge to resurrect the artist, because I love her. I have been drawing again and I'm really quite shaky! I feel so out of my element. I used to love line drawings with ink or pen, but right now I feel like I've never done it before. I am not thrilled with what I have created so far, but I'm putting it out there anyway. This is where I am right now, and I'm not hiding it. So far I've made a pencil drawing of my cat, a collage as a model for an acrylic painting, a drawing of my sacred space (below) and colored in the beautiful The Secret Garden coloring book. I bought a beautiful art kit for Christmas, and I plan to try out everything: water color, oils, acrylics, pencils, pastels and more.

Thank you for joining me on my journey. Is there anything in your life that you've put aside that needs to come out to play again? Comment below, let's go through this together!


In Gratitude,

Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com

21 Days of Space Clearing: The Final Analysis

It has been quite a journey these past three weeks. You can discover quite a bit about yourself by the things you keep. And you can watch your soul stretch and break free when you let some things go. I'm still not nearly finished. Devoting and hour or more a day to this task has definitely given me a huge boost, but there's still more to finish, and some newly created projects to complete. As I begin my new 21 Day journey, this one will continue as well.

My goal in space clearing was to free up the space in my home. I wanted the Chi (life force) to flow more freely through my home. Clutter can stagnate Chi. Clutter can also stagnate oneself. I felt like things were being blocked in my life by the stuff I was holding onto. Things are moving freer now, even though there is more to do. Since I started, a check for my business came in the mail. I found a free abundance course to take (will blog about it when I'm finished, it's pretty spectacular!). Someone approached me for a job interview. Friendships have flourished, including reaching out to childhood friend I haven't heard from in years, and a friend visiting this summer for a week. More ideas are coming to me, more synchronicities are occurring, and I feel lighter and happier. And I know that more good is on the way.

Last night I went through piles of cards: Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day, birthdays, and anniversaries. So many cards from so many different people through the years. It was another reliving of my life. Some of it was beautiful, and it felt like I was there again. I laughed, cried, and reminisced. There were relationships that have since ended, and I spent time enjoying the good times in those cards and feeling grateful for having had those moments. It is a much better feeling to appreciate what was, than to be bitter about how things changed. I felt sadness and regret for my part in those endings, and as the cards were let go, so was all of that. We all have our part to play. When you step away from it all for a time, and then there it is in your face again, it's a new perspective. Time changes things and what I once felt so righteous about, seems pretty silly now. 

This was the hardest part of this journey, and difficult to write about. But, I don't sugarcoat myself in these blogs, I put it all out there: the good, the bad, and the ugly. I saved college letters I wrote my friends. It's interesting to see who I was almost 30 years ago. What I had played in my head as a memory wasn't completely correct. Time washes things a bit. I wrote to a friend of mine about my new college in New York. I was studying advertising design. I joked about the two clubs my school had. The one I made fun of was GLAAD. I made some comment about "oh yeah I signed up for that one right away." I was so embarrassed to read who I was. I was mocking something that I couldn't conceive of belittling now. I sounded like someone who was afraid of something she didn't understand. Rather than trying to understand, she took the easy way out. I was sad when I read that, and I thought of my friends from high school who are gay and lesbian (which I didn't know at the time). How did I make them feel back then? I certainly didn't give them a gentle ear to talk to. How many ignorant comments did I make, thinking I was being funny? I remember having a conversation years ago with a friend of mine about another friend who told her she was a lesbian. I asked her why she didn't come to me about it. She said she didn't think she could tell me. I didn't understand, we were such good friends. This makes sense now. Who knows what I said out loud, thinking I was so funny. I truly apologize to anyone I may have hurt or offended in any way. It wasn't malicious, it was ignorant. I believe that all lives matter, no one is above anyone else, we are all one and the same.

This exercise has been humbling to say the least. It's not about the "stuff." It's why I held on to things. Anything that was kept out of guilt, obligation, "just in case I need it someday," or for any negative reason was let go. Everything that feels like love, joy, peace, and happiness stays. Going through memories of times with my friends and my family has made me feel so much more love and gratitude for them. It has cleared out everything that really doesn't matter and has opened up a whole appreciation for my life and everyone in it. It is a real freedom to let go.

In Gratitude and Love,

Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com

21 Days of Space Clearing: Week One (a.k.a What Have I Gotten Myself Into?)

I made it through my first week of space clearing, sort of. I decided to work on my teeny tiny office closet first, because this is really where the mess is. I am very good at letting things go, but everything I'm not able to let go of, is in that closet. I knew it would be the hardest, so I wanted to get it over with. I can easily clean out kitchen cabinets, bathroom closets and sort through clothes, but this is different. And I'm still not finished!

In this closet is business inventory. That was easy. Boxes, journals, pens and more are selling online, and at fairs and flea markets. Those stay, I just needed to organize them better. I went through hundreds of business cards. There were so many contacts I had when I was in marketing, but there is no need to keep them. Some of the cards were people I met one time. I let them go.

Next I worked on my craft piles and so many projects I had only started. I sorted through, and made a donation pile for anything I knew I would never work on. I made a small pile of projects to do and wrote up a list. I'm tackling one at time and will get them all completed. I already finished my meditation pillow last night. Now I'm just waiting for the weather to warm up so I can use it outside on my meditation platform (blog on how to build one is coming up soon!). 

I had tons of my sons' school supplies in there. You know every year you get that list of needed school supplies? I always bought everything! In the last two years I became wiser and more frugal!. Folders, notebooks and index cards were never used, and they piled up. I had an entire shoebox of colored pencils that could never possibly be used by one family. Those, and other excess supplies are going to the nearby elementary school for kids who need them. 

Now here's where it starts to get real. The memories are my deer in the headlights moment. This is where I stress, sweat and debate what to keep and what to let go. The amount of memories that I've kept over the years is telling me something. This is what I am in the midst of right now. I have decades of memories. There are some incredible blessings in going through this process, but it hasn't been easy at all. It has been very eye-opening though. 

I started the space clearing to let go of what is no longer serving me, in order to let in what is waiting for me. I believe that everything has an energy to it, and I have been holding on to some very heavy items. Part of the reason I kept so much was because I kept telling myself I had to. There was this guilt and pressure I put on myself. I was in essence, saying I was bad if I let things go. It felt like I was doing something wrong. But to who? No one else cares about this stuff! I don't know where this is coming from, but I know the letting go is releasing that hold I put on myself. It is releasing that negative voice. I can actually feel the heaviness leaving the closet and the weight lifting from my chest as I do this.

I held onto some things because I wanted to organize them "one day." Some of those things were my daily agendas and calendars. I had them as far back as 1990! 16 years! I didn't want to let these go because I wrote so much in them about my sons. I was terrible about keeping up with the baby books (guilt), but I always wrote down the "firsts" and many other things they did. I wanted to make sure I had all of this, but I never put the time in to organize it all. So they all went into the closet year after year. I have now gone through all of them, and wrote down what I really wanted to save. My feelings changed from what I thought was important so many years ago. I held on so tight to things I really didn't need to. But I am very glad that I saved those memories.

The other part of going through 16 years of my life, is reliving it all over again. It wasn't all pleasant. I relived two jobs working for narcissistic bosses, getting fired, working for a very unethical company (briefly), divorce, lawyers, and some very stressful times that were all documented because of appointments and notes. Stress, guilt, regret, sadness all welled up again. But, I'm not holding on to any of it, I've learned from all of it, accept my responsibility in creating it, and am grateful. And as I tossed these in the trash, I released them. 

What I am holding on to are the days when I found out I was pregnant, when I learned I was having boys, the first time they walked and talked, my friends' weddings, birthdays, and the day I married again. So many wonderful memories.

I also have a humongous pile of photos, videos, cards and my kids' items (clothes, schoolwork, etc) to still sort through. I have pile of my eldest son's shirts (school, soccer, band) that I haven't been able to part with. Every time he comes into my office, I look at the pile and say "Are you sure you won't want these one day?" I'm afraid to let go of things for their sake too. Guilt. I'm doing something wrong, I think. But he keeps looking at me like I'm crazy, and tells me he doesn't care about them. He wants to keep his karate outfit and belts, which he already keeps in his room. So what is freezing me here? I told him I thought I'd cut the shirts up and make him a quilt. Again, I got the "you're crazy" stare. And I don't blame him, I felt crazy saying it. Yet I'm still stuck. But, I will get there. And I know each time I let go, things get lighter. And I know that in doing so, I'm not only making things lighter for me, but for my whole family.

On to week two!

In Gratitude,

Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com

21 Days...

I'm sure you've all heard that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. Well, I've decided to use that to work on my intentions for this year. My soul is leading the way. Oh the beautiful soul, it's always guiding us towards the best version of ourselves. It speaks so gently though, that our negative ego voice usually drowns it out. The more that I have been meditating, the easier it has become to hear its gentle nudges.

I have decided to work on something new every 21 days. Immersing myself completely in one area at a time, will give it roots to last beyond that time. As I move on to my next project, I will carry the one completed with me. It's not so I will end up with an overwhelming amount to do, but rather so I will continue to engage myself in all of the favorable ways my soul is pulling me towards. Habits are easy, so the goal is to have some really healthy and positive ones.

To begin, I've chosen space clearing (also known as clutter clearing). It is the one thing that bugs me the most. I chose it because I knew I would be thinking it about it the entire 3 weeks even if I chose something else. I want to be completely mindful of whatever it is that I'm working on. There will be no guilt, unreasonable demands, or struggles during these 21 days. This is about change, but it doesn't need to be miserable. It will all be joyful. 

I don't have a mess in my home. Well, except for this closet...

Oh well, there's no need to hide it from you. We're all friends here, right? There's so much crammed in there from business inventory, crafts, art supplies, kids memories to office supplies. It's the tiniest closet in the house, but it's in my office where I am most of the time, so in everything goes!

Generally, I've gotten much better at letting go and keeping things orderly. I have grown to prefer having much less. But, there is more to let go of: clothes that I don't wear or even like, office paperwork (that always seems to pile up), computer files, emails, tons and tons of photos & videos that need to be organized, and so many of my kids' memories. The kids' memories are the hardest for me to part with, but I know I will find some creative ways to wean and organize (Thank goodness for iPhones and flash drives, you can save everything in such a tiny space!). 

So that's where I'm starting, and I will report back in on what happens. Here are some other thoughts I have for upcoming 21 days throughout this year:

1. Fun & play. Very much needed!
2. Art. I went to college for art, and over the last 20 years I have barely made time to create. I miss it.
3. Writing. Another passion that I need to be more consistent with.
4. Reading. I love to read and learn, but I want to do more of it.
5. Nature. I love being outside, but I don't make the time for it. This will do it!
6. Flexibility. I currently have the flexibility of a 2x4.
7. Something new. I want to try new things that I have never done before. It's great for the brain and ramps up those courage muscles!
8. Living meditation. It's something I have thought about for quite awhile. I don't just want to feel the peace I have during and just after meditation. I want to live it all day by being mindful of it.

I will be making lots lists to prepare for what I will be doing. I just love lists (I probably should be doing 21 days of spontaneity...we'll see). If you have any thoughts for fun, nature, etc let me know! Do you have any intentions for this year? Share in the comments, I'd love to hear from you!

In Gratitude and Love,

Kerri
www.suitablegifts.com