Shifting…

It’s almost been a month since I started decluttering my house. I’ve taken a few bags to charity and have filled the wendy house with things I’d like to sell at a car boot sale.

I’ve been finding my spark of joy faster, getting to know myself better. I’ve also made mistakes. Thrown away things I thought my husband wouldn’t miss that I had to go retrieve out of the bin. It reminds me of the Scripture that says you should deal with the splinter in your own eye before trying to help someone else. As with most things it is much easier to point out the faults of others than your own.

I gave my children permission to use their will and choose which clothes gives them a spark of joy. Their palatable relieve at throwing out things they’ve always disliked without feeling guilty was so good. Still I found myself objecting to their choice when the item was an expensive make or something I would like them to wear. But when I saw the disappointment in their eyes that I questioned their discernment – indirectly questioning whether their spark is valid – I held my tongue. What does the price of a shirt compare to the confidence of a human being.

About two weeks ago I decided to do something I’ve never done – go on a diet. I don’t like a lot of things surrounding diets. I don’t like limits. I don’t like it if others have something and I can’t have it. I don’t like thinking about weight. But just like my house was filled with excess baggage so was my body. And clearing out my house heightened my desire to reset my body too.

At the same time I took up walking and sprinting every second day. You could say I’m a non exerciser. I don’t like it. Period. When I see people jogging I think they’ve lost their minds. Especially in the pouring rain, I mean really? But for more than a year now I’ve been challenging myself to think differently – seeing myself as someone who loves exercise – confessing that I’m young, fit and healthy.

This purposeful visualisation of myself exercising seemed to be doing nothing for a year until all of a sudden I found myself looking forward to my next run. For the first time ever I’m finding myself sweating from exercising and loving it. I don’t even know how it happened.

If you keep on thinking the same thing, you’ll keep on doing the same thing.

Shifting the physical things in my life has shifted me into a different place. It has helped me to take stock of what I really want in life. I want wellness and joy and health. I want my home to reflect the vibrant life and order that flows from the kingdom within me. Having an ordered home is essential to wellbeing. It reflects what is going on inside you.

Dealing with the physical junk in your life forces you to deal with the junk inside you.

There is so much joy in surrounding yourself with less things. Even my house seems to breathe easier. Nature sets an example for us every season – let go of the old – rest – embrace the new. Things rust and grow old in this world – nothing lasts forever. Hold it loosely. But hold the eternal close – love, peace, joy… YHVH never changes.

I’ll finish with a quote my friend Ronel from Quantum You posted on Facebook which resonates with me.

Abundance is not having lots of stuff – Its being free within to let go knowing you will never lack any good thing. Abundance is part of the dimension of the Father’s Kingdom. It is our inheritance in Christ available here and now. Let’s shift from the old to the new together.