Re: When to say enough?

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Posted by Julie Signore on February 19, 2001 at 10:39:31:

In Reply to: When to say enough? posted by Diane on February 13, 2001 at 13:08:20:

Aloha Diane....

Mahalo for your post -- you are NOT alone in this thinking or challenge & I am *sure* many people will benefit from your post!

First of all ...you really NEED to change your thought pattern in order to move forward in your decluttering efforts. *Thinking* you MAY need something & *knowing* you will USE it are 2 entirely different entities.

It is far more feasible to be *questioning* the items you are saving /storing & running out of space by holding onto -- you will find it ENORMOUSLY freeing! :)

Some of the questions you need to be asking:
• If I don't have this tomorrow -- is there someplace else I can get it in the future IF i need it?
• Can I live without this piece of paper? (what's the worse that could happen if I didn't have this tomorrow)?
• Is the information out of date?
• Will I possibly receive this -again?
•Can I acquire this information somewhere else in case I do need it later? (like the Internet!)
• Is this a duplicate?
• How often will I NEED to refer to the information?
• Do I need this piece of paper or do I want it? (big difference)
• Will I really USE this information?
• Does this paper deserve to occupy my VALUABLE space?
( Remember, 80% of what you file is never looked at again!!!! )
• Is this QUALITY information???

Diane, most people save so much stuff that the true importance or value is lost in the sheer magnitude of all that they have! Think of it as synonymous with highlighting the *important* words you read in a book. Yet if the ENTIRE book is highlighted -- then WHAT it truly important ???

You see what I mean -- the *value* of the object gets lost in the quantity...rather than noting it for it's quality!

I know that if you haven't tossed anything our for years it can be a scary thought...so if you are afraid of tossing something....place all the items in this category in a bokk & put a REAL date on it...say 6 months from now....

If at the end of 6 months you have not had to open the box ...then trust me...you probably NEVER will -- just pitch the whole box without even opening it!

Hope *something* here helps! Feel free to post your progress or any other stumbling blocks you encouter along the way :) .... & Happy Organizing -- you WILL feel so proud of yourself in this releasing process :)

Much Aloha,

Julie Signore -
President: The PHOENIX Organizational Consulting Service
CEO: 1,2,3 SORT IT Organizing Solutions -- Innovative Tools
NSA Member, NAPO Member

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Comments:
: Aloha Diane....

: Mahalo for your post -- you are NOT alone in this thinking or challenge & I am *sure* many people will benefit from your post!

: First of all ...you really NEED to change your thought pattern in order to move forward in your decluttering efforts. *Thinking* you MAY need something & *knowing* you will USE it are 2 entirely different entities.

: It is far more feasible to be *questioning* the items you are saving /storing & running out of space by holding onto -- you will find it ENORMOUSLY freeing! :)

: Some of the questions you need to be asking:
: • If I don't have this tomorrow -- is there someplace else I can get it in the future IF i need it?
: • Can I live without this piece of paper? (what's the worse that could happen if I didn't have this tomorrow)?
: • Is the information out of date?
: • Will I possibly receive this -again?
: •Can I acquire this information somewhere else in case I do need it later? (like the Internet!)
: • Is this a duplicate?
: • How often will I NEED to refer to the information?
: • Do I need this piece of paper or do I want it? (big difference)
: • Will I really USE this information?
: • Does this paper deserve to occupy my VALUABLE space?
: ( Remember, 80% of what you file is never looked at again!!!! )
: • Is this QUALITY information???

: Diane, most people save so much stuff that the true importance or value is lost in the sheer magnitude of all that they have! Think of it as synonymous with highlighting the *important* words you read in a book. Yet if the ENTIRE book is highlighted -- then WHAT it truly important ???

: You see what I mean -- the *value* of the object gets lost in the quantity...rather than noting it for it's quality!

: I know that if you haven't tossed anything our for years it can be a scary thought...so if you are afraid of tossing something....place all the items in this category in a bokk & put a REAL date on it...say 6 months from now....

: If at the end of 6 months you have not had to open the box ...then trust me...you probably NEVER will -- just pitch the whole box without even opening it!

: Hope *something* here helps! Feel free to post your progress or any other stumbling blocks you encouter along the way :) .... & Happy Organizing -- you WILL feel so proud of yourself in this releasing process :)

: Much Aloha,

: Julie Signore -
: President: The PHOENIX Organizational Consulting Service
: CEO: 1,2,3 SORT IT Organizing Solutions -- Innovative Tools
: NSA Member, NAPO Member

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