Respecting Other People’s Stuff

Have you been trying to work on your clutter but are distracted by someone else’s?

While it’s very tempting to do a little clearing out for them, I’ve learned one thing the hard way: Messing with other people's stuff tends to damage their trust in you and make them even less likely to clear their clutter. 

Most people don't like to be pressured into doing things until they feel ready and energized to do it themselves.

Here’s what to do instead: Focus on your own clutter!

Why? You cannot control other people. Concentrating on what we can control, our clutter may very well have a ripple effect on others.

When we tidy our own space, others see how much calmer and happier we are in our spaces and may even realize they want what we have.

While there’s no guarantee that focusing on our own organizing projects will impact theirs, the slogan, “Hands-off pays off!” will help you stay sane.

A great acronymn I have heard is “LOVE: Let Others Voluntarily Evolve.” Try this the next time you feel tempted to control other people’s stuff!

Note: If the clutter is truly a major problem, be sure to communicate how it you feel and how it is impacting you. Try to compromise with the person who owns the clutter, and set boundaries for shared areas. If they refuse to part with things that truly block the flow of your home and there is no other reasonable place to put the stuff, insist on them renting a storage unit as an alternative consequence. If needed, consult with a family therapist or mediator to result the conflict.

Share this post! You never know who needs to hear it. It helps create a ripple effect of goodness throughout the world!

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