How Minimalism Helped me Face my Fears

[@lindamcdermott5475]

You mentioned that after clearing surfaces, you felt uncomfortable….. I know that feeling. I decluttered my kitchen counter, put appliances in the cupboard, etc. the counter was totally clear, easy to clean and available to use. My first reaction was just not being used to it. I have since learned to embrace it. It is a point of pride. I love the cleared, clean space. Just this week, I looked at the things in my living room, single little clusters of three on each table and each end of the tv credenza. Everyone knows things should be in threes to be esthetically pleasing, right? Well not so any more. I removed nine little angels and birds. My first reaction was discomfort, after all, I was used to seeing all that stuff. That lasted about a minute! I feel a sense of freedom from the decluttered surfaces. There are many layers to the onion of minimalism, I’m just working my way through.

[@Nourishingminimalism]

Yes! Thanks for sharing that Linda. ❤️

[@howbethdoesit5695]

Something you said in this video reminded me of something. Years ago a friend gave me a collection of things for my country kitchen. I appreciated it, I displayed them. When it came time to re-paint the kitchen and I decided to change the theme of my kitchen, my friend who knew I was not going to use them, asked me, "What are you going to do with the ___". I said, oh I dont know. She knew I was about to have a yard sale and said, " don't put those in the yard sale". Now please realize she did not give me the Hope Diamond. Just some knick knacks. I said, "do you want them back"? She said yes. She lives about 60 miles from me. They are in a box in my basement. She has never mentioned it again. Its been 3 years. Im tossing them today. But I wonder if she ever REALLY gave them to me..lol. I never check on that crap if I give it away. Once its gone, I dont care what happens to stuff when I give it away. Wierd huh?

[@cvdheiden1]

Wow, that is so true: if someone is still putting a claim on what you should (not) do with a present, it was never really a gift in the first place...

[@christinabo63]

Years ago I gifted my sister a necklace with a nice orange stone. I think she wore it once. She's not a big jewellery person and probably (unknowingly)felt obligated to take it. I will take it back at Christmas because it now has some sentimental value for me, although she just 'had' it and not even used it that much. Some day I will give it away with other jewelry I don't wear myself. Apart from that necklace, people are free to give my gifts away as much as I'm allowed to part with birthday gifts or even childhood memorabilia. When I declutter something a friend might need/use, I ask them if they want it, without any obligation. Luckily there are enough Facebook groups to give things away and if I want to sell something, I use eBay. Stuff is getting out, no matter the way. But I don't want to clutter up my friends homes.

[@lnwmelon]

“The stuff yelling at me.” Yep!

[@Minding2010]

Mine is yelling right now! 😭😩

[@dotsyjmaher]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣sad but true

[@tomaszwyszkowski2253]

I dont remember who said it:"when someone gives you gift, your only obligation is to say "Thank you"

[@Nourishingminimalism]

I love that!

[@howbethdoesit5695]

I love that too!

[@NLY1WAY4U]

I think most people struggle with this. Minimalism is more than just getting rid of stuff, like you said. It is overcoming some fears. Always working on these attitudes. Thank you!

[@monicastone4952]

The more I take out the better I feel!!! Thank you for being the most amazing, encouraging, yet super honest, voice of reason! Seriously, I could (and admittedly have!) listen to your voice all day! 😂 I have made more progress on my already multi year journey towards simplification and minimalism watching your videos than I have with any other book, show, or channel!!! You teach wisdom with a soothing HEAP of GRACE! One thing that I can say that I have learned is that it is definitely a personal process which we have to be mentally prepared and ready for. So many times I have started decluttering only to "organize" ALL OF THE STUFF so that it fits/looks better! With your help I have been able to turn a MAJOR corner. The stuff is leaving my house by the car load almost daily now! I'M DONE, IT'S GOTTA GO!!! Stay blessed, and keep doing what you do. I look forward to each video you post. You're helping people change their lives! Wahoo, you're a difference maker! 😁 💛THANK YOU💛🫂

[@Nourishingminimalism]

Thank you Monica! Way to go!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@JamieM470]

Love her videos. I look forward to them because they really help me when I'm in a decluttering slump or overwhelmed. I feel the same way you do, but you said it perfectly, so DITTO!

[@juliemix3373]

Rachel, the need to be "the one to provide" was the force that was running me. Thank you for this video.

[@jocelynrose7911]

Wow!! Again, you 'hit the nail on the head.' 👍

[@lyndahayley7382]

Overwhelming & not serving (items) & the people pleasing, all right on. Bet U have a happy household! God bless your day❣️

[@judysbakeryandtestkitchen1654]

Love the stuff yelling at me signs!!!

[@erint933]

Thank you so so much for addressing mental health in how it relates to organization and cleaning. Wow, so good. It's helps me put words to the things I've struggled with. And helps when someone says, "Why can't you just keep the kitchen clean?", or whatever, to help me realize I'm in process and I'm working through letting go of the fears & feeling uncomfortable. God bless you, this was so helpful!

[@dotsyjmaher]

THAT IS TRUE....you are really helping our mental health before it becomes CLINICAL❤️

[@jom6320]

Love your honesty. False obligation usually leads to too much stress and too much overwork. A woman's world is hard enough but glad to see you younger women are getting it that stuff is just stuff but can keep you from a joyful life

[@lyndahayley7382]

Amen..the visual to-do's....ahhhhh

[@barbarabruce7648]

Rachel this is certainly your purpose. You are up there with the greats like Jane Goodall, that can see the bleeding obvious and find a way to help communicate it to the world. I have lived in the same house for 21 years and clutter crept up on me. No other decluttering Personality or Book makes us all feel that we can do this in lots of small chunks. And changing habits. You make everyone realise why they are holding on to stuff. And the cost of doing so. It's not worth it! You truly are the Master and you deserve a PhD. Thankyou for the lessons learnt Grasshopper!

[@Nourishingminimalism]

Oh thank you Barbara! 🥰

[@Gabrielle499]

Girl, you should write a book! 🙌😁

[@Nourishingminimalism]

❤️

[@shirleyann3344]

Do you decorate for Christmas? I have started putting out less and less decorations the past few years. Last Christmas I didn’t even put up a tree because none of our children were even coming home. I kind of regretted that, but hey, I didn’t have to take it back down!

[@mariadiebert892]

Thank you for this video, I really needed it right now, especially with my craft supplies. I hit a roadblock and needed to break through it. You really helped me. ☺️

[@Izabela-ek5nh]

I'm gonna do my wardrobe today (second time) and my craft supplies I have at home and never use. A whole chest of only one hobby supplies. I really want to declutter it. Too much of it!

[@helencorona1641]

Your posts have helped me SO MUCH. Thank you!

[@Nourishingminimalism]

Thank you Helen! 😊

[@compassrose7888]

Me too, gradually taking a bag or two to charity shops has been a major activity for me over the last month or so, rather to my surprise as I would not have described myself as a minimalist at all. Am very grateful to you, you are obviously hitting a nerve!

[@janecoder1]

I have so many missed opportunities because of having too much.

[@burghbrat3319]

In our family we call it 'horizontalsurfaceitis' and we blame it on genetics! I'm not even kidding, clean counters simultaneously thrill and TERRIFY me. I have a large and beautiful kitchen but it's often so cluttered that I can't even find space to chop veggies for a meal. Paper clutter (and craft supplies, if I'm honest) can just take over those surfaces and get overwhelming pretty quickly. Thanks for this video. Good to know I'm not alone in trying to keep this stuff under control.

[@babytexan3038]

Excellent video! Really well done! The thought of your general outreach message was a huge help to me earlier today. I'm the mom of two very young children and was feeling so overwhelmed and frustrated by the messy house and my fatigue. But I thought of your encouraging, small steps: get the trash out, do a load of dishes. Your kindness to share your experiences with parenting and anxiety/depression/clutter is SO helpful to me! Helps me know it can get better, that I'm doing something great to build a family, and that I don't need to be ashamed of struggling or taking a while to reach my goals. Thank you!!

[@southerndigest8996]

I had three kids in three years too-and went on to have four more! And yes, the desire to feel prepared was paramount to me. If I didn’t have something we needed, I’d have to make a trip to the store with at least a few kids in tow. That would require at least an hour of my time and more mental bandwidth than I wanted to yield. As a result, when I did go out, I would run ALL the errands at once, stocking up on whatever, just to avoid having to go out again anytime soon. Of course, it was never a really pleasant experience, so that just reinforced my belief that I must be prepared at home or I would suffer the consequences. Now, the kids are all grown and I’m still in this mindset. But, I’m learning! Four years ago, I stopped putting up a Christmas tree. I found I really enjoyed seeing the Christmas cheer everywhere else-in other homes, at church, in businesses-and it was enough to satisfy me. It was such a relief to not feel the self-imposed pressure to decorate, and it was especially lovely to not have the chore of taking it all down! Trouble is, my brother remembers how much I love Christmas, so he’s bought EXPENSIVE Christmas decorations as gifts for me the last two years. He was so proud of them when he gave them to me! Then he started asking me just after Thanksgiving if I’d put up the decorations he gave me yet.

[@kathyparandes7281]

You have a great analytical mind ! Your videos are so helpful.

[@heathermackie7390]

Thank you!! This really helped me!!

[@dotsyjmaher]

SO true...❤️

[@rajeshwarihemmadi3229]

I too like many fully know these emotions, aspirations, fears .

[@andysdestination8671]

Facing fears is not easy that for sure. But with this video you just gave me some ideas. One of them is i don' have to please people of the things i have. i just used them for useful things to do and not show it off. Another great video. See you in the next one.

[@CH-1984]

Thanks! I identify with the "be prepared/just in case someone needs it". I like when you give specific examples of items to minimize. I won't even let myself stop at a garage sale. My kids are grown but I still have homeschool supplies/books!

[@Simple-annie]

Hello 👋🏻 I recently discovered your channel and have been catching up on all of your content (which I love). You’ve helped me realize how manageable it can really be to keep a house clean. I would love to know how you clean your bathroom and what you do or use if you ever need to disinfect anything in your house (for example now during a pandemic). I use Clorox to remove soap scum in the shower and clorox wipes to clean the toilet seat, door knobs, and to clean the sole of shoes/sandals. Any suggestions for substitutes?

[@terricarver4873]

Overcoming fears! A great helping video! 🌹

[@ellenh278]

Great topic!

[@cindy844]

Your videos are helping me so much! I grew up poor. In my adulthood, there's been that fear of not having enough. As a result, I've accumulated way too much! I'm ready to get my home decluttered and embrace minimalism! I got rid of 50 things in my kitchen yesterday, and I'm just getting started! Thank you for everything you do!!

[@Nourishingminimalism]

Wonderful! Great job Cindy! ❤️

[@teresawoods5719]

Have a good day !!

[@KathrineJKozachok]

You have a nice name.

[@MelindaPlainandSimple]

Your stories always put things into perspective. They're so relatable.

[@MelindaPlainandSimple]

😱I never did get a notification for this video. When I found it, I had to 'Subscribe' again. 😕 I don't know if I accidentally unsubscribed 😟or what happened.

[@Nourishingminimalism]

Weird!

[@Margo714P]

Who is Sue?

[@Nourishingminimalism]

Someone who took one of my courses a few years ago. 😊