Trick #5 - Tell the Truth

Sometimes we really don't have a clue about how we got so much stuff and why our lives are not what we'd like them to be. By examining our own behavior, we can start to understand our true relationship to our stuff.

Your Most Dysfunctional Location
Maybe part of your life has just the right amount of stuff and you do not consider that part dysfunctional. That's great. However, there are other areas that are a problem, or you would not be reading this. For example, your office is stacked with papers and crammed with stuff you don't need. Your kitchen is so full that it's hard to cook or tell what's edible in the refrigerator. When you open your closet, stuff falls out. Your kids' rooms have too many toys, clothes, or equipment, much of which is outgrown, broken, or belongs to others. You have lots of storage containers full of stuff that you rarely or never use.

Your Downfall
Your downfall refers to the type of stuff you just can't resist. You find yourself mindlessly acquiring more of this than anything else, over and over. For example, shoes, magazines, DVDs/CDs, jewelry, antiques, souvenirs, vehicles, books, musical instruments, and so on. Collections are a good place to start looking to identify your downfall.

Hoarding
To hoard is to hold onto stuff that you either don't respect or don't use. You don't actively want the stuff, but you don't want anyone else to have it either. Or you are too busy, or lazy, to make the effort to pass it on. Hoarded stuff often causes feelings of anxiety when you think of it going away, and also feelings of guilt for being selfish when others would enjoy and use the stuff that you either aren't using or have squirreled away.

Some typical rationalizations for hoarding:

• I'll get it fixed, I'll fix it myself.
• It will be valuable, worth $.
• I'll sell it or give it away when I have time.
  
• It's for the kids.
• It was a gift.
• Don't tell me what to get rid of!
• It was a great deal. I only paid $x for it when full price was $xx.
  

Deprivation
When you have too much stuff, there is often at least one area of your life where you don't apply enough attention or money for healthy functioning. For example, your roof is leaking, but you just bought 20 new CDs and a leather jacket. You are choosing to buy more stuff instead of taking care of an item that is an important necessity. This is deprivation.