It's Time to De-clutter and Leave the Past in the Past and Move Forward into your Future
By: Mary Jean Marquez
Hanging on to the old past is a form of self-sabotage. I know, because I've done it. All this does is keep you stuck in a confusing hold pattern; a rut, not allowing you to move forward in life. It's like quick sand pulling you down - paralyzing your mind and life.
The past can be a hurtful unstable place -- It's time to let go of it all, and find a new happy stable footing for your future. It is possible if you believe it is - I am living proof! The thing is, no one can do it for you. You have to take 'personal responsibility' and do it for yourself.
It's time to FREE YOURSELF and de-clutter your life -- saying bye to the old you, and saying yes to a new you. Make a quality decision, that you are not going to live a stuck life, and that you are going to do the necessary work to get the results you desire in every area of your life.
There are many spaces in life that we must tend to on a regular basis in order to live a clutter free life. Cleaning house, if you will, must be a life long habit, otherwise you will find that clutter will quickly pile up - drowning out all the good that is trying to find you. Believe me when I share, that when you begin to make the necessary changes, your life will be filled with peace and joy. Heaviness, confusion and chaos is replaced with clarity, peace and lightness of heart. You begin to attract goodness to yourself. Blessing is able to make it's way to you.
Here is a short list of spaces to get started on your de-cluttering journey:
Mind - Your thoughts will ultimately dictate the direction your life goes, so take a good look at what you are feeding your mind, and how it's negatively altering your thinking. You may have to stop watching certain types of movies, turn the news off, fast social media, stop listening to negative people...replace it all with good information! God clearly lets us know what to think on in Philippians 4:8 "Whatever is TRUE, whatever is NOBLE, whatever is RIGHT, whatever is PURE, whatever is LOVELY, whatever is ADMIRABLE - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things."
Body - Your health is your greatest wealth! Your body is not a trash can, so don't feed it trash foods. Fill this space with wholesome healthy real foods, that will give you the energy to live a long happy life, and be able to fulfill your God given destiny, and calling.
Your body was built and designed by God to move and work, so get yourself out of a sedentary lifestyle, and get your body moving with exercise and activities. Your body is the vessel that carries your spirit, and keeps you living on this Earth, so be kind to it, it's the only one you have! Respect this precious space! (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Spirit - Feed this beautiful space with spiritual food -- God's Word. Just like our bodies require healthy foods in order to be strong, and healthy physically, our spirit man requires God's spiritual food in order to live a courageous empowered life in this evil World. When your Spirit is strong, you will be able to stand and conquer evil when hard times arise. Put on the whole armor of God. (Ephesians 6: 10-20)
Relationships - It's time to let go of toxic people that are not good for your well being. Some people will never change, and will continue to tear you down, cheat on you, hurt you, lie to you, steal from you, gossip about you. It's time to say bye to those folks, and move on.
There are also relationships that you feel are fun, but are quite destructive, leading you down wrong paths. Never underestimate the influence of the people you've allowed in your life. You know who they are! Stop following and listening to these folks, and take the lead in who you allow into your social circle. Ask God to bless you with good wholesome relationships that will be a blessing. (1 Corinthians 15: 33)
There are other spaces I won't go into detail on, as I'm sure you know what to do - like just clean up for heavens sake, such as your living spaces at home, vehicles, work...this type of clutter creates great unrest and chaos, that filters into other areas of life.
Think about your personal life, and be brutally honest with yourself. Only you know the spaces that need de-cluttering, and cleaning up in your life. Some spaces are spiritual, while others are physical. Stop making excuses, and let go of past clutter, and make room for God's blessing of peace and so much more.
There is no shame in asking for help. Reach out to someone you can truly trust for guidance. (Proverbs 11:14)
In conclusion, when you try to fit the old you into the new you, or the old year into a new year, it will not work because, like a puzzle piece, the new you and new year will outgrow the old.
God gives us a perfect example in His Word, in Mark 2: 21-22 AMP "No one sews a patch of un-shrunk (new) cloth on an old garment; otherwise the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and the tear becomes worse. No one puts new wine into old wine skins; otherwise the [fermenting] wine will [expand and] burst the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the wine skins. But new wine must be put into new wine skins."
Keep going strong knowing that God's got your back!
Out with the old, and in with the new!
It's time to de-clutter and leave the the past in the past, and move forward into your future!
With Love,
Mary Jean Marquez
