Pack Rat Feng Shui

I've got a dear friend who's a pack rat (to put it nicely). He saves everything, has the most "creative" way of storing his many collections, and defines organization as simply the piling and stacking of objects. He could obviously use a bit of good ol' Feng Shui 101.

This friend is also in a huge life transition, changing careers and coasts as he moves out west to sunny CA. But as I watch him pack up his things, rummaging through old letters, boxes, clothes and memorabilia, I can feel the old energy. It's palpable, heavy, and weighing him down. And a move across country seems far less daunting than staying to tend to the build-up of "stuff".

I work with LOTS of pack rats, and was a former pack rat myself. And I see the lack of awareness in so many clients in terms of the effect our "stuff" has on our life. When we surround ourselves with memories from stressful times, or from a past that was less-than-prosperous, these items chatter away at us from their individual stack, box, pile or closet. They each have voices, telling a story from a time gone by. I often ask my clients to hold each and every one of their belongings, then ask themselves if these items actually represent who they imagine themselves to be in the future. If the answer is a resounding "YES!" and inspires them forward, fantastic! And if it's holding them back, then it might be time to take a look at the deeper reasons we hold on so tightly.

Is it guilt, fear, scarcity or pain that's underneath our pack rat piles? Very often times, yes. When people talk to me of who they aspire to become in the next 2-5 years, rarely does the love note from the ex who broke their heart an uplifting object. Nor is the depressing painting from Aunt Berta that you keep out of sheer guilt. Pain is pain. Guilt is guilt. Hold onto these things as long as you like — all I ask is that you admit that you are, in fact, a glutton for punishment.

But sometimes it's simply one's fear of moving forward into the unknown that keeps the knuckles white - terror about living fully in the present, and horror about trusting that the future might actually be a safe place to visit. Then there are some pack rats that just like to hold onto every memory that comes along, and the thought of letting go of those physical reminders might as well be the same as asking them whether lighting their house on fire would be acceptable. It's no light matter. This is an internal battle of Pack-Rat life or death. Trust me when I say I've gotten some EXTREMELY strong responses to the whole "toss" topic.

When I look around at the folks I know who are the movers and shakers—the ones blazing trails—they rarely fit into the pack rat category. And when I take a look at the folks who have stayed in one place for far too long (so often because of free or rent controlled housing situations), there's much less movin' and far less shakin'. This discount-living tends to keep people from moving forward, taking risks and living BIG, afraid to lose the "great deal" they've found. I can't begin to express how many EXTREME pack rats are living in these scenarios, and their lives tend to change as quickly as the Chi moves through these jam-packed homes: SLOWLY.

Ask yourself whether you're a pack rat or not.
Ask yourself if you think this is serving you or your life.
And see if there's just one thing you can let go of today to help lighten your load.

Stagnant energy at home = stagnant energy in your life
Organized, lighter living = openness to opportunities, people and things

If there's no room in your home, there's rarely room in your life for wonderful new experiences to come in.

Try it on for size. Throw things out, hold a garage sale, give objects away, or put it all in storage. If in a year you don't feel radically different (and for the better), then give me a call. I'll gladly treat you to dinner and apologize for leading you astray....

But until then, Pack Up, or Pack Rat? Which will you choose?