Decluttering is difficult because of uncertainty. We don’t want to make choices we’ll regret—”What if I need this later?“—and this fear of letting go can be paralysing.
I’ve been there, too, and I want to share a perspective that has helped me make peace with uncertainty. If you agonise over your decluttering decisions, this is for you.
Recently, after a 14-year hiatus, I started running again. And this morning, while journaling, something struck me.
When I was younger, I ran a lot and was very fit. But no matter how many miles I logged or how much I practised, running never became completely effortless.
Of course, I improved—I could run faster and longer—and I didn’t feel like vomiting every time I laced up my sneakers!
But the discomfort never completely disappeared. Sore muscles, burning lungs—the struggle was always there to some extent.
What did change with time wasn’t the discomfort but my tolerance for it.
I gained confidence in what I could handle (both mentally and physically).
And the benefits of running—clarity of mind, feeling strong in my body, and a sense of accomplishment—helped me keep going.
I’m sharing this story because this is exactly what happens with decluttering.
Overcoming the fear of letting go while decluttering
When I first started decluttering, the fear of letting go was overwhelming. I would procrastinate for hours, agonising over every decision. It was frustrating, and I just wanted to get on with it!
But I couldn’t let go.
Deep down, I wanted to avoid the discomfort of regret, so I refused to make a decision. Instead, I waited and waited, believing that at some magical point in the future, I’d feel 100% confident about what to keep and what to release.
Here’s what I now know:
Just like running, decluttering does get easier—but not because the uncertainty disappears.
The discomfort will always be there, and on some level, the fear of letting go is inevitable.
I don’t have a crystal ball, and neither do you. I can never say with 100% confidence that you’ll never wear those jeans again. And who knows—you might have twenty people over for coffee one day and wish you had kept all those extra mugs!
Neither of us can predict the future, but with practice, you can gain confidence and self-trust.
It’s like running. Right now, I’m (re)learning that, yes, – it might not feel easy, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. And in the end, it will all be worth it.
The same goes for your decluttering.
You might miss something you let go of, or you might not. But whatever happens, trust that you’ll handle it just fine. (And know that self-trust comes from action—the more you declutter and practise living with the consequences, the more confident you’ll become.)
Making peace with uncertainty is key to letting go
Overcoming the fear of letting go when decluttering is not about eliminating uncertainty—it’s about learning to trust yourself despite it.
Decluttering is nothing you can’t handle. And I promise, in the end, the space you create in your home and mind will be absolutely worth it.
Looking for more decluttering tips or inspiration for simple living? Be sure to check out:
- Cluttered House, Cluttered Mind: Why Mental Health Matters: You probably know that clutter impacts your mental health, but in my experience, it’s a two-way street – and I wish more people were talking about this!
- 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Decluttering: This is everything I wish I could tell my younger self about decluttering. (If you struggle with shame about clutter, this is a must-read!)
- How to Declutter When You Want to Keep Everything: Here are my top decluttering tips (as a highly sensitive, emotional person who loves stuff!)
- How I Became a Minimalist: My Story of Living with Less: Decluttering and simplifying did NOT come easily to me! But embracing minimalism (in a practical, imperfect way) was one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself.
