Dear Friends,

    I was having a good cleaning out of my closets the other day.  That's one of those chores you really have to be in the mood for, I think.  But once you're done, it's such a satisfying feeling to be rid of old, unwanted, or forgotten "stuff" and to have more space.  It's very liberating.

    And that got me thinking, Friends,.  It's not only physical possessions that can "clutter" our lives, but also the emotional baggage we may carry around with us and just can't seem to let go of or get rid of.  Maybe it's old regrets about a former relationship, or a loss or disappointment of some kind, feelings of insecurity, or fear of failure.  This type of emotional "clutter" can weigh us down and prevent us from growing.

    So, I put together a little exercise for "decluttering" those old emotions and feelings we all experience and maybe are just holding onto for too long.  First, just sit down and put into words the emotional clutter you want to be free of.  Write it down on a piece of paper.  Then, choose a symbol or image that represents your old feeling and draw it on the paper, or paste a picture from a magazine or catalog that illustrates it.  Then, take the piece of paper and make a ceremony of disposing of it.  You could bury it in the ground, put it in a shredder, or burn it in a safe place.

    Whatever way you choose to dispose of the paper, just before you do, say aloud the following: "I am ready to release my feelings about…" and then fill in with your own words.  After the paper is gone, simply say, "Good-bye.  I am now free."  Now, doing this once may not totally release all the old feelings, depending on their strength.  But you can repeat the process as often as you want, Friends,.

    And it's a good idea to help things along by having something to replace the old feelings – your new goals or hopes.  Write them down on a piece of paper and add a picture or symbol of them.  Put this piece of paper where you will see it every day.  So, in time, you'll have that liberating feeling of emotional freedom.