What Makes Your Heart Sing?

Written by: Angela Esnouf
February 1, 2008

There is a famous quote by William Morris which sums up the advice I give clients about decluttering their homes. He said,

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

The useful part is easy. There are things we all need – clothes on our back, a pot to cook with, plates to eat off. Tax records and first aid supplies are more examples of things we need. We make room in our homes for these everyday useful things.

Heart SingThe difficulty for most people comes in deciding what is beautiful enough to win a place in their home. Beauty, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder. So the decision’s all yours. But here are some suggestions to make that decision a little easier.

What makes your heart sing? If it’s cooking that makes your heart sing, then 35 cookbooks may seem beautiful to you and therefore win a place in your home. But if you don’t enjoy cooking, and the thought of those books makes you feel bad about your abilities, or the money you spent on them, it’s time to cull that collection.

How does it make you feel? If you’re not sure if something deserves its place, hold that object in your hand and ask yourself how you really feel about it. Does it bring you happy memories? Does it make you smile? If the answer’s yes, then it stays. If you feel sad, annoyed, guilty, that’s bad karma and it needs to go.

I can hear you all now. “But I paid a lot of money for it.” “But my aunt Rosie gave it to me.” You may have paid a lot for it, but if it doesn’t make you feel good, that’s bad energy. And feeling guilty for wasting money only compounds the problem. Learn from it, and don’t make the same mistake twice. Next time you have the urge to buy something, ask “Does it make my heart sing?”

Your aunt Rosie, or any true friend, will understand that you appreciate the thought of her gift but you’re not bonded to it for life. If you don’t love an object and you’re only keeping it from a sense of obligation, that’s more bad energy. If you still can’t part with something, even though it’s neither useful nor beautiful to you, put it in a box. Mark it with an “expiry date” 6 months hence and pack it away. After that time, bring out the box, and again ask yourself, “Does it make my heart sing?”

If you listen to your heart the answer will come easily.

Angela Esnouf - Helping you become more organised, find more time and be more productive | http://www.thecalmspace.com/about#angela

Comments

6 Responses to “What Makes Your Heart Sing?”

  1. annieNo Gravatar on February 1st, 2008 8:47 am

    Here here Angela! - I have tried this in the past and it absolutely works for boosting good energy. Thanks for the reminder - time to go there again!

  2. chrisNo Gravatar on February 1st, 2008 11:18 am

    GO ANGELA!!!!
    This is great advice I will be making sure someone I know reads this! You’ve hit the spot!
    I love the quote!
    I love “Does it make you smile? If the answer’s yes, then it stays. If you feel sad, annoyed, guilty, that’s bad karma and it needs to go.”
    I love “You may have paid a lot for it, but if it doesn’t make you feel good, that’s bad energy. And feeling guilty for wasting money only compounds the problem. Learn from it, and don’t make the same mistake twice. Next time you have the urge to buy something, ask “Does it make my heart sing?”
    This is such GREAT practical but deeply meaningful stuff!!
    Congratulations Angela, a stunner of a read this month!

  3. MarjorieNo Gravatar on February 1st, 2008 4:06 pm

    I recently purchased a little open bookshelf to place my most favourite recipe books that were being hidden in a cupboard for lack of space. Now ask me if my heart sings? :)

  4. Katherine NolanNo Gravatar on February 2nd, 2008 3:39 pm

    Hi Angela,
    One of your contributors pointed the finger at me (how mean!) - the 35 cookbooks said it all! However, I have, just in the last few days, started to cull my cookbooks. You’ve inspired me to keep going, but there are an awful lot still on the shelf!!

  5. Angela EsnoufNo Gravatar on February 3rd, 2008 9:13 am

    @ annie - You are so right. It helps to look at things from a different angle sometimes.

    @ chris - Why, thank you Ma’am! I’m blushing.

    @ Marjorie - Don’t you love it when little things put a smile on your face?

    @ Katherine - Well done! Keep up the great work.

  6. karenNo Gravatar on February 4th, 2008 3:50 pm

    Angela, once again you’ve written exactly what I need to hear. Since our recent home renovations are almost finished, I am looking at a shed full of boxes to be unpacked and put away.

    This is a timely reminder about how to chose what re-enters my home and what goes. [I think a lot will go!!!] Thank you.

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