Have you ever been below deck on a ship that is trekking through rough waters?  If not, count yourself lucky.  Oh the sickness!  The stress of not knowing which way is up and which way is down.  The feeling of being tossed hither and thither.

Well, that is what it feels like when a person is sailing across the sea of "Just in Case".  The 'just in case's' are things, possessions, stuff, that people hold onto for security.  Over time, though, it all ends up piling up causing a sea of chaos and clutter.

The best way to navigate through this Sea of "Just in Case" is to declutter.  Declutter?!? What a frightening word for so many people!  It may even be more scarier than sailing on choppy waters to some.

The problem lays in the fact that clutter sometimes symbolizes security because it means that they have what they may need someday, you know, 'just in case'.  Yet, that clutter, that security, usually ends up causing so much stress to the individual as well as the rest of the household. 

The stuff that makes it's way into the house... "just in case", ends up crowding out the essential stuff.  Family time at the dinner table is reduced or maybe even given up, because there is no room for the family to sit at the table.  The piles just keep growing, flowing into other rooms. 

So, the stuff that is supposed to be a security blanket, just starts to cause more harm than good.  This is when the decision needs to be made to choose to declutter & simplify your life.

But how does a person get rid of that fear of losing something important or of sentimental value?  They need to change their mind set, how they think about their clutter.

Instead of taking a look at clutter for a second, imagine we are talking about weight loss.  Let's say David has lost 15 - 20 pounds.  He worked hard to lose that weight.  He changed his eating habits, his activity level, and his mind set.  How do you think he felt when he lost his weight?

He felt free from the burden of all that extra weight!  He felt like he was in control of his decisions and his life!  He was more confident to try new things and go to new places!  He had more energy!

The same thing happens when a person chooses to simplify their life by decluttering the excess.  Once they change their mind set.. realizing that they will feel much better by getting rid of the extra stuff that is crowding out their important & truly sentimental stuff, they can make the choice to simplify and change their lifestyle.

Soon, they start to look at their clutter as useless stuff.  Out goes the extra finger nail clippers.  The bathing suit that was borrowed 2 years ago is going back to your best friend tomorrow.  The plastic tubs for storing food in the fridge are being tossed.  Look at that space! 

The whole atmosphere of the home changes when a person starts decluttering and organizing.  The overwhelming, cramped, dark area starts to become light and airy.  People inside the room begin to feel like they can breathe.  The smell of fresh air, rather than piles of stuff is so refreshing!  Isn't this worth so much more than having those 'things' "just in case"?

As time goes on, the purchases of the 'just in case's' no longer exist.  Items are purchased when needed.  When something is purchased, it has a purpose.  Now that the clutter has diminished, the sea of "Just in Case", has changed in to the "Sea of Tranquility".  Precious possessions stand out.  They aren't lost among all of the "Just in Cases".  There is room to walk.  Light filters in through the open windows, since the curtains don't have to be drawn to hide the clutter.  Peace of mind, because items are all where they belong and can be found at a moment's notice. 

Imagine the feeling of trekking through the "Sea of Just in Case" into the "Sea of Tranquility"!  There is peace, confidence, energy, joy!  Isn't that worth more than having something "Just in case"?