I have a tendency to hold on to things. I like to think of myself as a \u201ccollector\u201d \u2014 it sounds a bit more refined \u2014 because I enjoy gathering and keeping items that feel meaningful or useful. I\u2019m always on the lookout for interesting things that can be reused in new and creative ways. Luckily, I work in a profession that embraces this approach (which is probably one of the reasons I do what I do).<\/p>\n\n
This tendency sometimes clashes a bit with the fact that I also really love order. I\u2019m not a fan of storage solutions or drawers stuffed full \u2014 that just doesn\u2019t work for me. I like things to be accessible, not piled up. I really hate losing things I know are somewhere in the mess.<\/p>\n\n
To balance these two tendencies, I regularly set aside time to sort and organize. I actually enjoy tossing things out and rearranging, moving things around, and reconsidering the order they\u2019re kept in \u2014 both at home and at work. It feels a bit like flipping through an album or a scrapbook, rediscovering things, and choosing their place and importance anew \u2014 or deciding that something is no longer needed at all.<\/p>\n\n
Lately, I\u2019ve become more attuned to this feeling in my clients \u2014 that internal restlessness, mental clutter, that \u201ctoo many open windows\u201d sensation in the mind.<\/p>\n\n
When I notice this kind of energy in the room, I sometimes suggest taking a break from the creative frenzy (which usually comes with a desire to accomplish a lot, harsh self-criticism, and pressure about the results). Instead of creating, I invite sorting \u2014 a physical sorting that also invites mental sorting as it progresses.<\/p>\n\n
We might sort items or materials by shape, size, use, or color, and then dig into subtler differences and subcategories. I let the client decide the criteria, and I\u2019m always surprised by the things that come up and matter to them. Sometimes the process is so enjoyable and soothing that clients ask me to bring something specific to sort together, sometimes over several sessions because the task is complex and involves many items.<\/p>\n\n
This kind of sorting also often happens near the end of therapy processes \u2014 taking a focused look at the collection of works created during the process and organizing them. Even though it\u2019s Passover season now, which often involves endings and transitions, this is a common time for therapy to wrap up. Maybe because the year is closing, and people try to get ahead of what\u2019s late, or because the holiday itself invites a break between sessions \u2014 a world of cleansing and sorting that sometimes extends into the therapy room.<\/p>\n\n
Sorting and organizing bring peace of mind, control, and a sense of capability. There\u2019s a magic in the experience of feeling like we can manage the clutter and overwhelm around us, and that we can bring our personal logic into it. The ability to pause and look at \u201cwhat\u2019s here,\u201d really seeing what\u2019s in the space, and asking if all of it is needed \u2014 maybe we\u2019ve lost our way amid all the tools, aids, and options, unable to see what truly matters. Letting go of what\u2019s no longer needed \u2014 along with the fear that we might want it again someday \u2014 offers great relief and frees up room to live more authentically and simply.<\/p>\n\n
So, amidst the pressure of cleaning, organizing, and the family gatherings ahead, I encourage you to take real stock. Let go of what weighs down your closets and shelves. Air out your storage spaces and pass along things that have been sitting unused for a long time. Through the items you release, you\u2019ll free yourself from the burden that comes with holding on \u2014 making genuine space for what\u2019s relevant now in your life.<\/p>\n\n
I highly recommend doing this with your children too. Teach them to part with their belongings and creations with love and without dramatic stories, simply with the understanding that the item has served its purpose and can now make way for something new. Guide them and share the relief of a tidy, open space. Help them understand what they truly need, what\u2019s hard to let go of and why, what has value to them and why \u2014 these are important, lifelong lessons that can and should start in childhood. It\u2019s not too much for them.<\/p>\n\n
Wishing you a joyful Passover\u2014a holiday of freedom, with clarity, space, and cleanliness in both heart and mind.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I have a tendency to hold on to things. I like to think of myself as a \u201ccollector\u201d \u2014 it sounds a bit more refined \u2014 because I enjoy gathering and keeping items that feel meaningful or useful. I\u2019m always on the lookout for interesting things that can be reused in new and creative ways. Luckily, I work in a profession that embraces this approach (which is probably one of the reasons I do what I do).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6412,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[132,131],"class_list":["post-6411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-1","tag-art-therapy-behind-the-scenes","tag-arts-and-crafs-at-home"],"yoast_head":"