Clearing Out The Mind's Clutter - Part 2 - Identification
Updated: Jul 27
Disclaimer: Please remember that this article only contains suggestions for those seeking alternative ideas to use to manage or maintain their own health.
In Part 1, we initiated the process of Clearing Out the Mind's Clutter by taking some simple, yet effective steps.
Now, as we move into Part 2, we're going to continue this process by discussing ways to IDENTIFY which thoughts we should target to clear out.
But first, maybe we should ask this question, have we ever had to identify material possessions as clutter items?
If so, what steps did we take to figure out how we considered these material objects as being clutter?
Did we use steps like:
Checking out or looking through all of the rooms in our homes, including closet spaces, attic areas, or garage areas?
Asking questions, such as..
What is this material object / possession?
Did we take note of or jot down its description?
How did we obtain this item?
Did we purchase it?
Where from?
Or, were we given it?
Who is this person?
What was this object's initial purpose?
Reason why we either purchased or was given it.
Are we still using it now?
Answer would confirm reason & current usage.
If we actually used these steps, did it help us to clear out these material possessions?
If the above-mentioned steps were useful for identifying the material clutter items, would there be a way to use similar steps to identify thoughts that could be considered as clutter?
The answer would be MAYBE, because thoughts aren't material objects found in rooms in our homes or offices.
So, we couldn't use the exact same steps mentioned above, but we could use some of their aspects in a slightly different way.
For instance, if we asked questions, we could simply adjust the wording used within these questions so they're more in line with thoughts.
Here are some examples that might help us to understand how to use questions to identify mental clutter items:
Did the thought come up while we were working to clear out material clutter items?
Is this thought actually associated with a specific material item?
How could we describe this thought in relation to this item?
When does this thought come up?
While we're holding or seeing the item?
Or, does it come up at another time?
How do we feel when it does come up?
Does this interfere with what we're doing?
If YES, this thought could actually be deemed an example of a mental clutter item.
Did the thought occur when we were dealing with professional experiences?
What was this professional experience?
When did it occur?
Who was involved?
When does this thought come up?
While we're on our way to our work place?
While we're at our work location?
While we're on our way home after work?
When we're at home?
How do we feel when this thought does come up?
Does this interfere with what we're doing?
If YES, this thought could actually be deemed an example of a mental clutter item.
Did this thought occur when we were dealing with a personal experience?
What was this personal experience?
When did it occur?
Who was involved?
When does this thought come up?
Before, during, or after the occurrence of this experience?
When we're around the actual individuals involved?
How do we feel when this thought does come up?
Does this interfere with what we're doing?
If YES, this thought could actually be deemed an example of a mental clutter item.
It would be a recommended that you jot these particular questions down, so you could jot your own answers down on a piece of paper or your tablet, whichever is available.
Once you do this, see if there are any additional questions that you would include to help you to identify your thoughts as being mental clutter items. Jot them down too.
Once you've had a chance to complete this section, allow yourself a little bit of time before you go to Part 3.
Part 3 inovlves the Acknowledgement approach which might help you to make further progress.
P.S. Part 3 is also currently being edited, so stay tuned.
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