Cheryl Richardson Hanging onto Old Clothes has hidden Costs Recently I had a conversation with a good friend about letting go of old clothes. This friend had finally mustered up enough courage to go through her closet and let go of everything that no longer fit her. As she continued, she also let go of those clothes that she never wore, or the clothes that felt as though they no longer represented who she was at this time in her life. She said it was very difficult at first, but, as she continued with the process, she began to feel an enormous amount of relief and energy.
Hanging onto old clothes can have hidden costs. For example, keeping clothes that are too small may seem like a motivational tool for losing weight, but too often they turn out to be a subtle form of punishment. Keeping clothes that you no longer wear because of all the money you've spent, can just be another reason to keep beating yourself up. And certainly, hanging onto clothes that have sentimental value like a favorite suit from an old job, can keep your precious energy stuck in the past instead of fully available for you to use today. When you consider the costs, letting go of old clothes can be an important act of self care. And, contrary to what you might think, when your closets contain clothes that you love and that fit you well, you feel better about yourself making it easier to treat your body in a more respectful and loving way. As you continue on the Life Makeover path (men too!), it might be a good time for you to reconsider the clothes in your closet. To do this, go to your closet, open the doors, and as you look around, ask yourself the following questions: 1. Do these clothes represent who I am at this time in my life? 2. Do they make me feel good about myself? 3. Do my clothes fit well? 4. Am I holding onto clothes that have sentimental value even though I never wear them? 5. Am I hanging onto something because of the cost? 6. Am I keeping clothes that are too small for me in the hopes of fitting into them again someday? As you consider these questions, challenge yourself to begin letting go of the clothes that no longer serve you well. For example, if you still have a pair of jeans from when you were a size eight, let them go so you can stop living in the future hoping to someday lose the weight. Instead, motivate yourself in a more positive way. Buy yourself something that fits well so you can feel better about yourself *now*. If you have clothes that are of sentimental value, try them on to see whether or not the style still works or the size still fits -- you might be surprised at your reaction. If you find it difficult to let go of your favorite clothes, give them away to your family and friends. That way you'll get to see them again :-). If you're concerned about the lost money, sell some of the items at a second hand store. And most important, remember that there are plenty of men and women in shelters who could use your donations. Find a local shelter, Goodwill box, or Salvation Army office and give a gift to someone in need (remember to get a receipt!). Update your self image and get a fresh, new start. Let go of your old clothes and watch what happens! ====================================================================<<< Never pay another Internet phone bill! Freeserve AnyTime, for all the Internet access you want, day and night, only �12.99 per month. Sign-up at http://ad.smartgroups.com/adclick/CID=000001342c8b020200000000 ====================================================================>>> -- If you want to share pictures, use the calendar, or start a vote visit http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/-JFC To leave the group, email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Journey from clutter List Website http://journeyfromclutter.com Members Only Page http://journeyfromclutter.com/MembersOnly/MembersArea.htm Unsubscribe: email [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word 'unsubscribe' in the 'Subject:' field to be removed from the main list. To Unsubscribe from the Digest version of the list send the unsubscribe message to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
