
by Rev. Felicia Messina-D’Haiti, Interior Alignment® Master Teacher, Soul Coaching® Trainer, Linn Method Clutter Coaching Master Teacher
I hope you are having a wonderful summer! As I continue on my own clutter clearing journey, I’ve reached a space I have carefully avoided for a long time—boxes of photographs and some memorabilia that I inherited from my parents. I’ve moved the boxes around, started to sort, then always put the items back into the boxes for a later time.
As I prepare to teach a clutter coach certification course this fall, I find myself reflecting on the more challenging aspects of clearing clutter. Why is it so hard to let go? Well, these are not just “things.” They’re pieces of my childhood, reflections of my parents and brother—reminders of laughter, love, and life from times when we were all together.
Maybe it’s not photographs for you. Any type of sentimental pockets of clutter are often the hardest to face, but I keep returning to a powerful question: Am I holding on too tightly to the past… instead of making space for an extraordinary future?
I strongly believe that decluttering is not about stripping our spaces bare. It’s about creating environments that support and uplift us. It is about surrounding ourselves with items that serve a purpose, bring joy, spark inspiration, or align with the life we’re actively creating.
So how do we deal with sentimental clutter?
Start with reflection:
- Why am I keeping this?
- Does it evoke joy or meaning?
- Is it “evidence clutter” that proves something I’ve done or achieved?
- Is it the only way to connect with the memory, or is the memory already safe in my heart?
Not everything has to go, but everything deserves a second look. Some items may no longer hold the same meaning. Some may be tucked away so deeply they aren’t supporting you at all. Others may be broken, faded, or simply not your “best” selection to keep.
Consider alternatives:
- Can one piece from a sentimental item be used to create something beautiful?
- Could a photograph preserve the memory so the item itself can be released?
- Might a shadow box or gallery wall display those memories in a way that brings you joy daily?
We are the ones who assign the meaning to objects. The object itself is not the memory. The love, the story, and the moment all live within us.
And here’s the most compassionate part of this journey: You don’t have to do it all at once. This is sacred work. Give yourself time. Give yourself grace.
Set intentions for those emotional spaces. Look at each item with curiosity and care. Ask: “How can I honor this now?” Whether that’s by using it in a new way or letting it go with gratitude, you’re still honoring its place in your story.
Decluttering doesn’t erase the past; it clarifies what truly matters. It makes room for the present to breathe and for the future to blossom.
Take your time. Let it be a joyful, heart-led process.
Here’s to releasing with love and making space for something beautiful!
Rev. Felicia Messina-D’Haiti, Master Teacher of Linn Method Clutter Coaching, Interior Alignment® Master Teacher, Soul Coaching® Trainer
As a child, Felicia had an interest in changing her environment, moving furniture, and changing the colors and art work in her room. This continuing passion combined with Felicia’s advanced studies in Art, Art History and Education led her through revelations about her own journeys of discovery and to her current mission of supporting people to clear the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual blockages from their lives.
Rev. Felicia was chosen by Denise Linn to be the Master Teacher of the Linn Method of Clutter Clearing™ Coaching, offering LIVE ONLINE and IN PERSON certification programs for this specialty….
Let Something Go
by Dorena Kohrs, Interior Alignment® Practitioner, Soul Coaching® Practitioner, Clutter Clearing PractitionerThere’s one thing that can help you feel better right now:Let something go.That feels like a bold statement. One I’m already tempted to delete…or at least...
Turning a “Dumpsite” into Dolphins and Butterflies
-by Denise Linn, Founder of the Linn Academy It's been said that most unhappiness comes from unfulfilled expectations, but I wasn't thinking about that when I planned a birthday trip for my husband. I wanted it to be perfect. I expected it to be perfect. For over 30...
The Hidden Reason it’s Hard to Declutter
- by Carlyn Rae Wei, Elemental Space Clearing® Practitioner When you think about decluttering, you probably think about all the stuff, the stories that are attached to your things, all the decisions you need to make, emotions that might come up, such as...
Feng Shui and The Power of Trust
by LuAnn Cibik, Interior Alignment® Master Educator, Soul Coaching® Advanced Trainer, Master Oracle Card Reader When people seek out a feng shui consultation, it’s rarely because everything is already perfect in their lives. More often, they find themselves at a...
Manifesting Miracles with Feng Shui
by LuAnn Cibik, Interior Alignment® Master Educator, Soul Coaching® Advanced Trainer, Master Oracle Card ReaderMaster Educator LuAnn Cibik shares how we work with Manifesting Miracles using the power of feng shui! LuAnn Cibik, Interior Alignment® Master Educator,...
Being a Part of Someone Else’s Miracle
by Terry Bowen, Master Teacher of Soul Coaching® Oracle Card Reading, Advanced Soul Coaching® Trainer, Interior Alignment® Teacher, Clutter Clearing PractitionerI give thanks for every little miracle that happens to me, even when it’s not my miracle! I thank and...
Hunting for Miracles
by Elizabeth Ferrall, Soul Coaching® Practitioner, Elemental Space Clearing® Practitioner Do you look for miracles? Would you recognize a miracle if you saw one? A miracle is a highly improbable to completely inexplicable occurrence. I include things that I...
Rainbows After Storms: Releasing What No Longer Serves You
by Dorena Kohrs, Interior Alignment® Practitioner, Soul Coaching® Practitioner, Clutter Clearing PractitionerStorms pass, but rainbows remain as proof that beauty follows struggle. If you're holding onto physical reminders of difficult times, this message is for you....
Miracles, Rainbows and Waterfalls
-by Denise Linn, Founder of the Linn Academy Welcome to June! Every month, we pull an oracle card as the theme for the month. For June, the card pulled is from The Sacred Forest Deck: The Miracles Card. The image on it is of Rainbows and Waterfalls. Waterfalls are...