Peace of Mind is Priceless…

This is a testimonial from a recent client: I bought the 10 hour package to organize my kitchen cupboards, bedroom and file system. Elaine taught me ways to organize that I never would have thought of, and as a result, I can find things quite quickly now. She also helped me let go of many unnecessary items, something I have a difficult time doing on my own. I would definitely hire her again to organize a storage area and to...

Learn to recognize the cravings to acquire stuff a...

Yes, it’s possible. We can learn to not feed our cravings/obsessions. How? Through training (such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga perhaps…). I’ve been following Buddhist philosophy/psychology for more than a decade and am a meditator. This stuff really does work! When we learn to become still, to hold the wanting and craving with an open hand – it releases by itself. We don’t need to push it...

Compassion works with Hoarding!

  We beat ourselves up all the time.  It’s totally NOT HELPFUL!  It’s not motivating.  It’s dispiriting.  Embarrassment and shame only cause contraction and retreat.     Craving/wanting leads to suffering – that’s inevitable.  “Hoarders” are not happy people.  An unquenchable, intoxicating desire for acquiring and keeping stuff does NOT...

What to do about “hoarding”

I have rec’d a lot of responses to my hoarding posts. I’m assuming that they’re from folks who are aware that they have a problem with acquiring and letting go of “stuff” or know someone who does. There is so much suffering around “stuff”. In any case, when we recognize what’s going on, we’re in a position to do something about it. Recognizing that help is needed is a...

A “hoarding” story with a Happy ending...

  A young woman had responded awhile ago to my blog post on "hoarding" saying that it was a description of her and her family.  Help!   I was in this woman's home and worked with her family.  She has 3 children under the age of 4 (including twin sons about 6 months old). And she lives in a compact space with limited storage options.  So, lots of reasons to be stuck in overwhelm....