The Divine Law of the Great Chair.
March 16, 2007
Here’s a radical notion: what if you really liked, even outright adored every material thing in your own life? What if the quality, shape, color, function, and feel of the things you owned gave you satisfaction, pride, and delight?
Carrie was an interior designer for years. Many a time she’d come across people who were holding on to futons and tired old chairs long after University days has passed.
“Get rid of it,” she’d advise.
“Well, we hate it, but we really need it.”
“Get rid of it.”
Enter, The Divine Law of The Great Chair. When you let go of things you don’t love, you create space for things that you do love to show up. EVEN IF: it’s “useful”, it’s filling an “empty” place, it was a gift, it was inherited, expensive, imported, exotic, or you truly loved it once upon a time -– if you don’t like something in your space, it’s dragging you down. This isn’t about old, or new, or what you can afford – this is about how STUFF makes you FEEL.
THIS WEEK: Identify the “old chair(s)” in your life that you’re making do with, and get rid of it. You may have to sit on floor cushions for while, but you’ll be dwelling in possibility – instead of compromise and regret.
And you know what’ll happen? The “Great Chair” you desire will show up. Your neighbor will be getting rid of a chair they don’t like (because they also read Friday Focus,) and it’ll be the Great Chair of your dreams. Or you’ll get a raise next week and treat yourself to…a new Great Chair. Or you’ll find it on a road trip…finally! Your Great Chair, oh-so worth the wait.
Satisfaction and delight feels juuust right.
(PS…please purge responsibly. Deserving friends, charity shops, and shelters are much more practical than landfills.)
EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT:
Carrie & Danielle will be speaking and conducting Style Statements in Dallas April 5 – 8! Check out the Discovering the True You event, sponsored and hosted by Renee Rouleau: http://www.reneerouleau.com/Events/Events.aspx
March 16, 2007 at 3:29 pm
i couldn’t agree more. my office has become a great chair. i used to have lots of “stuff” in it, and one day i realised the clutter was effecting my work, so i purged all of it (to the thrift shop @ davie/granville which donates it’s profits to paying doctors to help sick wild animals, which is awesome!). now i only have what i need, and i love it. it helps me be more productive and efficient when i see that my space is too.
March 18, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Here’s why I worship at the altar of the Great Chair, and believe fundamentally in its Divine Law. (Excessive? Moi?)
When I get rid of something, I make way for something better to replace it. (I do this with abandon in my closet). This is a real act of faith: if it aint’ there – something’s going to be! Then there’s that whole “nature abhors a vacuum” idea…
There’s always someone who needs it. What feels better than knowing you helped out? (When we gave our old winter coats to the homeless shelter, my four-year-old was so amazed to learn that there were people who had no home, that she made it her mission to tell everyone they should give something too!) So, if you feel as though you are so overflowing with abundance that you can give to others…that’s exactly what you will become.
Yeah, I totally believe that.
Finally, when I keep something that I don’t really like, but figure, I might need someday– I’m living in the “what if”, or….fear.
My Style Statement changed the way I dress in that I got rid of things that simply didn’t match it. Purging made room (literally) for things that were more “me”, blessed others who needed what I had, and made me feel wealthy because I was now wearing my best (or best feeling).
I’m not about to go knocking on doors in an evangelical attempt to convert people – there’s only one I need to work on: my husband