Recently I attended a program of our Holistic Chamber of Commerce. The speakers were discussing the challenges of clutter and how they can affect us both in the home and in the office, and especially for those of us with a home office.

The one thing they said that has stuck with me the most is this: If there is something that you don't love anymore, you need to give it away to someone who will love it, and you will then attract more of what you do love. This applies both to the physical realm of our possessions, and to the way we run our lives.

In the physical context, this means going through clothes, art, and all your other belongings and determining which ones you've held onto even though you really aren't very fond of them any more. It may be because you are worried you may need these things some day or will otherwise regret giving them away. Or maybe you are keeping them because you feel like you should, either because they were a gift, or because it's something you've been taught you should want to have. Or perhaps you spent a decent amount of money on an item, and are still waiting for the day when you'll be able to call it a worthwhile investment.

I've been taking this to heart, and increasing my commitment to start purging the superfluous stuff I've accumulated, that either I haven't had time to sort through or have been hesitant to part with. Today I went through most of my shoes and put about half in a box to give away. I'm sure there are others in less accessible places in my house that I don't even remember I have.

Sure, part of my motivation is just the basic de-cluttering goal. But I also like the idea that rather than holding onto things I don't love anymore (or perhaps never did), I can give them to someone who will love them.

But there's more to this notion of parting with what you don't love to make way for what you do love. This principle can apply to business projects, clients, relationships, and so on.

As someone who is perpetually overcommitted and unable to effectively prioritize the abundance of projects, ideas, and commitments I have, this is the idea that really has me thinking. We get so used to the idea that we need to keep doing things that can make us money, even if we don't love them; keep working on projects that we've put time into and get them done even if we're no longer motivated; and continue on in our relationships with friends, acquaintances, colleagues, and others because it isn't okay to let them go.

After all, if you stop putting time and effort (and worry...) into a part of your business that can make you money, even if it's not as much money as you want and you don't love doing it, how will you make enough money? How will you find something better? This is the type of thinking that leads to sticking with things that clearly aren't working, while simultaneously taking on more and more in the search for the things that will really make us happy, really make us money, really accomplish whatever it is we're not getting out of what we're doing.

So if there is something in your business or your life that you are holding onto because you feel like you just can't let it go, try to shift your thinking. Stop focusing on why you need to stick with it despite your discomfort or dissatisfaction, and instead try thinking about what you might not be letting in because that is in the way.

I will be looking at both my life and my business in this way, and hopefully using this inspiration to make some much-needed changes for the better.