Decluttering Commitments

Sometimes decluttering is about more than getting rid of physical stuff.

Sometimes we need to declutter our commitments--the energy we devote to organizations and causes that no longer align with our values, interests, and passions.

I was working with my Morning Journaling and Mindset group last Thursday. As she frequently does, my higher self showed up during one of our shadow work prompts. She was LOUD and fully self-expressed on Thursday. The following words showed up from her in my notebook:

"It's time to let go of breast cancer."

"It's time to create a future that doesn't include breast cancer."

Coincidentally, over the past several months, I had been considering stepping away from several volunteer commitments, including roles with two breast cancer focused organizations and one cancer focused organization.

Thursday became that day to resign.

The next day, I was surprised to realize last Thursday had been October 17th--my six-year anniversary of being in remission from breast cancer. My mastectomy surgery was October 17, 2018. According to my doctors, my cancer has not returned. And while I need to remain vigilant with doctor appointments and continue to take care of my physical body, my oncologist has strongly encouraged me to "have faith" that I am healthy, strong, and remain in remission.

I declare my cancer journey complete.

I am decluttering all things cancer.

I lovingly say goodbye to breast cancer.

I will always support women who are at any stage of experiencing breast cancer, including as a coach. If someone has a question, or is scared, or just wants to talk it out or receive coaching, I am here.

But I am lovingly saying goodbye to receiving regular e-mails about committee meetings, requests for volunteering at Pinktober events, and invitations to the latest cancer educational seminars and fundraising events. I am no longer interested in daily reminders of an illness that--as far as my doctors and I can tell--is gone and unlikely to return.

I fully acknowledge that I signed up for all those commitments and opportunities over the last five years. No one forced me into them. I was so passionate and inspired and wanted to help. For a time, I had focused my coaching practice on breast cancer. I had even started writing a book about breast cancer and breast implant illness. Surprise! That was not my book to write! I'm so grateful I realized that about 20% into the writing process and was able to let go of that book. I'm working on a different book now.

When I recently asked myself the same questions I use to coach my clients to declutter their lives, I got present to how my energy around these volunteer commitments has shifted.

I no longer loved the commitments to these organizations.

The energy I had around these commitments was not free-flowing and open. I felt stagnant and stifled.

I had an emotional response to these organizations that no longer felt aligned with my purpose.

I had too many commitments in too small of a (calendar) space.

As a coach, I fully realize I could just change my mindset about these commitments and all things breast cancer. I could have kept them in existence in my life, been deliberate and intentional, and chosen how I want to think and feel about them every day, multiple times a day.

I love that about coaching.

But what also I love about coaching is that I get to help people deliberately and powerfully choose exactly what they want for themselves and their lives.

I didn't want breast cancer to be part of my daily life anymore.

I chose to let go of three cancer-related volunteer commitments last week.

And since making that choice, I feel more free and liberated and alive than I have felt in a very, very long time.

Would you like to create new freedom and energy in an area of your life? If you would like to talk about something you're struggling to create, choose, declutter, or any other challenge in your life that could benefit from coaching support, sign up for a complimentary private consult call with me. Tell me everything. We will see if working together could be a fit.