There are a multitude of reasons that people collect things, hoard things, or live in environments filled with Clutter. Here is a list of just some of these reasons:

• Growing up in a cluttered home

• Growing up in a home where we had very little by way of possessions, and were always “wanting” what others had

• Filling a hole left by the loss of loved ones

• The past experience of losing one’s home and all of one’s belongings to a natural disaster (fire, flood, hurricane, tornado, etc)

• Loss of important relationships

• Frustration with amount of waste in the world and mass over-production

• The thrill, exhilaration, and adrenaline-rush felt when we shop for new things

• Growing up in a home where too much emphasis was placed on material wealth

• Not wanting to part with belongings acquired from passed loved ones for fear of disrespecting them

• Inheritance of entire households full of our loved ones’ belongings upon their passing

• Having a uniquely strong affinity for and appreciation of antiques or perceived collectibles

• Physical inability to have children, coupled with the intrinsic need to nurture another being in our lifetime – can turn into being a “nurturer of things”, as a way of placing that love and affection

• Lack of self-worth and taking care of others before oneself as a rule throughout life – I can’t throw this away because someone I know may need it at some point.

• Living in the past and the lack of ability or the desire to make room for the present and the future

• Fear of success or fear of putting oneself out there – lack of confidence and self-esteem

• Preference to fade into the background, hide in solitude

• Overwhelming desire to return to a happier time in one’s life, instead of shifting focus to what would make one happier today

• One living a career-life that puts one very much in the spotlight sometimes creates a need for seclusion in one’s personal home-life. Filling our home with clutter dictates that shame prevents the outside world coming into our safe-haven.

• Fear of losing important memories altogether if we don’t have the physical item present to remind us

• Fear of the future

• Fear of loss

• Repetitive painful loss in life makes it difficult for one to rely on or trust people, and they are left with the feeling that “stuff” is the only thing left that they can rely on to remain constant in their lives

• Memorializing painful events in life with collections of items that were actively used during that period – Instead of dealing with that pain or enduring that healing process, we can put those items aside, out of sight, and plan on dealing with it “later”

Again, this is really only the beginning of a list and cannot be considered an all-encompassing list of reasons for acquiring clutter in one’s environment. These lists are a helpful tool to assist in your road to getting to the “root of it all”.

Stay tuned for more helpful articles!