The next stage in your project is to begin to let go of what doesn't work for you, what you no longer use or need, and especially what you no longer love.  Letting go is not just getting rid of things, it's about creating the space and the time and the energy for what you do want. 

For those of you who have no problems with letting go of things, excellent!  Go ahead and schedule some time today, this week or next, and create that space you need.

For the rest, here are some ideas to use when you want to clear away the clutter in your life.

Ask yourself questions.

• General questions for most anything:
  

1. Am I using this now?
2. When was the last time I used it?
3. Do I love it?
4. If I'm not using it, what would be the worst-case scenario if I let it go and found out in 6 months I could have used it?
5. If I'm not using it but I want to keep it, do I have space to store it, access it AND put it back easily?
6. If I store it, how will I remember I have it and where I put it?

• Questions for reading material (keep in mind that information becomes old news, so you can let go of newspapers that are older than 3 days, weekly publications that are older than 3 weeks and monthly publications that are older than 3 months):
  

1. When will I read this?
2. No, seriously, when will I read this?
3. Have I set aside the time to read this?
4. What's the worst that could happen if I don't read it?
   

Think small bites.

I am a big believer in a little bit is better than nothing, so if you aren't quite ready to let go of all of your magazines, your hobby supplies, your shoes or collectibles, how about letting go of half now?  Or letting go of the 5 least favorite.  A bite at a time.

Move the items out of the house immediately.

Have you ever dug through the give-away bag and reclaimed an item?  Did you really use it?  The best way to prevent reclaiming items is to get the bag or box to its final destination as quickly as possible.  When you've filled the bag with the items to give away, move it to your car.  Plan on dropping it off the next day or as soon as possible.  If someone is going to pick up the item, let them know that you need them to pick it up by a certain day or it will go to charity.  This isn't being mean or demanding.  It helps ensure that your hard work and effort in letting go doesn't go to waste.

Let go of thoughts and beliefs that aren't supporting you.

Do you...

• Hold onto things that you don't use because you paid good money for it?
• Feel you should keep it until you find just the right person that will appreciate it?
• Keep it until the kids are older because they may want it someday?
• Are the kids older, but you're still holding on to it for them?
  
• Feel that you have to finish every project you started, even if it's been a couple of years since you last worked on it?
• Keep it only because it was given to you by someone special?

Sometimes our thoughts and beliefs may get in the way of letting go of things.  Ask yourself if that belief is working for you?  What's the worst thing that could happen if you changed that thought?