Outer Order, Inner Calm by Gretchen Rubin

  • Our rooms shape our thoughts, and our possessions change our moods. It can be challenging to influence our thoughts and actions directly; by improving the state of our surroundings, we can improve our state of mind. Because our minds feed on the experience of our five senses, pleasing our senses raises our spirits.
  • Thoughts That Do Not Serve You:
    • I’m more creative with all these things around me.
    • When I have time, I could do a cool project with this thing.
    • If I get rid of this thing, and other things, my home or office will feel sterile and stripped.
    • I’ll definitely use this thing as soon as I change my life in a major way. I’ll get a puppy. I’ll lose thirty pounds. I’ll form a band.
    • I don’t know where to put this thing, so I’ll just put it…here.
  • It’s important to remember that outer order isn’t simply a matter of having less or having more; it’s a matter of wanting what we have. Make choices.
  • ABANDON A PROJECT. Push yourself to finish an unfinished project or call an end to it. The easiest way to complete a project is to abandon it. Get that stuff off your shelf and off your conscience.
  • If you can’t decide whether to keep an item of clothing, ask yourself, “If I ran into my ex on the street, would I be happy if I were wearing this?” Often, the answer will give you a good clue.
  • I love a broad margin to my life. – Henry David Thoreau