Letting go of the hypothetical future

If we've learned anything from this past year, it has been that best-laid plans are just that—plans. When we make plans or set out ideas for the future, we do so in the present. These plans consider the future, but not the real one, of course. We can't predict the future.

So why do we become so attached to our hypothetical future and the clutter that comes with it?

The person we were going to become

Over time, we build up a story in our heads. An idea of who we are or are supposed to become.

"I'm a runner..."

"I love to knit..."

"I'm an avid reader..."

"I collect XYZ..."

"I'm a world traveler..."

We spend resources acquiring and accumulating objects that reinforce these identities. We share these identities with others. And eventually, it feels impossible to shed these identities when they are no longer compatible with who we are.

The failure myth

When we surround ourselves with objects and expectations that no longer align with who we are, we steal space and energy from today. We attach guilt to the clutter from our hypothetical future, and the idea of letting it go can feel like a failure. 

But it is not. 

We all evolve and grow as time marches on. What served us once in the past is not guaranteed to serve us in the future. There is no requirement to hold on to your past. 

Learning to pivot

We pivot in our lives every single day. Job loss, an ill relative, and weather are all examples of unexpected things that force us to pivot from our best-laid plans. We do not question outside forces before pivoting; we just do it. 

Can we learn to pivot successfully when quiet, internal forces nudge us to do so?

Yes, but it takes practice. When letting go of clutter and expectations, we have to practice asking ourselves the right questions. Those questions should be guided by your goals for the future, not by the goals of the past. 

Is there a hypothetical future you are still holding on to? If so, ask yourself a few questions:

• How has this thing/idea brought value to your life?

• Does this thing/idea still add value to your life?

• If you were to give yourself permission to let it go, what could you be making room for?

Aimee Olson of Life Done Simply is a Productivity and Organizing Coach and is a member of the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (NAPO). She specializes in Holistic Organizing and Minimalism, Residential Organizing, Workplace Productivity, and Brain-Based Conditions.