I Finally Cleaned Out My Closet & It Changed More Than My Wardrobe
How Decluttering My Closet In December Taught Me About Making Space For Blessings, Alignment, And The Next Version Of Myself
After months of it officially being fall, and now winter, it’s finally starting to feel like it here in Atlanta. The mornings and evenings are breezy, and the days sit comfortably in the low 60s. If you’re standing in the sun, it feels warmer. Still, it’s that time: time to put away the summer stuff. Well… it’s actually been time. I’m just finally doing it.
Two days ago it was almost 80 degrees, but we still have plenty of cool days ahead. I’ve been putting off one task for almost two months: switching out my closet. But with the weather finally shifting, it’s officially time to pack up the sundresses and pull out the sweaters.
And even if you’re not in Atlanta, you might be like me, holding on to summer clothes by layering and hoping for the best. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thrown on a halter top with a duster sweater or a sundress with tights trying to make it work. The final straw was wearing a tank top and cardigan to a tree lighting and freezing the entire time. Enough was enough.
As I stared at my closet, I realized something else too: my style is changing. Of course, I have staple pieces I’ll always keep, but I’ve been craving a reset. Realistically, with the way this economy is set up, I can’t replace my entire wardrobe, but I can make space and prepare for what’s coming. Just because I’m not in a place financially to buy new clothes doesn’t mean I can’t prepare for them. Preparing space for what you want is being a good steward. It’s showing God you’re ready for more.
I was talking to a friend recently about everything I wanted to buy and how I was ready to “start fresh” with my wardrobe. But when I started making my list, I stopped myself and thought, Let me see what I already have first. I’m quick to say I want new everything without getting rid of what’s old. And that made me think about life, how often we say we want something new, but never create space for it.
Some people might say I’m a bit of a hoarder (I prefer recovering). But one thing being a recovering hoarder has taught me is this: holding onto things past their season is one of the quickest ways to block your blessings. And I’m not just talking about clothes. When you hold onto something old, you’re telling God, “This is the best I can get, so I need to keep it.” But what if He’s waiting for you to let go so He can give you better?
I had this black leather jacket I loved. I bought it years ago when I worked at Nordstrom, one of my first “adult” purchases with my own money. I made so many memories in that jacket and loved every outfit I styled it with. But six years later, it’s tight. I keep telling myself, I’ll lose weight and fit it again, but the truth is, I’ve been saying that for a while. I hold on to it because of the memories, because it was my favorite, and because I haven’t found one I love more. (And if I’m honest, I haven’t really looked.) Because I’ve been holding onto that jacket, I never even think to shop for another one. In my mind, I already have a black jacket. But the truth is, it doesn’t fit my life anymore, literally or figuratively.
The same thing happened with my lounge sets. I had these wide-leg long sweatpants I wore constantly over the past year. They were comfortable, familiar, and easy. But they were also covered in lint balls, had small holes, and a few stains. Still, I kept telling myself, one more wear. It wasn’t until my mom saw me and said, “You have a hole in your sweats,” that I paused. I told her, “I know, but I love them.” She said, “Just because you love them doesn’t mean there isn’t another pair just like it or better. Look for some and I’ll order them.”
And that’s when it clicked. I realized I had a lack mindset that needed to shift, from this is all I can get to there’s so much more available to me. I don’t know how long this mindset has been with me, but I noticed it held me back from so much. The first step in changing that mindset was tackling my closet.
As I pulled out my fall and winter clothes, I made one rule: if it looked old, had lint balls, holes, stains, didn’t fit, or didn’t feel like me anymore, it had to go. And yes, that included the “when I get skinny again” clothes. The reality is, if I lose a lot of weight, I’ll probably want new clothes anyway. When I finished, I felt lighter; not just in my closet, but in my spirit. I did the same thing when packing away my summer clothes. There’s no need to hold onto things that have passed their expiration date, in fashion or in life.
Take a moment and ask yourself:
• What areas of my life need decluttering?
• What am I holding on to that’s past its season?
• Am I making space for what I’ve been praying for?
I wanted new clothes, but I didn’t have space for them. Once I made room, things shifted. Believe it or not, I cleaned out my closet at the beginning of December, and by Christmas, some of the exact items I wrote down that I needed showed up as gifts, without me asking. Even the lounge sets I let go of were replaced. I received four new ones, and even some black Savage Fenty sweatpants that may be my new favorites that were better than the ones I released.
Let me be real: it wasn’t just my closet that needed a clean out. I’ve been single for over a year. Do I want a relationship? Sometimes. But if I’m entertaining people I already know aren’t meant for me, why would God send my husband now? It’s the same with habits. I say I want to read more, grow more, and be more productive, but my bad habits were taking up that space.
Your future life is going to cost you your old one.
This season, I’m decluttering more than my wardrobe. I’m decluttering my time, my relationships, my habits, and my day to day life. Because holding onto outdated things only holds you back. Maybe for you it’s not your closet. Maybe it’s your car, your office, your phone, your inbox, or the people you’re entertaining. Physical clutter is often a reflection of mental clutter. Only you know what areas of your life need to be cleared. So I’ll ask you again: what has God been nudging you to release so you can step into your best self?
We have five days left in this year. Let’s step into the new one with intention and a wardrobe and mindset that aligns with where we’re going next.
