Comments on: From Clutter to Clarity: Simplifying Life from the Inside Out

By: Revae

Revae — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:38:05 +0000

Amy, I completely understand feeling overwhelmed by it all, and I think Lindsay’s advice on keeping in mind your season of life is the first place to start. Maybe it is just not for you right now. But having said that, I remember when I started my health journey years ago now, and I thought – I can make one change at a time. It sounds like you are on your way. You can worry about soaking grains and such later. For now only do what seems obtainable. You can get completely consumed with health and nutrition. But our goal is not be consumed with it, but to use it glorify God in having a healthier more energetic family able to serve him in the good works HE has planned for us beforehand. I spent years learning about nutrition and then moved to the mission field where my knowledge meant absolutely nothing. There were no options to fit my previous lifestyle and for 18 months I had to give it up and trust God that my family would survive. Our little town has developed a bit more and there are finally some options to help. But now I am in a season of life with 3 children (1 is 8 months and nursing) home schooling and ministry, that I rarely get to making my own bread and such. You’ll get it figured out. Give it to God and take your time.

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:21:24 +0000

Well, I guess it would depend upon if pursuing natural living has caused too much clutter in your life. That would definitely be something you should pray about! It sounds like it just might be too much for you at this time. If so, definitely bag it or just step back and take a bigger look at what are the priorities. What is one important thing you could focus on changing? Take the baby step mindset rather than trying to learn and apply everything at once. For our family, we really pursue simple meals. I plan a monthly menu, shop twice a month, and keep a regular preparatory routine. I don’t necessarily do everything currently that I have shared about on my blog in the past, as there are different seasons of life. Eating naturally is a hobby for me. I love learning new things…but I am always on my guard that if it becomes too overwhelming, I need to step back and re-evaluate. Husbands can be especially useful here!

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:15:41 +0000

I would strongly encourage you both to PRAY! and then graciously appealing to him with Scripture. Maybe you could read the book together and pray about how it might apply to your lives. There are some wonderful Scripture passages in the book that might help you as you address these issues. Don’t nag…just let the Lord work. Remember you are his helper. It is part of your service to him to clean up after him. I have learned this the hard way. I used to raz my husband for not picking up his stuff, and it led to contention and lack of peace. It never got me anywhere! After further prayer, I just started joyfully seeing this as an opportunity to serve him. Don’t view it as equal roles in home organizing and such…that is the pit-fall. Whether you work full time or not, your primary domain is the home. Demanding his help will not get you anywhere, but keeping a spirit of humility and submissive can win over any man! I cannot say enough about prayer! This has been an instrument to bring such beautiful change in my husband and his shortcomings. Focus on the positive and encourage him in that! Then be faithful in your part. Always check your heart! Blessings upon you in this pursuit!

By: Anna C.

Anna C. — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:10:23 +0000

I have the same question as Naomi regarding a husband who keeps EVERYTHING. It isn’t just him, he gets it from his mother so it’s just very natural for him. Nothing against his mother, I lover her dearly =) I grew up in a home that was very simple and everything had it’s place. We’ve struggled the last four years of our marriage with all the clutter in our house. We are getting ready to have our first child next year and I can’t stand the thought of having a baby in a messy, unorganized, clutterd home. I’m becoming very stressed and I have noticed my mood changin. We need to do something about this, SOON. Another problem is that he makes very little effort in helping me with large home projects such as organizing a room to make it more efficient. We both work full-time jobs so it is important that we help each other when we have time on the weekends. How do I convince him of the importance of a simplified home and the importance in helping me achieve that?

By: amy

amy — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:26:16 +0000

I’m curious to know how you think about this in light of the natural foods stuff. In other words: moving toward eating the way your family does is anything BUT simplifying for me. I’ve been taking deliberate steps toward whole foods/healthy living for the better part of a year now, and the sheer quantity of information to consider *just on your blog alone* is totally overwhelming. So in my mind, “simplifying” and “learning to eat naturally” seem almost mutually exclusive! How do they fit together for you?

By: Sarah M

Sarah M — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:33:55 +0000

great review–this is definitely where I am–doing something every weekend since Sept 1st for other people. Not that this is a bad thing, but when it becomes an obligation rather than a joy–it turns sour. Although I have abotu 3 more weekends that I am committed to, after that I have planned to par down my schedule to nil and just relax! It is a *VERY* hard thing to say no, until you’ve had lots of practice It is just very easy to get right into that old habit of saying *yes* to everyone all over again, too.
Sounds like a great read & thanks for posting teh scripture verses in your post.
Sarah M

By: Naomi

Naomi — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:48:21 +0000

I really enjoy reading your blog by the way! I am nowhere near implementing things that seem to come naturally for you, but I like thinking that someday I will..haha. I am interested in this book about de-cluttering your life. There are some things in my inner life that I need to de-clutter. I was wandering though, what you do when your husband is cluttered? My husband keeps everything and we have piles of stuff everywhere and we have a small house too. It is very difficult to get him to throw anything away or even give it away. It is hard to live simply and de-cluttered when your husband is not. Just wandering what your thoughts were on this issue. Thanks!

By: Revae

Revae — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:31:43 +0000

I purchased this book months ago as we moved our growing family into a smaller more affordable home. We experienced a down-size that freed us up to breathe again. I still move around my small 2 bedroom 1 bath house thinking this house is too small to be this complicated to keep up with. So I begin to toss things again.
That addresses the outer simplicity, but my Husband and I were challenged to revisit the inner simplicity again this weekend when a fellow missionary couple serving in our town had to leave the field in order to restore their marriage. It was a sad realization that we need to be focused on only the things God has called us to. There are many “good” things, as Lindsay said, we can be involved in but if we are failing at our foremost ministry of our home, we have done nothing for the Kingdom.

By: alexis

alexis — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:25:38 +0000

Thanks for the resource…nice to see an organizational book written from a Christian perspective!

By: Melanie

Melanie — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:27:30 +0000

Thanks for posting this review. I’m almost done with Michael Pollan’s *In Defense of Food*, so this one’s going to be next on my list. We have a lot of clutter…not so much in commitments, but in “stuff” in our home and definitely spiritually…I’ve been battling a bad attitude lately, and I’m sure that plays a huge part. Thanks:)