Kathi Lipp's Blog, page 37
April 9, 2019
#351 Dealing with Family Clutter Part 2 with Tonya Kubo
On today’s episode of the podcast, Kathi is joined by Tonya Kubo, the illustrious leader of the Clutter-Free Academy Facebook group. Kathi and Tonya wrap up the conversation on clutter in the family in part two of this discussion.
On today’s show you’ll learn:
Why the principle of negotiating space works regardless of who your family member is or how old they are
The secret to getting your family on board with de-cluttering
Why we as parents need to be OK with what they choose to let go of
Thanks for Listening!
Bonus- Download Tonya’s guide to making de-cluttering fun so the whole family wins!
To share your thoughts:
Leave a note in the comment section below.
Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest.
To help out the show:
Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.
Subscribe on iTunes or subscribe now.
Meet Our Guest
Tonya Kubo
Tonya Kubo is the illustrious, fearless leader of Kathi Lipp’s Clutter-Free Academy Facebook group. A speaker and writer, Tonya makes her home in the heart of California with her husband, Brian, their two spirited daughters and one very tolerant cat. Visit her at www.GreatMoms.org.
April 2, 2019
#350 Dealing with Family Clutter Part 1 with Tonya Kubo
On today’s episode of the podcast, Kathi is joined by Tonya Kubo, the illustrious leader of the Clutter-Free Academy Facebook group. Kathi and Tonya chat about dealing with family clutter.
On today’s show you’ll learn:
Why we need to deal with our own clutter first
How to agree on space even if we don’t agree about stuff
Why we need a process for breaking up with our clutter
Thanks for Listening!
To share your thoughts:
Leave a note in the comment section below.
Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest.
To help out the show:
Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.
Subscribe on iTunes or subscribe now.
Meet Our Guest
Tonya Kubo
Tonya Kubo is the illustrious, fearless leader of Kathi Lipp’s Clutter-Free Academy Facebook group. A speaker and writer, Tonya makes her home in the heart of California with her husband, Brian, their two spirited daughters and one very tolerant cat. Visit her at www.GreatMoms.org.
March 26, 2019
#349 The Minimalist Home: A Room-by-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life Part 2 with Joshua Becker
On today’s episode of the podcast, Kathi is joined again by Joshua Becker, author of The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own. Kathi and Joshua continue their conversation about his new book The Minimalist Home: A Room-by-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life.
On today’s show you’ll learn:
• Whether it is possible to be a minimalist when you have small children
• How minimalism helps spur on the values we want for our children
• Why there is an abundance of life in owning few possessions
Enter to win!
Enter to win a copy of The Minimalist Home: A Room-by-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life.
In the comments below share “what room would you start in?”
Get a copy of the book here
To share your thoughts:
Leave a note in the comment section below.
Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest.
To help out the show:
Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.
Subscribe on iTunes or subscribe now.
Meet Our Guest
Joshua Becker
Joshua Becker is the founder and editor of Becoming Minimalist, a website dedicated to inspiring others to find more life by owning less. The website welcomes over one million readers each month and has inspired millions around the world to consider the practical benefits of owning fewer possessions and given them the practical help to get started. He is the bestselling author of THE MORE OF LESS: FINDING THE LIFE YOU WANT UNDER EVERYTHING YOU OWN. His latest bestseller is THE MINIMALIST HOME: A ROOM-BY-ROOM GUIDE TO A DECLUTTERED, REFOCUSED LIFE. Joshua is also the Founder of two family-focused magazines: Simplify Magazine and Simple Money Magazine and the nonprofit organization The Hope Effect, which is changing how the world cares for orphans by focusing on family-based solutions.
Joshua is a contributing writer for FORBES and has made appearances in the Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post Live, and CBS Evening News. Joshua and his family live in Peoria, AZ. Learn more.
March 19, 2019
#348 The Minimalist Home: A Room-by-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life with Joshua Becker Part 1
On today’s episode of the podcast, Kathi is joined by Joshua Becker, author of The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own. Kathi and Joshua talk about his journey into a minimalist lifestyle and discuss his new book The Minimalist Home: A Room-by-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life.
On today’s show you’ll learn:
• Why our belongings can keep us from living the life we wish we were living
• How clutter-free living and minimalism are similar and where they differ
• How minimalism is about intentionally promoting our values by removing anything that distracts us from them
Enter to win!
Enter to win a copy of The Minimalist Home: A Room-by-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life.
In the comments below share “what has kept you from pursuing a minimalist life?”
Get a copy of the book here
To share your thoughts:
Leave a note in the comment section below.
Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest.
To help out the show:
Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.
Subscribe on iTunes or subscribe now.
Meet Our Guest
Joshua Becker
Joshua Becker is the founder and editor of Becoming Minimalist, a website dedicated to inspiring others to find more life by owning less. The website welcomes over one million readers each month and has inspired millions around the world to consider the practical benefits of owning fewer possessions and given them the practical help to get started. He is the bestselling author of THE MORE OF LESS: FINDING THE LIFE YOU WANT UNDER EVERYTHING YOU OWN. His latest bestseller is THE MINIMALIST HOME: A ROOM-BY-ROOM GUIDE TO A DECLUTTERED, REFOCUSED LIFE. Joshua is also the Founder of two family-focused magazines: Simplify Magazine and Simple Money Magazine and the nonprofit organization The Hope Effect, which is changing how the world cares for orphans by focusing on family-based solutions.
Joshua is a contributing writer for FORBES and has made appearances in the Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post Live, and CBS Evening News. Joshua and his family live in Peoria, AZ. Learn more.
March 12, 2019
#347 Finding Freedom from the Fear, Guilt and Shame with Melissa Maimone
On today’s episode of the podcast, Kathi is joined by Melissa Maimone, author of The Radiant Midnight: Depression, Grace, and the Gifts of a Dark Place. Kathi and Melissa have an open and honest discussion around a topic that is more common to clutter than we’d like to talk about- depression.
On today’s show you’ll learn:
Why clutter is more of a symptom than the problem
How there are deep gifts to be found in the hard places
Why we don’t need fixing but we need His presence
Free Download from Melissa
Thank you to Melissa for offering a free download for our listeners. Download Ten Things to Remember When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed by clicking here.
Enter to win!
Enter to win a copy of The Radiant Midnight: Depression, Grace, and the Gifts of a Dark Place. Visit the blog post from yesterday to enter to win. We’re giving 5 people a copy of the book and a grand prize winner will get:
A copy of the book, The Radiant Midnight
A Wood Grain Folding Book Lamp, Night Light
Weighted Silk Sleep Mask Eye Pillow Filled with Organic Lavender and Flax Seeds
Don’t wait to win! Get a copy of the book here.
Thanks for Listening!
To share your thoughts:
Leave a note in the comment section below.
Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest.
To help out the show:
Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.
Subscribe on iTunes or subscribe now.
Special thanks for Harvest House for sponsoring today’s episode!
Meet Our Guest
Melissa Maimone
Melissa Maimone is a speaker and writer who communicates with transparency, humor, and grace about the magnificence and mess of an authentic faith in Jesus Christ. She lives in Southern California with her husband and two children. Learn more.
#347 Finding Freedom from the Fear, Guilt and Shame with Melissa Maimone
March 11, 2019
When “Getting Over It” Just Doesn’t Work – Trusting God with Your Biggest Problem
One of the most common comments I get about my life with clutter is, “Oh, you wrote a book about clutter? Is your house perfect now?”
Or people will say, “I could never have you over to my house. You’re the clutter free person. I’d be too embarrassed!”
These two statements highlight two different misconceptions:
1. Because I’ve found something that works for me, I will never struggle again.
2. I can’t remember what it’s like to be in the hardest part of the struggle.
So let me share the reality of my clutter free life:
I still struggle.
My natural tendency is towards clutter. To put things down, leave them for later.
My garage can still be an embarrassment.
My relationship with stuff has changed dramatically. I still keep stuff I shouldn’t, but it’s not households of stuff. I still have too many clothes, but it’s not closets full of them. I’m so much better, because I’ve learned some of the reasons for my struggle along the way, and I realize that even when I’m at the hardest part of my struggle, God is not a disappointed and disapproving relative waiting to love me when I (literally) clean up my act. In my struggle, God pulls me tighter, loves me hard, and doesn’t let me go.
So much of this paradigm reminds me of my struggle with depression about a dozen years ago. I felt that if I just tried harder, worked more, and wasn’t so lazy, God would be pleased with me and would make my depression go away.
I know. I know.
What crazy, faulty, thinking.
But that’s the kind of thinking that so many of us do when we are dealing with a struggle.
If only I tried harder…
I should be able to get myself out of this mess.
If God was pleased with me, He would get me out of this mess.
Recently, I had a conversation with Melissa Maimone author of The Radiant Midnight: Depression, Grace, and the Gifts of a Dark Place. (Holy cow, what a title!) What I love most about this book is that Melissa believes not only will God lead you out of darkness, He will be fully and beautifully present within it. Instead of trying to give anyone three simple steps to deal with a hard situation, she takes the radical notion that God sits with us in our pain and suffering. Instead of always looking to get out of the circumstance, she urges us to recognize that God is guiding us on a journey of surrender, suffering, rest, and restoration in the midst of what we are going through.
There is value in knowing that we don’t just have to try harder to get out of the circumstances we are in. There is value in recognizing that there is good in the hard places, whether it’s outside of ourselves (clutter) or inside ourselves. God is there, and He is good, even when our challenges are hard.
Giveaway!
The generous people over at Harvest House want to give our readers Melissa’s book, The Radiant Midnight: Depression, Grace, and the Gifts of a Dark Place! 5 people will win a copy and 1 grand prize winner will receive:
A copy of the book, The Radiant Midnight
A Wood Grain Folding Book Lamp, Night Light
Weighted Silk Sleep Mask Eye Pillow Filled with Organic Lavender and Flax Seeds
Enter to win by commenting below- have you ever had a situation where you believed you had to just try harder to get out of the hard place and then you would find God rather than knowing He was right there in it with you?
When “Getting Over It” Just Doesn’t Work – Trusting God with Your Biggest Problem
March 5, 2019
#346 How to Stay Motivated When It’s All Too Much with Tonya Kubo
On today’s episode of the podcast, Kathi is joined by Tonya Kubo, the illustrious leader of the Clutter-Free Academy Facebook group. Kathi and Tonya share four tips for staying motivated when you feel like it’s all too much.
On today’s show you’ll learn:
Why living clutter-free is not “one and done”
Where to start when you’re feeling overwhelmed
How de-cluttering, cleaning and organizing are all different things
Thanks for Listening!
To share your thoughts:
Leave a note in the comment section below.
Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest.
To help out the show:
Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.
Subscribe on iTunes or subscribe now.
Meet Our Guest
Tonya Kubo
Tonya Kubo is the illustrious, fearless leader of Kathi Lipp’s Clutter-Free Academy Facebook group. A speaker and writer, Tonya makes her home in the heart of California with her husband, Brian, their two spirited daughters and one very tolerant cat. Visit her at www.GreatMoms.org.
#346 How to Stay Motivated When It’s All Too Much with Tonya Kubo
February 28, 2019
What Are the Hidden Reasons for Clutter?
For some people, a three-step plan for a decluttering system results in a neat and cozy home within a few months. For others, decluttering is an arduous journey. It’s not because of busyness or not having a system in place. Behind stacks of clutter, hidden spiritual and emotional issues lurk. If we’re honest, we admit that sometimes it’s just easier to keep those issues hidden in the piles of clutter.
Here are some hidden reasons for clutter:
Low self-worth
Pleasing other people
Clinging to the past/reliving our mistakes
Poverty mindset—fearing the lack
Depression/anxiety clutter cycle—If we’re constantly in the emotional part of our brain, we can’t use the logic part (where we make decisions).
Some of these reasons are chronic, while others are situational. In 2014, my eyes were opened to a long-time clutter problem in my own house.
A few months after my dad passed away, my siblings and I traveled from three different states to his house. It took us four days to clean it out, working from early morning until late evening, when we were too tired to move.
I lost track of how many giant, industrial garbage dumpsters we filled. Time and again, a driver would load it onto his truck, empty it at the dump, and bring it back again.
Anything you could think of, we threw away. (We gave a lot away too. A charity came and took what was useable to help needy families.) Stacks of old magazines, mattresses, bank papers from before I was born, and an entire drawer full of keys to who-knows-what. Sixty-seven years’ worth of stuff, and I don’t think Dad ever tossed anything besides old food.
For me, it was like looking into my future.
When I arrived home, I saw everything I had piled around my house. Even some stuff I didn’t want but kept anyway, for fear of offending the relative who gave it to me. If I didn’t do something now, I realized, my kids were going to be saddled with loads of useless stuff to deal with upon my death.
It wasn’t that I hadn’t ever learned a practical system for being clutter free. One of the books in my many stacks was Kathi’s The Get Yourself Organized Project. I’d read it and even written a review for a newspaper article.
So how did I get from cluttery mess to (mostly) decluttered and organized home business owner?
Here I share five crucial elements on my clutter-free journey.
1) Awareness.
Here’s the main difference between then and now: Today I really can’t stand clutter and work the systems from Clutter Free daily to keep it out of my house. Before, I didn’t notice it or care that my house was cluttered. I lost time, money and sanity because of my clutter, but I tolerated it because it just seemed normal to me. I didn’t consider there might be a better way to live. This is the simplest—and also hardest—of the steps.
2) A new safe space.
Since clutter is often accompanied by feelings of low self-worth, we must redefine what feels safe to us. It’s a big mind shift to feel worthy of the time it takes to improve our living spaces. Making change is hard; it’s easier to just stick with what we know. Gradually, I accepted that my new way of living was the actual safe space, and not the unhealthy condition of an overly cluttered house. Instead of making ourselves feel better by buying more things, we can enjoy the calm, peaceful feeling of an uncluttered home.
3) Treat yourself like the treasure you are.
Once I became aware of my clutter problem, I worked to keep my thoughts about it positive. I changed “I’m such a slob!” to “I’m working through Kathi’s steps to get clutter free; I didn’t get here overnight, and I won’t be rid of it all overnight, either.” If we’re constantly berating ourselves, we’ll stay stuck in our low self-worth mindset. Kathi’s mantra of decluttering being a lifestyle and not a “one and done” became my mainstay. The more kind and gentle you can be with yourself, the more progress you’ll make.
4) Deal with specific issues you’re hiding.
Among my stacks of books, I had one titled Not Marked that deals with childhood sexual abuse. I had purchased it with several other titles and dumped them into my other piles of books. At that point, I hadn’t told anyone I was suffering from PTSD flashbacks to childhood trauma. Not even my husband knew about the abuse or that I was trying to cope with overwhelming memories. Other places to hide our issues might be ridiculously messy pantries to hide eating too much junk food or crammed-full closets to hide a clothes shopping addiction. It starts with telling one friend you can trust (or a therapist) and getting to the source of whatever’s eating you.
5) Celebrate your wins by enjoying that decluttered room again.
Once I got all the piles of books out of my living room, we bought some pretty pictures and couch pillows to make it cozy. Since it looks so nice, I’m really hesitant to leave anything that doesn’t belong out in the living room. One by one, as you conquer the specific areas of your home, decorate and personalize them so that they feel complete.
Whether your hidden reasons for clutter are chronic or situational, there is hope. Establishing a system for decluttering and recognizing the hidden reasons behind the clutter is the first step. Remember, give yourself grace for whatever you’re struggling with; even if it takes longer than you hoped, you’ll get to the place where you can live peacefully in your space again.
Enter to win!
Want a chance to win a copy of Lyneta’s memoir, Curtain Call? Comment below and two random winners will be mailed a copy by March 13th. (Winners outside the U.S. will receive a digital copy.)
February 26, 2019
#345 When Emotional Clutter is Buried by Physical Clutter with Lyneta Smith
On today’s episode Kathi welcomes friend and author Lyneta Smith, to talk about her new book Curtain Call: A Memoir. Kathi chats with Lyneta about her journey of dealing with emotional clutter from a traumatic childhood and how physical clutter can often be used to hide our emotional wounds.
On today’s show you’ll learn:
Why physical clutter can often be a sign that all is not well
How clutter can serve as self-protection
Why de-cluttering can be the first step of healing
Enter to win!
Win a copy of Curtain Call: A Memoir by sharing in the comments if you need this book or if this is a book you need to give to a friend.
*US residents only
Order the ebook by Wednesday, March 13th and pay only $2.99. (50% off the list price.)
Thanks for Listening!
To share your thoughts:
Leave a note in the comment section below.
Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest.
To help out the show:
Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.
Subscribe on iTunes or subscribe now.
Meet Our Guest
Lyneta Smith
Lyneta Smith is a writer and speaker whose life mission is to point people to the goodness of God. She is the author of Curtain Call, recipient of the 2017 Best Nonfiction Foundation Award. She and her husband live near Nashville, TN. Learn more.
#345 When Emotional Clutter is Buried by Physical Clutter with Lyneta Smith
February 19, 2019
#344 Better Than Perfect – How to be Real with Each other and with God with Gretta Kennedy and Suzanne Gosselin
On today’s episode Kathi welcomes Gretta Kennedy and Suzanne Gosselin, authors of Grit and Grace: Devotions for Warrior Moms. Kathi, Gretta and Suzanne talk about what moms can do when we’re feeling overwhelmed with spiritual clutter during our quiet time with God.
On today’s show you’ll learn:
How to stay connected to God during the “while also” season of life
Why moms in this busy stage of life need a lifeline that is just a very short snippet of truth that they can digest very quickly
How you can encourage the overwhelmed mom in your life
Enter to Win!
Enter to win a copy of their book! Head over to yesterday’s blog post and enter to win by sharing in the comments if you need this book or if this is a book you need to give to a friend.
Five lucky winners will win a copy of Grit and Grace: Devotions for Warrior Moms and one winner get a copy of the book AND a $50 Starbucks card to take out all the mom warriors in her life!
*US residents only
Or buy the book here.
Thanks for Listening!
To share your thoughts:
Leave a note in the comment section below.
Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest.
To help out the show:
Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.
Subscribe on iTunes or subscribe now.
Special thanks to our sponsor Harvest House!
Meet Our Guest
Gretta Kennedy & Suzanne Hadley Gosselin
Gretta Kennedy is a speaker, mentor and writer with a degree in women’s ministry from Multnomah University and over 20 years of ministry experience. She is the co-author of the newly released devotional “Grit and Grace: Devotions For Warrior Moms”.
Suzanne Hadley Gosselin lives in California with her husband, Kevin, and four young children. Formerly an editor for Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. magazines, she has written for Zondervan, David C. Cook, and Focus on the Family. Suzanne enjoys sharing a good cup of coffee and conversation with a friend, serving with her husband in family ministry, and escaping to the Pacific coast. Learn more
