Ep 41: How to Get Over Your Fear of Becoming a Wannabe Minimalist with Kelsey Sholin

Are you embarrassed or nervous to call yourself a wannabe minimalist? Do you think your family or friends will laugh at you when you tell them you want to declutter your home, get rid of the stuff overwhelming your life, and live with intention?

My guest on the latest episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show can help you overcome these fears. Kelsey Sholin from delightofmine.com is new on her path toward living with less stuff so that she can enjoy life more.

As a mom of three very energetic boys, Kelsey has recently discovered the importance of having a simplified home. While she says the process of actually decluttering the stuff is not easy and they’re emotionally attached to some of their possessions, it’s been so worth all the effort to free up space and have less material items demanding their attention all the time.

That’s nothing to be embarrassed about.

Your family, friends, and internal spirit are worth your attention and love and are so much more important that all the stuff we have been told we are supposed to care about so don’t let that fear of what other’s will think hold you back any longer.

Kelsey also has an amazing tip for anyone just starting out. When you are at the bottom of a mountain, it can be daunting to see the giant peak in front of you, but she uses a brilliant and simple mind shift to get over this hurdle. She realized that half will always be greater than zero. So even if the task cannot be fully completed or done perfectly in the moment, she no longer puts it off until later. Instead she completes as much of it as she can because doing something is better than doing nothing.

If you have ever wondered how to start decluttering or worried about what others might think when you do, this show is for you.

This episode of the Wannabe Minimalist Show will help you discover:

What it’s like to start your minimalism journey with kids
Kelsey’s secret to decluttering even if you don’t have enough time
Why even small efforts can make a BIG difference
How to overcome embarrassment when going after your dreams
The best advice about minimalism Kelsey’s ever received

HIGHLIGHTS

[00:00] – This episode is brought to you The QUICK Way to Declutter and Organize Your Home. This 5 part mini-course will help you declutter, tidy, and organize any room in your home. Get started today!

[00:51] – Deanna welcomes listeners back to the show and introduces listeners to Kelsey Sholin of DelightOfMine.com.

[02:34] – Kelsey introduces herself and tell us how she fell in love with the idea of minimalism. She has noticed that too much stuff was affecting her mood and was not good for her family. Plus, she wants her home to be inviting.

[03:20] – Deanna asks Kelsey what she means by having a more inviting home. Was it so she could have people drop by at a moments notice or was it something more?

[03:26] – Yes, Kelsey says it’s about not worrying about someone dropping by last minute, but it’s also about her family feeling welcomed in their own home.

[04:15] – Deanna points out that it’s okay to call yourself a minimalist even if you have more stuff than you think a minimalist “should have”. It’s a journey and we are all a work in progress.

[05:30] – Kelsey talks about how she has started even though she feels she has a long way to go.

[05:48] – Deanna asks Kelsey about what room she first started with when it came to decluttering.

[05:50] – The decluttering journey started for Kelsey and her family with the stuff they had in storage. Find out what happened after last Christmas that gave Kelsey a reality check about her stuff.

[07:00] – While Deanna doesn’t recommend starting with the stuff you have storage, here’s when and why it can work.

[08:30] – We dive into mindsets and Kelsey discusses a post she wrote about having a mindset where half is greater than zero. What does that mean to her and how can it help you declutter you home?

[10:25] – Kelsey reminds us that just because this mindset is a big encouragement to start something, it’s not an excuse not to finish it.

[10:45] – Deanna commiserates that unfortunately it usually takes us all a lot longer to learn lessons and go through self-discovery journeys than we would all prefer.

[11:40] – Kelsey dives into why she finds this mindset shift so important.

[12:15] – We get a peek into a real-world example from Kelsey’s life where she used this mindset of half is greater than zero.

[15:10] – Kelsey talks about getting over the fear and overwhelm that comes with going through your old stuff.

[16:12] – Deanna asks Kelsey if she sees herself as a perfectionist. While Kelsey doesn’t think of herself as a perfectionist, Deanna sees how this mindset might be a great solution for someone that does think of themselves as a perfectionist.

[17:15] – We shift the conversation to how someone listening can start to make positive changes in their life. How can you shift your negative mindset when you do not think you’ll be able to finish a task?

[18:14] – Kelsey breaks it down into 3 steps so we can all make progress on our journey’s toward a minimalist lifestyle.

[19:45] – Deanna talks about the importance of expressing the emotions you want to feel in the rooms in your home because life is always changing so the reality is that we may never be 100% done anyway.

[20:50] – We dive into what everyday life is like for Kelsey with 3 boys at home all the time and how minimalism can work for a family.

[23:40] – Kelsey talks about how she is teaching her children about living with intention.

[27:30] – Deanna asks Kelsey about what school is going to be like for her family in Kansas.

[31:05] – Where can you find Kelsey online?

[32:42] – What has been Kelsey’s favorite simple pleasure this week?

[33:28] – What is the best advice about minimalism or intentional living that Kelsey has ever received? Don’t miss it.

[33:50] – And finally, what is making Kelsey happy right now?

[35:17] – Deanna circles back to the journey of minimalism. Kelsey’s story is so relatable - things at home are chaotic and then one day it clicks - there’s so much stuff in your home that you would be completely fine living without. If you find yourself in that place, go with your momentum to start to declutter. Our homes are jam-packed and like Kelsey says, clutter creates chaos. So use this as inspiration to just start. Half is better than zero and you will be happier living with less. Trust me.

[36:35] – Pick up the show notes for today’s episode at LittleGreenBow.com/41.

[37:30] – Join Deanna in her private Wannabe Minimalist Group on Facebook and get in on the discussions going on there with others just like you. And remember we love hearing from listeners, so please get in touch by email at hello@littlegreenbow.com or by sending her a message on Instagram (@WannabeClutterFree) or on Facebook (@WannabeClutterFree)!