Empowering Possibilities by Decluttering Your Life
The Monk, the Trunk,
& The Junk
“All through life we are taught to gain, to acquire, to become autonomous, capable, and social… We are taught to get, to take, to have, to earn to win. We are not taught to let go of, to give away, to let someone else earn, or to lose.”
Removing the stress and turmoil caused by clutter in your life is an opportunity to implement a more mindful, simplistic lifestyle, inside and out. This journey is not about throwing away your stuff. It’s about discovering your motivations, discerning what you need, and recognizing the significance that ties the two together.
The Monk, the Trunk, & the Junk is a parable about holding onto what matters, letting go of things that no longer serve you, and differentiating between the two. The book was inspired by the 1,500-year-old Benedictine monk practice of creating and living by your own personal rule – and provides those looking to be free from a chaotic, cluttered life with insight and real tools that make “letting go” not only possible but transformative.
Let’s face it, in the end, we do not get to take it all with us. In the near term, letting go of what does not serve you today helps in decluttering your life and your mind. But decluttering is also beneficial to your loved ones – who inevitably will be responsible for your possessions when you are gone. Investing time now with those who matter most in your life by embarking on this journey together is a generous undertaking – and a thoughtful alternative to sending them on the journey alone after you’re gone.
The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning
In the 2017 book titled The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, by author Margareta Magnusson, explores how the Swedes embrace minimalism as they advance in age. And, in the new short series of the same title (eight episodes, narrated and executive produced by Amy Poehler, filmed in Kansas City, and now available on Peacock), eight real people meet with real Swedish “Death Cleaners” and are filmed as they discuss their clutter while a team gives their home a makeover. It is a humorous take on emotional evolutions through decluttering and is well worth the watch!
In The Monk, the Junk, and the Trunk, you will find useful resources and mindful practices that will bring you the spiritual clarity you need to tackle the practice of pre-death cleaning in all aspects of your life. A helpful workbook is built into the book and serves as a practical guide to “jumpstart” your journey and then continue to make progress on this transformational undertaking. We believe this book will help you gain a new perspective on the way you navigate your life and find out how a “less is more” attitude will help you “widen” the present to savor all of life’s moments.
What They’re Saying:
Purchase The Monk,
the Trunk, & the Junk
For those who are looking for a more individualized approach to the teachings in this book!
Author Dr. Alan Harris offers in-person consultations (Kansas City metropolitan area) and virtual consultations starting at $60 per Hour.