Why can't we bear to throw things away even when they're broken? Sometimes, this "reluctance" is actually about holding onto the past.

Some things are actually of no use anymore.

Broken appliances, clothes that no longer fit, boxes that haven't been opened in a long time, and even small trinkets you have no idea when you'll ever use again—yet they remain sitting there.

Every time you prepare to declutter, a thought pops up: "I'll just keep it for now; it might be useful someday."

And so, the items keep piling up.

What truly occupies space is sometimes no longer the items themselves, but that unspoken reluctance to let go.

Why do people find it so hard to part with something that has no practical use?

Because what we are holding onto is often more than just an object.

An old piece of clothing might remind you of a past phase of your life; a broken item might have been a gift from someone in the past; even a yellowed piece of paper can represent a time you are unwilling to completely forget.

Therefore, when throwing it away, a strange feeling arises, as if you are throwing away that memory along with it.

But that is not true.

Memories exist within your experiences; they do not require holding onto every old object to be preserved.

If you really find it difficult to start, don't try to clear out the entire room all at once.

Pick out ten items you haven't used in a long time, and ask yourself one by one: "If I didn't have this today, would my life be affected?"

If the answer is no, ask the second question: "Am I keeping this because I need it now, or because I am reluctant to let go of the past?"

These two questions often help clarify your feelings.

Traditional Taoist wisdom embraces the concept of "discarding the old to welcome the new" (去旧更新). This does not demand that you erase your past entirely, but reminds you that at different stages, you must allow life to flow again.

If a room is chronically cluttered with unused items, it is hard for new things to find a place; if life is chronically occupied by habits left over from the past, it can be hard to truly enter the present.

So, organizing old things isn't just about making a room clean.

Sometimes, it's a way to reconfirm:

What still belongs to the present me? What has already fulfilled its purpose?

Of course, not every old thing must be thrown away.

Items with true sentimental value, things you will still use, or things with special worth can be kept securely.

The point is not "the more you throw away, the better," but rather not letting "reluctance" be the sole reason for keeping them.

If you genuinely don't know what to do, you can set up a "temporary storage box."

Put the things you are reluctant to throw away but haven't used in a year into the box, and write the date on it.

Open it again after some time has passed.

Often, once some distance is created, it becomes easier to judge whether you truly need it or are simply accustomed to having it.

Some things can stay.

Some things can be thanked for their past companionship, and then let go.

Letting go of old things does not equate to denying the past.

On the contrary, it is acknowledging that the past has happened, and allowing the present life to have new space.

If you find that you are not only reluctant to discard old items but are also emotionally tied to past people and events, making it difficult to look forward, consider obtaining a Mind-Purifying Bone-Transforming Talisman (清心换骨符). Drawing upon traditional Taoist cleansing energy, it helps wash away attachments and assists you in completing an internal decluttering. If you feel your luck and life have been stagnant for a long time, lacking the vitality to flow forward, a Turn Luck Talisman (转运符) can inject the momentum needed to break old patterns and start anew. If the obstacles you face are too complex to navigate alone, feel free to reach out via "Contact Us" at the top of the page. I will provide tailored guidance based on traditional Taoist wisdom to help you find the right path forward.