What Frozen’s Elsa Can Teach You About Organizing

In Disney’s iconic movie, Frozen, the lead character, Elsa, has moment of self-discovery where she embraces the unique power within her that she has always previously considered a burden.

With style and flair, she bursts out into the movie’s famed song “Let It Go”! Such a catchy tune! 🙂

I actually often use the song’s chorus on myself!…“Let it Go, Elsa!” I tell myself, when I’m replaying a negative thought over and over again in my head.

But the same phrase aptly applies to letting go of physical things, the key “decluttering” piece that is critical to any organizing project.

Renowned organizer Peter Walsh talks about certain items in our homes being “malignant”. They have a negative associative memory and a negative effect on our spaces and lives. (I would submit negative thoughts can also be categorized as “malignant”.)

Looking more closely at the Frozen “Let It Go” lyrics, I see many similarities in the emotions that come up when you’re living in a cluttered and disorganized space:

The feeling of isolation because you feel like you can’t have people over…
A kingdom of isolation
And it looks like I’m the queen

The feeling of internal chaos that reflects the disorder of the environment/situation
The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside
Couldn’t keep it in, heaven knows I’ve tried

The feeling of shame because you are embarrassed about your space or because you don’t “have it all together”
Don’t let them in, don’t let them see
Be the good girl you always have to be
Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know

 

And yet…the song also references similarities to the positive emotions that come up when you take that step and begin to let go…

 

The feelings of relief and release when you summon the courage and wherewithal to clear things out of your life
Let it go, let it go
Can’t hold it back anymore
Let it go, let it go
Turn away and slam the door

The feelings of personal power, pride, and breakthrough when you realize you really didn’t need that stuff you’d been holding on to
It’s funny how some distance makes everything seem small
And the fears that once controlled me can’t get to me at all
It’s time to see what I can do
To test the limits and break through

The feeling of freedom that comes with letting go of things that no longer serve you
I’m free
Let it go, let it go

The feeling of living in the incredible power of the present, no longer bound by the past
I’m never going back, the past is in the past
Let it go

The feeling of contentment when you let go of the need for perfection
Let it go, let it go
That perfect girl is gone

Elsa had her struggles, like all of us! But this song always pumps me up and reminds me of the power of letting go of the “malignant” in your life, whether physical or mental.  Letting go of the malignant makes room for all the good things that are coming your way.

Now go play this song from YouTube and spend four minutes tidying, decluttering, and/or organizing your space! Let it Go!