Creating Space to Flourish: How to Move into a New Season of Our Lives
Flourish: to grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as the result of a particularly favorable environment. I found myself drowning in my own home. Not literally, but emotionally overwhelmed by the sheer volume of possessions that had accumulated over years of living. My turbo-thinking brain, usually so quick to solve problems, felt trapped in an endless loop of emotional attachment and practical paralysis. When I decided to downsize to a home with less than half the square footage, I couldn’t even see what action to take first.
That’s when I found Beth Lechler of Flourish Transitions, someone who specializes in helping people navigate the complex emotional and logistical challenges of downsizing. Beth didn’t just help me move my stuff – she helped me move into a new season of my life.
From Emotional Overwhelm to Practical Clarity
“I help them get from making it an emotional decision to a practical decision,” she explained when I interviewed her recently. “I help them move to a different season of life. When we can envision a better future for ourselves, we can more easily let go of things.”
This insight struck me profoundly. Our possessions often represent who we used to be, not who we’re becoming. That stack of children’s books isn’t really about the books – it’s about the version of ourselves who was learning to be a parent, full of anxiety about whether we were doing enough, being enough. The fancy kitchen gadgets we never use represent someone who thought they should be cooking elaborate meals, not the person who actually finds joy in simple dishes or eating out with friends.
Her approach cuts straight to what matters: “What are the things that support this new you in this new season of your life”?; It’s not about deprivation or minimalism for its own sake. It’s about intentionally creating space for who you’re becoming.
But how do we know if we are optimistic or delusional? What is the difference between ambition and magical fantasy? Are we saving clothes in smaller sizes “for when I lose weight” or stockpiling exercise equipment “for when I get motivated”? Or art supplies “for when I have time for that creative project”?
What is the difference between living in a state of preparation for every possible situation versus living with enough for the most likely outcome... and trusting, with that inner knowing, that we are creative, resourceful and whole, that we, especially as Turbo Thinkers, will find what we need when we need it? When was the last time I wore those pants? If I find myself at that smaller size but didn’t have these specific clothes, how would I solve that problem? Maybe I could go thrifting and find clothes that fit my actual current lifestyle and preferences, not clothes from a decade ago that represent a different version of myself.
The goal isn’t to crush dreams but to distinguish between genuine future aspirations rooted in authenticity versus magical thinking about who we think we should be. We want to let go of the guilt and shame, the reminders of failing to live up to others expectations. We want to make space for the person who has clarity in their own core values and purpose, the person who courageously makes space for a truer, higher version of their most authentic self.
That person will create a newer, better solution when the need arises. They won’t need to sort through piles, closets or boxes. Do the items in our environment represent guilt about who we think we should be rather than excitement about who we’re becoming? It might be time to let them go.
The Space Between Who We Were and Who We’re Becoming
As someone who works with Turbo Thinkers©, I’ve witnessed how our physical environment directly impacts our mental clarity. We get stuck reminiscing about the past, holding onto our children’s favorite stuffed animal not because they want it, but because we remember that phase of our lives and all the time and energy we invested. We remember hours in that rocker, praying for our child to fall asleep while fighting our own sleep.
And yet we can honor those memories without being imprisoned by them. For example, we can take a photo of that special toy, then donate it to a family who will create new joy with it. The memory lives on, but the physical object finds new purpose.
The real transformation happens when we stop living for the person we used to be and start creating space for the person we’re becoming. Maybe that’s someone who is calm instead of constantly anxious, confident instead of insecure, free instead of weighed down by possessions that no longer serve us.
The Gentle Art of Reality Checking
One insight that particularly resonated with me: “Sometimes they want a storage unit, but after having lived in the smaller space for a while, they realize that they can do it and they can live without all of the extra stuff.” The fear of letting go is often worse than the actual experience of living with less.
“Are you really going to go get the crockpot out of the storage unit to make chili?” It’s a gentle but powerful reality check. We hold onto things “just in case” but that crockpot sitting in storage could be making someone else’s dinner tonight.
The statistics might surprise you: “You only wear 30% of your wardrobe.” How many of us keep a closet of formal wear? There’s someone out there who would love to have those sparkly heels you haven’t touched in years. You could make someone’s sweet sixteen even sweeter.
Starting Small, Honoring the Process
The overwhelm is real, and any approach that works must honor that reality. “Start with small wins. One room, one tiny area, one small project.” The goal isn’t perfection – it’s progress toward the life we actually want to live.
Beth advises, “Imagine your new space like an Airbnb experience – so decluttered and beautiful. It feels like a vacation.” This isn’t about deprivation; it’s about creating an environment that supports flourishing.
After doing this work, most people express the same sentiment: “I wish I had done this sooner. I feel so free!” That freedom isn’t just about having less stuff – it’s about having more space for what truly matters.
Creating Your Favorable Environment
The definition of flourish speaks to developing, “As the result of a particularly favorable environment.” We often think we need to wait for the right circumstances to change our lives, but sometimes we need to create those circumstances by changing our environment first.
When we tidy up before a loved guest arrives, we’re creating space for connection and joy. We can do the same for ourselves – tidying up with love and excitement for the new person we’re becoming. We can create the space for the next chapter in the story of our lives.
This isn’t about judgment or shame regarding what we’ve accumulated. Life happens, families grow, interests change, and stuff builds up. The question isn’t how we got here – it’s where we want to go and what environment will help us flourish in that direction.
Questions to Flourish With
What does your current environment say about the person you used to be versus the person you’re becoming?
What is possible when you create a space for your future self?
What small area could you start with today to create a little more breathing room for growth?
Life isn’t about stuff. It’s about becoming who we’re meant to be, season by season, choice by choice, one small letting-go at a time. In that space we create by letting go, in that carefully curated environment for growth, that’s where flourishing becomes not just possible, but inevitable.
Letting go doesn’t have to be negative. It can be profoundly freeing, giving us a feeling of lightness and mobility. And it can be so much easier with another person. Whether it’s someone who specializes in the logistics of moving and downsizing, or a thinking partner who helps you get clear on who you want to become, having another perspective creates ease in the process.
Sometimes we need someone to ask us those reality-check questions, to remind us of our future vision when we get stuck reminiscing about the past, or simply to be a sounding board as we sort through what stays and what goes. We can’t always see possibilities from inside our own overwhelm.
#decluttering #personal-growth #turbo-thinking #mindful-living #life-transitions #flourishing #letting-go #downsizing #ADHD-coaching #executive-function