Stuff. We all have lots of it. We worry about it, store it, insure it, clean it, obsess about it and sometimes even love it. But have you lost control of your stuff?  Is it controlling you?

Professional organizers are asked to help clients deal with clutter. But there is more to that process than meets the eye. Physical clutter is often a symptom of something in the person’s life that is out of balance.

Clutter is a block to creating the home you want and the life you want. It holds negative energy because it represents things that are neglected, unwanted or unfinished. It creates a feeling of being overwhelmed and stressed. Clearing the clutter in your home is like putting your house on a diet.

So how can you get organized?

There’s no magic bullet. Consistency and a little discipline are the keys. Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Start small. Don’t try to tackle a whole  house at once.
• Clarify your goals. If you want more time for yourself, clear out an unused space and claim it as your own.
• Stop the clutter at the source. Look at your buying habits. For every new item you bring home, discard another.
• Have realistic expectations. A home with small children won’t look like the pages from a design magazine.

If your attempts to get organized are not bearing fruit then you may have to look inward. Perhaps your stuff represents other issues such as a need for abundance, a block to creativity, a fear of success, or a protective cocoon.

Once you decide to truly get organized, you may find yourself on a path of self-discovery. The process of reducing clutter, organizing spaces and simplification allows another process to emerge: looking at the quality of our lives. What really matters, what’s important, what fundamental changes can be made are some of the questions that a seeker of order is often asking.

Sometimes this journey will lead to starting a wellness program, seeking out a therapist, embarking on a new career path or reassessing a relationship. Reducing and dealing with physical clutter becomes a metaphor for dealing with emotional clutter.

It takes courage to “clear the decks.” The process of letting go is often painful and sometimes difficult. However it can reap countless rewards—both external and internal.

Estelle Gee is the director of Orderly Lives, a home organizing and concierge service in Toronto. Since 1992, Estelle and her associates have helped hundreds of people reach their organizational goals. Estelle has been featured on HGTV, in Style at Home magazine and in more than 30 other publications. www.orderlylives.net