I recently learned about the concept “opposite of hoarding” while reading posts from fellow NSGCD members on our Yahoo group. Professional Organizers are finding that some clients are the opposite of hoarders. Instead, they are extreme minimalists and have a VERY low tolerance for clutter. In some cases these individuals are related to hoarders in some way and fear too much stuff will overwhelm their lives. Their anxiety seems to provoke an opposite response to clutter.

Deb Stanley, a well know Professional Organizer, mentioned in one of her posts, asceticism. I looked it up. Here is what I found:

”Asceticism… describes a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from various sorts of worldly pleasures. This is to be understood not as an eschewal of the enjoyment of life but a recognition that spiritual and religious goals are impeded by such indulgence… anyone who practices a renunciation of worldly pursuits to achieve higher intellectual and spiritual goals.” (these quotes come from Wikipedia but explain Asceticism well)

This is exactly what most Professional Organizers represent, in my opinion. My goal is to always do what I can to get my clients to see things in a different way and find peace in themselves. It’s amazing when a client’s mind opens up and they begin to grow just a little bit more. I say “always listen, be patient and support your clients because you never know when they may have a moment of clarity. When that moment of clarity occurs, change happens.”

The irony is everyone I have ever worked with wants to achieve higher intellectual and spiritual goals. They may not be able to verbalize this or achieve it on their own. That’s where Life Coaches, Professional Organizers, and therapists come in.