Excerpt from Secrets of Simplicity by Mary Carlomagno, Part 2

Excerpt from Secrets of Simplicity

By Mary Carlomagno

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First, take a lesson from Ganesha, and discover your obstacles to an uncluttered space by circling the answers below that best describe you.

1. Why does your environment remain cluttered?

It is not a priority.
I can never get around to tidying it.
I don't know where to start.
I fear I will never finish.
Other

2. How does the clutter make you feel?

Confused
Anxious
Hopeless
Embarrassed
Indifferent
Other

3. What is holding you back from releasing old things?

I am not sure what to keep.
I'm insecure about making decisions.
I fear I will need something the minute after I toss it out.
I am afraid to let go.
Other

4. What would make it easier for you to declutter?

Knowing I am making the right decisions
Not regretting losing something
Knowing that it won't be time consuming
Knowing that it will really work
Other

5. How much time will I commit to change?

One month
Six months
One year
As long as it takes
Other

6. What does an uncluttered environment represent to you?

Fear
Excitement
Work
Freedom
Other

PAGE 2 of 7

Watch Mary Carlomagno discuss the importance of simplicity after the show

From The Oprah Winfrey Show Oprah's "What Can You Live Without?" Experiment

Published on March 02, 2009

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Excerpt from Secrets of Simplicity by Mary Carlomagno, published by Chronicle Books. Copyright © 2008 All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.