Ruth Soukup - Unstuffed: Decluttering Your Home, Mind, and Soul

Praise for Unstuffed

As women, we have the tendency to overstuff our lives, our schedules, and our homes with things that really arent beneficial. And our souls suffer because of our unwillingness to let go. Ruth Soukup tackles this issue head-on and gives practical steps to be purposeful with the stuff we let into our sacred spaces. Youll be thankful you chose this book!

Lysa TerKeurst,New York Times bestselling author and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries

We live in a world that constantly tells us we need to do more, have more, and be more. Its exhausting, and consistently the only thing we ever have more of is stress. Ruth Soukup is like a breath of fresh air as she calls us to declutter our lives and embrace simplicity. If you find yourself tired, stressed, or overwhelmed, then let the words in this book wash over you, and take a deep breath. Its the literary equivalent of a bubble bath and a hot cup of coffee on a cold morning.

Melanie Shankle,New York Times bestselling author of Nobodys Cuter Than You

Through powerful story and practical application, Ruth Soukup will help you unstuff your home. But more than that, her words will inspire you to live your most fulfilling life by discarding anything that distracts you from it.

Joshua Becker, founder of BecomingMinimalist.com and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Simplify

This book is excellent. In a culture where women are overwhelmed with things and to-do lists, Ruth Soukup helps us slow down and take inventory of all that is cluttering our lives. Unstuffed gives women the tools they need to declutter their homes, minds, and souls through Ruths transparent stories, struggles, and solutions. I recommend this book not only to moms but to dads too!

Courtney Joseph, founder of WomenLivingWell.org home of Good Morning Girls

Extremely practical and highly engaging, Unstuffed teaches us how to live a life of less. Not just less stuff around us, but also less cluttering of our minds and souls. I desperately needed this book! Ruth Soukup does it again.

Ruth Schwenk, founder of thebettermom.com and coauthor of Hoodwinked: Ten Myths Moms Believe and Why We All Need to Knock It Off

Its hard to admit you need Unstuffed, but youll breathe a sigh a relief when youre done. Ruth unpacks why clutter is so detrimental to our minds, homes, and souls. Then she provides easy ways to tackle it. Im ready to unstuff for the long haul.

Courtney DeFeo, author of In This House, We Will Giggle and founder of Lil Light O Mine

Unstuffed is proof of why Ruth Soukup is one of Americas favorite writers. Practical, transparent, and chock full of tips and biblical wisdom, Unstuffed lays out a clear road map from consumerism to contentment. A must-read for women longing to declutter their homes, minds, and souls.

Emily T. Wierenga, founder of The Lulu Tree and author of Atlas Girl and Making It Home (www.emilywierenga.com)

More clothes than we need, more emails than we can read, paper mess, kid-toys chaos, dishes overflowing the sink, and shelves jammed with dcor, memorabilia, and more without noticing my life became stuffed and, as a result, my soul cluttered. If youre anything like me, Unstuffed grants the reprieve youre longing for. Take a deep breath as Ruth Soukup guides you through the process of decluttering your home, mind, and soul, sharing how she conquered her struggle with organization. Jam-packed with practical strategies, Unstuffed doesnt provide a one-time clean-out plan but guides you into solid lifelong principles and systems, kicking the mess to the curb forever. With an encouraging and empowering voice, Ruth challenges us to cast our eyes on the things in life that really count. We dont have to live overwhelmed anymore! This book provides the clear path to an ordered and meaningful life.

Cherie Lowe, author of Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After

Unstuffed graciously reveals why our homes and hearts fill up with junk and gracefully unveils the beauty of letting it go. If youre ready for a clear method to end chaotic messes, Ruth Soukup points the way to simple yet passionate living.

Rachel Wojo, blogger and author of One More Step

Do you ever vow to get your act together finally getting things organized but then dont know just how and where to start? Unstuffed will help you declutter your home, free up much-needed brain space, and spiritually settle your soul.

Karen Ehman,New York Times bestselling author of Keep It Shut and speaker for Proverbs 31 Ministries

ZONDERVAN

Unstuffed

Copyright 2016 by Ruth Soukup

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

ePub Edition February 2016: ISBN 978-0-3103-3774-4

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Soukup, Ruth, 1978

Title: Unstuffed : decluttering your home, mind, & soul / Ruth Soukup.

Description: Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 2016.

Identifiers: LCCN 2015031891| ISBN 9780310337690 (softcover) | ISBN 9780310337744 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: SimplicityReligious aspectsChristianity.

Classification: LCC BV4647.S48 S63 2016 | DDC 646.7dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015031891

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Published in association with The Fedd Agency, P.O. Box 341973, Austin, TX 78734.

Cover design: Curt Diepenhorst
Cover illustration: koosen / Shutterstock / -Oxford- / iStockphoto
Interior design: Kait Lamphere

First Printing February 2016

For Linda and Marie you are loved, missed, and always in our hearts

Contents

9. Spirit: Letting Go of the Need to Do It Yourself

Hospitality is not inviting people to our perfect homes; it is inviting them to our imperfect hearts.

Edie Wadsworth

I have a love-hate relationship with stuff.

I love to get stuff.

I love to give stuff.

I love the idea of stuff.

I love getting a good deal on stuff.

Stuff is pretty. Stuff makes me happy.

Stuff makes my home feel cozy.

Except when it doesnt.

Because, then, I hate stuff.

I hate living with stuff.

I hate the way too much stuff makes me feel.

I hate having to clean stuff.

I hate shuffling stuff around.

Stuff is messy. Stuff makes me discontent.

Stuff makes my home feel cluttered.

And the battle rages on.

In my home, this battle of stuff is one that has been going on for years, as long as my husband and I have been together. Id like to think it is not entirely our fault. We are merely victims of our circumstances.