How to de clutter when it's hard letting go

Do you find it difficult to throw something out and you are convinced someone else could still use it?  An older appliance maybe?  Books? Clothes?

Over the years I realised I had placed more importance on possessions than was healthy and now is as good a time to address this as any.

For me, hanging onto all my 'stuff' has to do with emotional baggage.  Doesn't make sense does it?

I have held onto items, ie clothing, knick knacks, furniture etc with every intention of achieving goals.  Fitting back into a certain size, fixing up broken items, restoring an old 50's style bureau.  The longer I hold onto these 'hopes' the more of a failure I feel when the goals aren't reached.

My clutter is a very effective way to self sabotage and I didn't realise I was doing it.

The only way to make a start, for me at least, is to be ruthless.  Reassure myself that it's ok to get rid of things, and in the long run my life will improve in ways I couldn't even begin to imagine 💜