Two things I got clear on this summer
A Summer of Clarity
This summer brought a kind of clarity that sprang from being intentional. It wasn’t earth-shattering. It didn’t arrive through a big life event or a major change. It came in the spaces where life finally slowed down enough for me to hear myself think. I gave myself time to write out my thoughts too. And in that stillness, I realized there were two things I decided to face head-on.
Clarity #1: What I Truly Want
The first clarity was about what I truly want. I realized simplicity wasn’t just a nice idea or a Pinterest board or a someday dream. It was something my soul had been asking for. But I couldn’t reach simplicity until I got clear on how I wanted to feel.
I wanted simplicity because I want to feel peaceful about my life. I’m not saying constant Zen feeling (whatever that’s supposed to be), but something manageable and not overwhelming each day. When I began to understand that, simplicity seemed more attainable.
Where Simplicity Showed Up First: My Business
One of the first places it appeared was in my business. For years, I carried this pressure to run my business like the mentors and influencers I followed. More tools, more systems, more subscriptions, more complexity. I thought that was what “real” business owners did. But one day, I asked myself a question I had never asked before: What do I actually need? Not what other organizers or business owners use. Not what the industry says I should have. Not what looks impressive. Just “what does Grace and her business need?”
And guess what? I needed less.
So I simplified everything down to Google Workspace. I canceled subscriptions. I let go of systems built for businesses much bigger than mine. I saved almost $600 a year, but more importantly, I saved my peace. I am learning something I want you to hear clearly: simplicity begins when you stop building a life around what you think you “should” want and start building around what you actually want. That’s where you will meet clarity. That’s where freedom lives. That’s where simplicity begins.
Clarity #2: The Emotional Declutter
The second clarity was about comparison. I realized comparison was taking up emotional space I didn’t even know I had given it. I was comparing my business to other organizers, comparing my pace to their pace, comparing my growth to their growth, comparing my season to their season. And I didn’t say this publicly before, but I’ll say it here: I felt embarrassed by how slow my growth felt.
Letting Go of Comparison
But then I asked myself the same question I asked about my business: What do I actually want? And again, the answer was simple. I want a life that feels peaceful. I want a business that fits my season. I want a home that reflects what matters and not what impresses others. I want presence with my son. I want clarity, not comparison.
So I decluttered comparison. I removed social media from my phone. I stopped watching what everyone else was doing. And I started paying attention to what I, Grace, was doing. I realized that I cannot create a simple life while carrying the weight of someone else’s timeline. Comparison is clutter. And when you let it go, simplicity finally has room to breathe.
A Reminder From Emily McDermott
While I was getting clear on these two things: simplifying my business and releasing comparison, something Emily McDermott said kept repeating in my mind. She mentioned, more than once during our interview, that she has been decluttering for years. Years of small decisions. She made progress through time. And it made me see that what I experienced this summer wasn’t meant to happen overnight.
Check out the podcast episode here with Emily McDermott about Swedish Death Cleaning. It’s an episode you don’t want to miss.
Simplicity Takes Time
Simplifying my business, letting go of comparison, and getting clear on what I want took time. And that’s normal. That’s human. That’s how simplicity actually works. It grows slowly. It becomes possible when clarity comes first. And don’t get me wrong, I have not come to the “finish line”. I continue to live and learn, and sometimes it's three steps forward and one step back. But that’s okay. That’s how life is.
For The Ready Woman
As you read this, a quiet voice inside you may be saying, "I’m ready…I want simplicity too.” Friend, this is your sign. Trust that voice. You’re moving in the right direction. And if you want real-life support as you begin, I’d be honored to walk alongside you towards the clarity you have been searching for.
I offer a free 15‑minute call to talk through what you’re hoping for and see if working together feels like the right fit. No pressure. Just a conversation.
You can schedule your time here: Your 15-Minute Discovery Call
You can also reach out anytime at grace@organizewithgrace.com. I’m here when you’re ready.