Empty Your Mental Junk Drawer
Most of us have that kitchen drawer. You know the one: three rubber bands, a mystery key, two batteries that may or may not work, a used birthday candle, and expired soy sauce packets. We don’t question it. We just keep adding to it.
Now imagine that drawer… is your mind.
Welcome to June—the month when we can gently admit that perhaps we’ve been emotionally hoarding. This isn’t about reliving your past or analyzing your childhood. It’s something much simpler: noticing what we’re carrying and asking if we still need it.
The Architecture of Rumination
Most people don’t wake up thinking, “Ah, yes, today I will be influenced by unresolved grief from 2009.” And yet, unexamined memories and looping thoughts quietly shape:
- How quickly we react
- How confidently we decide
- How deeply we trust
- How easily we rest
- How boldly we move forward
Psychologists call this rumination—the repetitive cycling of distressing thoughts. Research published in journals affiliated with the American Psychological Association has found that chronic rumination is associated with increased anxiety and reduced problem-solving flexibility.
“When the mind loops, clarity cannot land.”
The more emotional residue we carry, the harder it becomes to think clearly.
And clarity is not a luxury—it’s a biological advantage.
Neuroplasticity: Practice Becomes Pattern
Neuroscience offers reassurance: the brain is plastic. Research on neuroplasticity demonstrates that repeated thought patterns strengthen neural pathways—often summarized as “neurons that fire together wire together.”
The good news? New patterns can be built.
The less helpful news? If you’ve been rehearsing guilt, fear, or “not enough” narratives for decades, your brain has become very efficient at them. This doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means you’re practiced. And with consistent attention, practice can evolve.
The Mechanics of Mental Clutter
Cognitive overload rarely announces itself dramatically.
It appears as
- Residual guilt
- Anticipatory fear
- Narrative-based identity
- Productive avoidance
- Persistent insufficiency
These patterns often endure not because they are true, but because they were stored rather than processed.
Emotional Labeling and Regulation
When people intentionally organize their internal world, several shifts often occur: old stories loosen their grip, reactions become responses, decisions feel lighter, and the mental bandwidth increases.
Studies published in the journal Emotion (2011) indicate that labeling emotional experiences may reduce stress-related neural activity compared to suppressing them. In simple terms, naming what’s happening can calm it.
Clarity begins to return not because you forced it — but because you made room for it.
Practical Recalibration
The “One Loop” Method
Pick one recurring thought. Ask:
A. What triggers it?
B. What belief is it tied to?
C. Is this belief truly mine—or something I absorbed?
Notice it without judgment. Take a slow breath. Observe the thought rather than argue with it. Then gently redirect your focus to the present moment.
Over time, this approach can reduce the intensity of repetitive loops and restore mental flexibility.
The Defragmentation Technique
Think of your mind like a computer with too many open tabs. The more tabs open, the slower the system runs.
Pause. Notice your mental chatter. Label what’s present—worry, regret, anticipation, comparison.
Then intentionally bring your attention to your breath, your body, or your environment. This reduces internal congestion and helps recalibrate your nervous system.
With practice, energy becomes more available, and decisions feel steadier.
The Holistic Shift No One Talks About
Holistic wellness isn’t just organic foods and Epsom salt baths. True wellness includes mental clarity.
As internal clutter decreases, sleep often improves, and emotional reactivity drops. Boundaries become clearer. Energy stabilizes. Decisions accelerate.
You don’t become someone new. You become less divided—and that naturally shifts your direction.
“For once in my life, there is not a hurricane in my heart, mind, and soul.” — participant
That’s not mystical. That’s nervous system regulation.
A June Reset
June is a natural psychological checkpoint. We’re halfway through the year—far enough from January optimism and close enough to year-end reflection. June marks a transition.
It’s an ideal moment to ask:
What have I been carrying that no longer serves me?
Intentional experiences like D.U.M.P.—Drop Unwanted & Uninvited Memory Pain—offer structured opportunities to reassess internal narratives and reorganize attention. Picture how internal arguing softens, and relationships feel calmer.
You don’t need to add more to improve your life. Sometimes improvement comes from reducing what you’ve been holding on to.
When the internal junk drawer is sorted, three natural shifts often occur:
- You breathe differently
- You decide differently
- You relate differently
Your path forward shifts—because clarity finally has room to land.
June is a beautiful month to clean your house and your mind—one drawer at a time.
Infinite Love and Gratefulness ~ Susan
About the Author
Susan Shatzer is a world-renowned energetic expert, 14-time #1 Bestselling Author, Executive Director of the Webby-nominated global TV series Unlocking Your Limitless Life, and Producer of the upcoming movie Pillars of Power—The Hidden Truth in Achieving Greatness. Connect with Susan via SusanShatzer.com.
“Call your stuff out and shift it to create new, more generative neural pathways.”
— Susan Shatzer
On the Second Wednesday of each month, join Susan Shatzer for a free live experience designed to interrupt a repeating thought, emotion, or pattern. This guided experience is where Science meets Awareness, supporting greater clarity, ease, and fun.
“I arrived feeling overwhelmed and left with a surprising sense of clarity.” -Michelle T., Colorado
- Connect with our Executive Writer, Susan Shatzer
- More articles from our Executive Contributor, Susan Shatzer