Sometimes we avoid organizing a space because it contains a Pandora’s box.  Pandora’s box is a mythical story about a box, which contained all of man’s miseries. An organizational Pandora’s box can contain photographs of deceased loved ones, photographs of ex-spouses or simply any reminders of a painful emotional time.  Even happy memories can evoke strong feelings, which can be difficult to recover from quickly. Often we may not consciously acknowledge the drawer or closet is a Pandora’s box, we just know the contents give us an uncomfortable feeling.      

There are a few ways you can shield yourself from the magic in the box.  My first suggestion would be to limit exposure. Set a timer for 15 minutes and force yourself to leave the area when it rings. It may take a long time to clean out the space but it will get done.  Also each time you work on the area you may be less emotional because you know what to expect and are a little more comfortable with the emotions.  Psychologists call this phenomenon systematic desensitization and the process is used to help people deal with phobias.

Another possibility is to have a sympathetic friend sit with you while you go through items.  A friend can provide emotional support and be a sort of coach who will help you keep going through the rough parts. Plus, the work always goes faster when you have an extra set of hands.  

If you must the get the space clear within a specific time period and cannot find a friend to help you, here are two choices. You can hire a professional organizer to assist you with the task or you can simply box the items up, label it and pack it away for a time in the future when you will be better able to deal with the contents.

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