Most people think they need to add things to change their lives. They want to form more habits, more goals, more hustle. But what if the real breakthrough comes from doing the opposite? Fundamental transformation often begins with subtraction, cutting out what’s draining you. Start filling the space with what truly matters. Find the solutions by editing. Like a cluttered closet, your life can be weighed down with the unnecessary habits, beliefs, and even the people that drain you instead of building you up. Cut them out, and suddenly, the path to a better life is clear. 

This summer, I had a young assistant who was a marvelous organizer. Between us, we cleaned out the two closets in my office that were full of mismatched items, electronics from the last century, unmarked files, and Lord knows what else. Kaylie inspired me to keep going. I did not want to disappoint her. So, with her nudging me along every step of the way, we completed the task. I feel so free now. When I open the door to those closets, I can hardly believe how neat and organized they are. It has dramatically impacted my life, my writing, and given me a sound night’s sleep. 

Like a great editor, you must remove the clutter so the real story of your life can shine.

Here are some things you can edit out:

1. TV and mindless scrolling sap your irretrievable time. Stop living in someone else’s story. TV is mind-numbing. Cut it out of your life. Replace it with curiosity you satisfy by discovering things on your own. The Internet is so full of information that there is no excuse for not knowing more about your various interests.
2. Mainstream media autopilot is deadly. Question every headline. Follow the money. Stop assuming news outlets are telling you the whole truth without an agenda. Seek multiple perspectives and think for yourself. The truths you thought were infallible may be orchestrated by someone paying behind the scenes. Propaganda has become highly sophisticated. Do you know what you think? Do you know where you learned the facts that make you believe what you think? Try arguing the opposite point to see if you really know the facts about an emotional subject.

3. Junk and processed food are destroying your life from the inside out. Stop eating them or suffer the consequences. The official food pyramid the government told us was healthy will cause you to be obese. If you can get through three days with no “white carbs,” continuing will become much easier. The toxins in our food are truly dangerous. Keep your eating “clean.” Don’t eat junk, it’s killing your energy. “Garbage in, garbage out,” say computer programmers. It is the same for us; be careful what you put into your body if you wish to be clear-headed, healthy, and live a long life.

4. Shallow, superficial social scenes with small talk are “small living.” Bars and nightlife where the focus is image, status, and small talk may be fun in the moment, but they rarely feed your soul. In fact, they can breed jealousy, petty lies, and personal disappointment.

5. Toxic people need to go. It is essential to edit them out of your life. Complainers, gossips, and energy leeches must all be cut loose and tossed away. Don’t feel bad about cleaning out your friends list. Sometimes you may not be able to sever ties, but try. You can do it.

Here are things to add to your life:

1. Question everything, especially fear-based “truths” everyone repeats. Remember covid? Did you fall for the fear? If you did, don’t beat yourself up about it. Learn from the mass hysteria and do not let it happen again. Challenge the general beliefs that are fueled by fear. Look for truth, not just what’s comfortable.
2. Work on yourself daily; meditate, and read great books written by great thinkers. Expand your mind, increase your horizons, and keep going. Practice affirmations, and write your own. Gratitude is clinically proven to lift your mood and lower your blood pressure. Meditate. Journal, and read about the outstanding achievements of others. Dive into self-help books and the Bible to feed both your mind and spirit.

       3. Go outside. Sunlight, fresh air, and real life away from a TV or computer screen or your phone will enhance your life. Sunlight, particularly, will lift your spirits and improve your immune system. Go out into the sun daily. Let your skin soak it in. Try for twenty minutes daily in the sun. Dawn is a marvelous time of day; it is good for us to experience it if we can. First thing every morning, I let my dogs outside. And I go with them and look at my lovely view; sometimes the sun is just coming up. Watching the sun rise is such a pleasure; it warms my heart. Spend time outdoors every day. Walk, garden, hike, or do anything that doesn’t require a Wi-Fi connection. Nature resets your mind.

      4. Be grateful. Be grateful every day, every single day. No matter how dire your situation, there is always something to be thankful for. Find that thing or those things and concentrate on your gratitude for them. It works like a miracle. Be grateful for the big blessings and the smallest details. Sometimes, my feelings for my sweet dachshunds make me grateful to the point of tears. Seeing my children and grandchildren enjoy their lives gives me a sense of pure gratitude. Now, I have great-grandchildren, including the newest one, born today, to add to my gratitude list. Gratitude shifts your perspective faster than anything else. Be thankful.

You are the editor of your own life. Every choice is a sentence. Every day is a page. Cut the fluff. Keep the truth. Live the story worth reading.

Life isn’t about cramming more into every hour. It’s about making the hours count. When you strip away the noise, lies, empty calories, and shallow distractions, you give yourself room to breathe and grow. Let them go. Every cut you make is a choice to protect your energy, focus, and future. You can do this. Start today. Edit relentlessly. Live intentionally.

The Truth: You don’t need a 27-step plan to change your life. You need to cut the things that drain you and replace them with those that build you up and replenish you. Protect your time, attention, and health as if your life depends on it, because it does.

Copyright©. 2025 Bonnie B. Matheson