What does it mean to “place value“ on something? As I talked about last week, when it comes to other entities with a life force, there’s a lot of communication going on. “Items“ however, exert a different kind of connection with our consciousness. What is ‘value’, anyway?

The minute something becomes a ‘possession’, meaning something that we ‘own’, it stakes a claim on our attention. For insignificant items that might only be a fleeting thought, quickly forgotten.

Other things loom larger. Cars, houses, property, or businesses can become objects of worthwhile pride, or unhealthy obsession. Some stuff is just junk. On the other hand, your grandma’s favorite spatula might stay in the kitchen for generations, just because it feels better in your hand.

Don Juan, the brujo in the books by Carlos Castaneda, would say that when you fasten your attention or intention on something, a filament of consciousness connects you to it. In the cosmic realm, there are always strings attached.

Shamanic mumbo-jumbo aside, we humans do have a way of placing value on things. So what’s your metric? How do you measure? What makes one person’s treasure another one’s trash?

The key word here is value. Things may have value, but you have values. The ninja move is to evaluate the things that you value by measuring them up with your values.

In other words, what’s worth toting around with you, taking up your space, filling up your environment, and sharing your life with? And what might serve you better by being released and let go of?

We’ve been packing up some things to ship to France, so my favorite decluttering mantra comes in handy; “Use it, love it, or lose it!“ The relationship between my values and the things worth schlepping overseas is in clear focus.

Values-wise, I’m big on creativity, generosity, and consciousness-raising through writing, learning, music and movement. So for me, it’s worthwhile to hang on to the various accoutrements of those pursuits.

But sentimental value is entirely subjective. I’ve got handtools that belonged to my dad that could easily be replaced at the hardware store, but I’d rather haul his around than replace them.

It all happens in the context of self-care and care for your loved ones. If the burden of owning something starts to outweigh the ability of your body and mind to enjoy it, it’s time to take a step back, dig into your values, and reassess.

You might say it’s worth paying attention to the ‘why you care’ so you can figure out the ‘what to keep’. You values may evolve as you go through life, so items that once seemed essential may matter less now. The key to staying light is knowing when to let go.

The exercise here is to look at the relationship between ‘your values’ and ‘what you value’ like a living dance and act accordingly. Choose your strings with care!

Much love till next Monday!

M+

Mark Metz
Director of the Dance First Association
Publisher of Conscious Dancer Magazine