Ever since I was a child in the South, delighting in the explosion of color the azaleas and dogwood trees brought to town, spring has been, by far, one of my favorite times of year. I love the beauty and variety of the flowers, the freshness in the air, and the general energy of possibility. If it weren’t for allergies, spring would be, for me, the perfect season…and I even consider allergies just the price of admission.
One of the major elements of springtime during my childhood was spring-cleaning. In the house, spring-cleaning was a time to empty the closets and garage, beat out the rugs, flip the mattresses and wash the windows. The old was dragged out, sorted through and discarded or re-organized. Bedspreads and pillows were laundered and everything was cleaned within an inch of its life. Outside, the yard was trimmed and raked, flower beds were mulched and the garden was tilled and planted.
Whether in the house or in the yard, spring-cleaning served the same purpose: to clean out the old and make way for the new.
Like our physical environment, our mental, emotional and spiritual lives can benefit from a spring clean-up. So as you move through your physical spring-cleaning, here are a few hints to help you get started should you decide to take on a spiritual spring clean:
1. Make a list and prioritize—Create a list of things that have been on your to-do list or have been incomplete for an extended period of time. Commit to do the ones that really matter and let the others go. You can always re-commit later.
2. Set aside 20 minutes a day—Set aside a specific time to work on cleaning up mental clutter areas like contact lists, computers, outstanding phone calls, thank you notes, credit reports or anything else that needs a few minutes of attention. Remember that those things that are easy to do are also easy not to do.
3. Pick one major project to work on—While multi-tasking has its place, one of the major by-products it can create is incomplete projects. Doing a little bit on many things often results in utilizing more energy to get less done. While it may seem slower initially, completing one thing at a time will result in much more getting done.
4. Check in with your long-and-short-term vision and goals—It is important to know where you’re going and where you are in relation to your destination. If you don’t have a vision, spring is a great time to create one. If you have one, it is a great opportunity to make sure you are on track.
5. Get support –Whether it is a friend who will work alongside you or a life coach that will hold you accountable, it is a good idea to have someone to work with as you start to clean things up. Remember, if your “willpower” or discipline was enough to get it done, it probably would have been done by now.
6. Create a new habit–Whether it is walking, meditating, painting or making your bed, pick one new habit that you can do daily that will enhance your life and well-being.
As with spring-cleaning in the home, spiritual spring-cleaning is a personal process. These are just a few ideas to get you started. Work with them in whatever way you choose and even add your own. Either way, consider taking some time to do some deep cleaning on the spiritual end of your life.
May you have a spectacular and joyful spring.
Many Blessings,
Laura
For more information about spiritual spring-cleaning and the clean sweep program, please contact me at:
www.genuinejoynow.com
twitter: @genuinejoynow
