Embracing Renewal: Spring Cleaning for the Mind and Spirit.

As spring approaches, many people feel a natural urge to declutter and refresh their living spaces. This theme can extend beyond physical spaces to include mental and emotional well-being.

1. Decluttering the Mind: Ever feel like your mind is a cluttered attic? Full of dusty memories, random thoughts, and that one sock you can’t find the match for? It’s time to do some mental spring cleaning. Here's how:

   Before you can declutter, you must first recognize what’s taking up space. Is it old grudges? Fear of the future? Or perhaps that embarrassing moment from 5th grade? (You know the one.)

   I remember I had this horrible birthday memory where I felt betrayed by all my friends. Of course that wasn't the reality but I had a huge emotional charge on the situation even after I had done a lot of forgiveness work to forgive fairly astronomical wrongs. I had to laugh at myself for holding a grudge in my psyche against young girls who did not know better who are now grown women with more important things on their mind for sure.

   Letting things go can be tough but we always feel lighter and have more energy in the end.

   A clear mind is like a fresh canvas, ready for new ideas, creativity, and the occasional daydream about your desires.

2. Releasing Emotional Baggage:

   Technique 1: Mindful Journaling

   • Writing down your thoughts can help you sift through the clutter like a mental Marie Kondo.

   • free writing or stream-of-consciousness journaling can expose what thoughts are running through our monkey minds so we are better able to pick and choose what we want to think about.

     
     

   Technique 2: Meditation and Mindfulness

   • Meditation is like giving your brain a spa day. It deserves a little break.

   • Meditation doesn't have to be hard. It doesn't have to be uncomfortable or done in silence. It is just a practice of choosing to focus on something - like your breath, a flower, or a posititve mantra.

     And if your mind wanders, just gently guide it back—like herding cats back into a box.

     
     

   Technique 3: Letting Go of Toxic Thoughts

   • Sometimes, you need to be ruthless. If a thought doesn’t serve you, toss it out like last week’s leftovers.

   • We don't have to own our thoughts. When we train our mind to think about what we want to think about life changes for the better.

   • Think of it as a mental detox—no more emotional junk food! When you have a though you don't like, imagine throwing it out and replacing it with one you do like. Put all of your energy into imagining the best life you could have.

     
     

Section 4: Maintenance of a Clear Mind

• Decluttering is not a one-time event; it’s an ongoing practice. Just like brushing your teeth—unless you want to deal with the consequences.

• Waking up and going to bed are two good times to focus on decluttering your mind. Practice a little mindfulness with your coffee in the morning. Before bed list 10 things you are grateful for before falling asleep.

  
  

• Creating Space for New Beginnings: Spring has sprung and now is the time for a new chapter in your life. Set some intentions and evaluate your lifestyle. Pick a few new habits and release one or two that aren't serving you.

• Nature Connection: Enjoying the beauty of spring blooms will help keep your mind entrained to the beauty around you. Taking walks in nature not only stretches you legs, it stretches you eyes and helps change your perspective.

• Self-Care Practices: Engaging in creative activities that inspire joy keep you feeling more alive and engaged in the present moment.

  
  

As I sat on my porch the other day, contemplating the art of positive thinking, I noticed a little squirrel vigorously burying acorns. Now, you might think this is just a typical squirrel behavior, but let me tell you, this little critter was on a mission! It was like watching an overzealous accountant meticulously organizing their spreadsheets.

Each time it buried an acorn, it would pause, look around, and then dash off to find another. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought: here was this furry creature, focusing on the potential of future meals while I often found myself digging through the clutter of my mind, ruminating over yesterday's mishaps like a broken record.

In that moment, it hit me—this squirrel was a master at the art of positivity. It didn’t dwell on the times it forgot where it buried an acorn or the occasional hawk swooping by; it simply kept moving, focused on the treasure it was creating for the future.

So, as we wrap up this journey of rewiring our minds, let’s take a cue from our furry friends. Let’s bury our worries, focus on the potential that lies ahead, and remember to find joy in the little things. Who knows? By the end of the season, we might just have a garden full of delicious possibilities waiting to sprout!"

Choosing your thoughts allows you to master your reality.