it’s SPRING!
Spring is often a wonderful time of the year. Especially, following a long and dreary winter that had people experiencing frequent strong winds and snow storms. After a long dreary winter, things always seem so much brighter and there’s a pep to everyone’s step. It signals their appreciation for the positive change in weather and anticipation of the wonderful possibilities that comes with warmer weather.
During the start of the start of a new warmer season, people are often eager to start their day. They take time to slow down and smell the fresh air, versus rushing from place to place seeking shelter. while basking in the vibrant colors. For many it is a much calmer experience and joyful time. The sun and weather lifts their mood and no longer are they sad and overwhelmed, dragging through their days. By the end of winter, many people are weighed down by the bleak weather’s negative impact on their mood and life. Some people suffer from a Depressive Disorder with Seasonal Pattern, formerly known as Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Whether suffering from a clinical depression or not, most people are joyful and gladly welcome the positive changes that comes with Spring.
The start of spring brings to mind words like: refresh, anew, abundance and energy. The season is flooded with the blossoming of new flowers, the lively chorus of birds and such colorful beauty. There is such great energy all around!
The start of spring also brings to mind “spring cleaning.” For many, they set time at the start of the season focused on cleaning, “airing out the house,” sorting things and decluttering. According to Merriam-Webster online dictionary, the act of decluttering involve removal from a room or area. It is a healthy practice that allows an intentional engagement of improving ones external environment.
Our inner world can also benefit from intentional engagement of a similar decluttering process. We should engage in “self-cleaning” where there is intentional decluttering of unhelpful internal thoughts and attitudes. In doing so, we can further improve what serves us and remove what is not beneficial.
How Is It Like To Engage In A Thorough Process Of Internal “Self-Cleaning?”
‘Self-cleaning’ is simply creating moments to evaluate and clean up your thoughts and actions. It is most helpful to engage in the ‘self-cleaning’ process from an inside-out approach.
Ideally, the internal ‘self-cleaning’ process should occur more than once per year. Yet, we can make sure it occurs at a least once a year by setting the intention to engage in the process at the start of Spring which is often when most people take part in spring cleaning.
It is much easier to make self-adjustments along the way, while still engaged in the experience, versus reacting to emotional stress and chaos. If we wait, and allow things to build up, then we get to a point of overwhelm where it may lead you to be stuck. The reality is overwhelming, and you will not know how to begin to answer the question of “where do I even begin?”
Internal:
1. Set the intention to start and finish the process
2. Stop and engage in introspective self-assessment of your values and attitude
3. Look at key areas of your life (e.g. relationships, career, body) to assess if your actions match your vision and goals – Wheel of Life Assessment Tool
External:
1. Create definite goals for each key areas of your life
2. Identify key action steps to clean up areas that are not matching your goals
3. Create an agreement with an accountability partners who will check-in and support your continued personal growth
Keep in mind, you are creating time to fully embrace you and intentionally engage in the process of your personal development. In doing so, you are actively directing your life to increase your emotional satisfaction and well-being.
Questions to Ask Yourself To Begin Your Personalized Spring ‘Self-Cleaning’ Process:
- What is going well in my life?
- What are the areas I need to improve?
- What progress have I made with my intentions and goals?
- What relationships do I need to pull closer?
- What relationships do I need some distance from?
- How am I feeling about my life?
- How are my internal changes coming along?
- How are my actions matching my values?
- How am I progressing with my goals?
- How are my actions matching my goals?
Please share your thoughts on: What questions would you ask yourself?
So, ask yourself:
What do I need to declutter and sort-out from inside of me?
What do I need to have in place to support my personal development?
How can I continue to engage in the ‘self-cleaning’ process throughout the year?
Consciously choose to Discover ~ Connect ~ Live
