Spring Clean your Life

It's SPRING! No better time than now to be free of the old and make room for the new! I don't just mean physical items, although it might be best to start with the clutter that you can see.

PHYSICAL CLUTTER:
Let's start simple. If you are at home, take a look at the room you are sitting in. Do you see any clutter?
MY DEFINITION OF CLUTTER (*learned from author Karen Kingston):
-Things you do not love
-Things that are untidy, disorganized or unfinished
-Too many things in too small a space

Do you see anything that might fit into one of these three categories? If so, time to CLEAR THAT CLUTTER! What can you throw away? What can you donate? What could you sell? If you'd like the BEST instuction on guided clutter clearing, please pick up Clearing Your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston. This book has single handedly changed my life. I have learned to clear clutter and live a much happier, much more simple, less frustrating life via clutter clearing. If you stay surrounded by things you don't love and areas that are disorganized, your life becomes full of things you don't love with a delicious side of pure chaos. Trust me. Once you start doing this, you will wish you did it years ago. Start with one room, one closet, one drawer...just start. The less clutter you have, the more joy, less stress, and greater energy you will gain.

EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL CLUTTER:
I could go on for days about this topic, but for today's purposes let's start with this concept. Get rid of all your mental and emotional clutter by addressing this clutter, acknowledging it, and letting it go.

Some of us hold on to guilt, worry, and terrible thoughts about ourselves (most of which I bet aren't even true once you get to the bottom of why you feel this way) for years and years. These thoughts, emotions, and mental clutter hold us back. How long have you been harboring these fears, worries and self-loathing? Thoughts that you are a failure? That you aren't good enough? That you will never live the life you wanted? A month? A year? Five years? Twenty-five years? Might it be time to clear out this sort of useless clutter and get at the life that makes you content?

1) Identify your sources of dread:
Is it your job that you hate? Do you feel like you are wasting your days doing something you despise? Is it your romantic relationship that leaves you feeling lonely, disrepected, and unfulfilled? Do you fantasize about another relationship with someone that you are more compatible with or even dream about being alone so you can be free and start a new path? Are you repeatedly doing something you know is hurting you? Drinking too much to escape your pain? Whining too much and missing out on all the wonderful things you do have? Ignoring your children while you self-indulge in things that are making your whole family suffer? If any of this strikes a chord with you, try and filter out those bad habits, things you dread, cause you immense stress, or steals your joy.

2) Make a change:
Time for a new job? Time to break up with your loved one who is not treating you right? Time to cut back on the alcohol or drugs or whatever tool you are using to escape that ends up hurting you in the end? It's time. Right now. Make the change. Start moving your energy into a new direction. Start a job search. Sit down with your partner TODAY and address what's on your mind. Put that drink down. Pour it down the drain. You've GOT to start somewhere. Don't take it all on at once. Start small. Make little changes that will encourage big results.

3) Stop that negative mental tape that you have on repeat:
I don't do anything right.
I always fail.
No one loves me.
I dissapoint everyone.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Stop torturing yourself and LET GO of these negative, hurtful, destructive lines of CRAP.
Let's start a new tape:
I'm a kind person.
I'm worthy of good things.
I'm going to make a difference.
I will make great things happen starting now.

BODY CLUTTER
Let's not forget the temple we live in. Let's face it. Junk food, excessive alcohol, water deprivation and no exercise will slow you down. In order to have a healthy environment and a healthy mind, let's not forget the tool that allows us to do all of this. Our bodies. Our bodies keep us active, get us place to place and helps dictate what we can accomplish by how well we treat ourselves. Eat well and exercise folks. Don't waste your life dieting and trying to be perfect. Just be healthy. Keep your body functioning well. Pay attention to your body's needs. Take care of it. Cherish your health. Everything else is easier when you are not ill. When you are getting fresh air. When you are exercising and feeling good. When you feel fit and energized... life is good.

Ready to Spring Clean? Go start now. Even if it's small. Get excited about your life! There's no better time...

Don't forget:

Don't give up.
Know that you can do this.
I believe in you.