Spring Cleaning: Does it just mean cleaning your home?

How do you “spring clean”?

Isn't it funny how we wait for spring to declutter or "spring clean" our homes, but do we ever schedule a time to declutter our lives?

You can Google decluttering or spring cleaning, and tons of experts will give you great advice on how to get rid of those items you have been holding on to for years. For example, you can find advice on how to throw out those magazines you have collected (which you promised yourself you would read). Still, we often allow those toxic memories of past traumas to take up permanent residence in our lives.

Now, I promise that as soon as you start getting rid of your emotional clutter, you will be faced with a lot of mental "poop" (you knew I was going to slip that word in somewhere, right?). You didn't even know you had, and these untamed thoughts, feelings, and memories interfere with your focus, productivity, happiness, and peace of mind.

Decluttering your thoughts and beliefs is not easy. Yes, it feels great when you have taken steps to find your zen but getting there is often a daunting and scary process. So I will break it down and give you some ideas to clear some mental poop you have been holding onto.

Start low and slow; those negative thoughts and beliefs have been there for quite some time and have been an integral part of our lives, relationships, and goals. Do not fall into the trap of thinking you will change every negative feeling overnight; it did not accumulate overnight, so we need to be realistic.

One area to focus your attention on, in the beginning, is knowing your core values. Once you have identified your top core values, it becomes easier to make decisions, form relationships, gain mental freedom, and reduce anxiety, miscommunication, and pain.

Here are examples of the core values you may hold dear to you. Feel free to look online for a complete list and pick the most important few to you. Then, select five core beliefs to use for this exercise.

1. Loyalty – being faithful and supportive
2. Respect – feeling admiration for those important to us
3. Integrity – being honest and having a strong moral compass
4. Servant leadership – giving back to your community by focusing on the greater good and not personal gain.
5. Duty – always fulfilling your obligations and commitments

Start the emotional declutter process by first asking yourself if your behaviors, words, and actions display your core values. Second are the behaviors, words, and actions of the people you surround yourself with displaying your core values? If you answer no to either question, take time to determine what needs to change in order so you can live in alignment with your core values. Sadly, you may find friends, loved ones, and personal habits will have to be changed or eliminated to align your life with your values, and reduce future negative behaviors, words, and actions.