A FINAL WORD By ALYSON BOXMAN LEVINE
Spring Cleaning for the Soul Refreshing ideas to successfully clear out the clutter in your spiritual home E very spring, nature is afforded the wonderful
opportunity to begin anew. The previous winter season is quickly forgotten as flowers begin to bloom and hues of green eagerly enter the landscape. Now is the time for a fresh start and new growth, as well as a time for personal reflection and renewal. In spring, pressure to refresh is felt across the globe as seemingly every culture welcomes a spring cleaning. According to housekeeping guru Martha Stewart, “There was a strict tradition of spring cleaning in our house. The process began as soon as the buds on the maple trees that lined the street began to show signs of leafing out. It was the unspoken duty of everyone to thoroughly prepare for the advent of spring by dusting, washing, and polishing just about every square inch of the house.” But it is not just your home that should be cleaned this season, as winter stress take a toll on our spirits as well. “The more junk you continue to tolerate in your life, the more stressed out, irritable, and burdened you will feel,” according to Barry Dennis in his book, The Chotchky Challenge: Clear the Clutter From Your Home, Heart and Mind ... and Discover the True Treasure of Your Soul. “I call this junk we accumulate ‘Chotchky,’” writes Dennis, who explains in the pages of his book that you will achieve greater clarity and improved mental focus if you get rid of it. “It’s anything that crowds, intrudes, clutters, or in any way distracts from our soul’s higher purpose.” So this spring, as you spend countless hours cleaning and
organizing your home for the season, be sure not to overlook yourself in the process. Incorporating the four concepts below into your spring cleaning routine will open up new doors to fulfilling opportunities.
Clobber the Clutter
For many of us, the often-used expression “Build a bridge and get over it” is much easier said than done. We walk through our day-to-day lives carrying around resentment toward someone or something, weighed down with things we can’t change. Too often in life, we sweep emotional issues under the carpet or lock them in a closet. These unre- solved issues will eventually affect our lives, and can result in a variety of physical symptoms, up to and including serious illness. This spring, decide to let go of any negative feelings that you have and trust that things will ultimately work out. Trying to control the uncontrollable is stressful
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and ultimately unnecessary. Recognizing, confronting, and eliminating this emotional baggage will be incredibly freeing and uplifting.
Dust Away Guilt
Letting go of guilt and the negative feelings that go along with it is vital for your emotional health. By releasing yourself from guilt’s heavy grip, you will be free to open yourself up to creating and treasuring happy memories. Finding your own way to do this can by very therapeutic. One idea is to write down your feelings on paper and then watch that piece of paper burn — or throwing a stone, representing the guilt you feel, into the ocean can be cathartic. The way you choose to rid yourself of guilt should be symbolic and meaningful to you and an act or gesture you can return to if that negative feeling returns again in the future.
Weed Out the Bad Seeds Holding on to negative thoughts and people clutters your mind with unneeded tension and stress. If someone does not make you feel good about yourself, why have them in your life. Unload negative thoughts and problems you have been holding onto, and eliminate the stress that has built up. Rid yourself of toxic people and use this opportunity to toss out work-related stress, an argument with a loved one, or even disappointments that you may experience within yourself.
Simplify Your Life Yes, it is easier said than done, especially in today’s non- stop world, but now is the time to truly stop and smell the roses. With increased demands from work, family, and life in general, it is easy to become overscheduled on a daily basis. Learn to say ‘no’ to time demands that aren’t serving your spiritual side well. Trade some of your more taxing obligations with ones that are more self-nurturing. By do- ing so, you will see a dramatic change in your stress levels. As you change gears, your perspective will change as well as you step foot on the path to living a more simplified life. As you take the needed time this season to cleanse your
spiritual side — as well as your brick and mortar home — allow yourself to bloom along with the magnificent flowers. Now is the time to welcome the wonderful new possibilities of a clean and renewed soul for spring.
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