Spring Cleaning

Last Updated on Wednesday, 14 April 2010 12:10 Written by MP Concierge Sunday, 7 March 2010 11:55

This post will focus on a process for manifesting our potential from the inside out. There’s no hocus pocus here…just real stuff you can put into action immediately to make healthy changes take place. Feel free to comment and add your experiences and insights–join the conversation!

Dustballs Under Your Bed
How often do I take intentional time to clean out the mental cobwebs and dustballs in my mind? Old ways of thinking, entrenched habits and ruts I have created through mindless repetition–that can have negative repercussions on my life experience. It’s time I clean those corners out, dust under my bed, toss out the random junk I thought I needed to hold onto “just in case” and free up some space in my place….Suddenly my living space seems more open, roomier and I seem to have a greater capacity for growth. I might move my mental furniture around now that I have the room to play with some new ideas.

What We Need Is a Good Brainwashing
Inevitably I get around to my computer files and office area–which is notoriously cluttered and in disarray. How in the world did it get so bad? Order is not my strong suite, but I had no idea could be such a slob! My memory is underutilized, files & folders strewn all over the desktop, computer running slow because i haven’t cleared the cache of all of those browsing sessions on the Internet and now I think I may even have a virus that is causing my hard drive to deteriorate over time.

Am I referring only to my desktop? No. Neglect in the area of mental order is commonplace in our culture–it’s not even a high priority. But how much more space would we have for innovative ideas and career-enhancing strategies if we weren’t overwhelmed with the baggage of excess mental work and distractions. What if we could shield ourselves from the viral infections of lack of focus and information over-exposure? What if I found a way to replace all of the bad photos with better images that are worth keeping as a reminder of past success and future potential? When I order my mind to be focused and efficient I am making room for big thoughts.

Cutting Back the Mental Weeds
Walking into the backyard of our mind, the place where we often go to relax and play…the paths are overgrown with dead leaves and roots that overgrew their border over the long Winter. My place of peace is too overrun to truly enjoy. I have to take some painstaking time to trim back the path so it can be walked again. Just the sight of clutter in my sanctuary can keep me from engaging in the renewal I need every day to reset from the day’s stress and mental output. Renewal is most effectual in a space that is free from encumbrances–it also helps when the path to renewal is cleared and inviting us to reconnect with our Higher connection.

Questions for Reflection

1. When was the last time you journaled your mind? Unload your daily thoughts and review them weekly. Benjamin Franklin made a practice of this and it’s still a good idea and practice today.

2. How often do you “clear out” your mental baggage? It’s a deliberate act of sifting through the good and bad of your experience and choosing to toss out the junk.

3. Can you commit to re-creation time? Not physical activity, but mental renewal. Some listen to soothing music, some enjoy the quiet noise of nature, some meditate–but don’t confuse this time with prayer! It is time to connect with yourself again…a practice our western Judeo-Christian culture is somewhat uncomfortable with. It is as necessary as breathing in order to fully address the needs of the body-mind partnership. Re-create yourself as often as you can.