SPRING CLEANING

There is nothing like springtime in the mountains. The birds are singing and wildflowers are blooming. Out of necessity and certainly not tradition, I decided to do some spring cleaning starting in my bathroom and closet. Trash bag in hand, I headed to the closet, opened a drawer, and emptied its contents onto the bed. Speaking of mountains, how in the hell did that drawer hold so much? Tucked in the middle of the pile, I found a pair of socks that have been missing for two years. I love those socks so much and I was giddy with excitement. It took about twenty minutes to get rid of everything I haven’t used in several years and keep what I needed and wanted. When I was done with the first drawer, there was less than half of what had been there before and everything that remained was useful and had a purpose. It felt really good.

During the process, I began to think about how my attitudes and thinking needed a thorough spring cleaning, too. Sometimes things build up inside of me and I tuck them away without even being aware. Before long, I have a stockpile of useless items that I don’t need or want. Self-doubt, anger, fear, and worry filled those spaces that rightfully belonged to mental states that would serve me better. Here are a few things I found during my self-searching spring cleaning:

1. Confidence

Tucked away under a pile of insecurity and uncertainty I found my long-lost confidence. Damn, I thought I’d never see that again! This especially rings true when I’m trying new things or I’m not getting the results I desire after a particular endeavor. My confidence usually comes when I trudge through those uncomfortable times. Half the battle is not letting negative self-talk keep me from trying. This is where affirmations can be helpful. Some that I discovered and have used over the years are, “I can accomplish anything I set my mind to”, “I trust that I am on the right path”, and my new favorite, “life is tough but so am I”.

2. Motivation

This one always seems to get lost before anything else and it’s usually the hardest to find. I’ll find it and keep it close by for a while and then toss it away for a little break. Then, I’m frantically searching for it until it pops up behind the procrastination and lack of determination. It’s easier to keep it in sight than to find it once it’s gone. My usual pattern is to try and find motivation before I set out on a task. That has never worked in my experience. Taking action requires discipline and willingness. Motivation follows.

3. Acceptance

When unpleasant life events crop up, my natural tendency is to try to control the world around me. As always, this fails so I usually redouble my efforts to control which ultimately makes things even worse. When I can eliminate my need to control by finding acceptance, my life becomes much more pleasant. If you find excessive control during your cleaning, throw it out!!!

4. Courage

The ability to do something in spite of being afraid is what this is all about. For me, this is like finding batteries. Do you ever convince yourself you are out of batteries, go to the store and buy a big supply, then get home and discover a year’s supply in a drawer you forgot to open? I have a lot of courage, probably more than I’ll ever need, but sometimes I just can’t find it. Self-doubt and fear are the smokescreens telling me it’s not there. They tell me I’m fresh out and I’ll have to go find it somewhere outside of myself. Now I know if I can thoroughly examine the fears, I’ll find I have enough courage to accomplish any goal I set for myself.

5. Faith

Realizing I can’t maintain order and balance in my life without the reliance and dependence upon a higher power helps me to incorporate daily habits that strengthen my relationship with God. Left up to me I will make a mess of my life. This fact is supported by quite a bit of evidence. I usually find faith when I’m sick and tired of resting on my laurels. It’s really the same thing that happens right before I clean out my closet. It’s out of necessity.

It’s refreshing to know if I take the time and put forth the effort, I can find those things that I need to have a fulfilling and purposeful life. They are always right there if I look for them. Sometimes they get lost and buried by things I thought would serve me better but ultimately let me down. Keeping a daily check has worked best for me over the years, but I still seem to hoard those negative traits and have to do a deep cleaning every now and then. It’s surely worth the effort and I always discover a hidden treasure I forgot I had. I wonder what I’ll find today?