The sunshine, spring flowers, budding trees, and beautiful weather reminds us that spring is an exciting season of growth and fresh possibilities. Opportunity seems to abound. Many choose this season to do their spring cleaning. This cleaning process allows us to start fresh. We toss out things that we no longer need or want and decide what to keep. We throw the windows open wide and scrub, wash, vacuum, dust, organize and declutter. We pack away winter clothing and pull out summer clothing. We donate what we no longer want, and we take stock of what is left. We enjoy how nice it feels to live in a home free of clutter and last season's dust.
I have just begun this process in my own home and was thinking (as I was throwing out all my old research papers from grad school)--What if we performed "spring cleaning" on our minds? What if we got rid of negative messages, baggage, and behaviors that no longer serve us as we move forward in our lives? What if we were able to sort through all of the things that weigh us down and hold us back from being the best we can be?
I imagined, for my own life, this would look like saying no to obligations that no longer serve me, seeing people who make me feel bad less often, better scheduling my days, and prioritizing my own self care--like exercise, sleep, being around those that encourage growth, and cooking healthier meals at home rather than dining out so often. I know that doing these seemingly simple things would improve my mental well being and help me to grow as an employee, mother, daughter, friend, and healthy community member.
Of course, this all happened in my brain as I was scrubbing carpets, dusting shelves, and loading boxes with old books.
I began thinking about tossing out old messages that have held me back--body shame, feelings of inadequacy, self-destructive tendencies toward perfection and people-pleasing. What would my life look like if I decided to love the body I have and appreciate it for what it has done and can do for me? What if I accepted that I am enough--I am tough, strong, smart, and competent? What I was gentle with myself when I made mistakes, maybe spoke to myself like a friend would rather than an enemy? What if I gave up people-pleasing and did the things that brought me joy rather than seeking validation from others?
I thought of how nice it would feel inside my head when the things that troubled me were gone. I considered the possibility of what my life my look like when I took control of the mess that I was responsible for making. I liked those thoughts so much that I decided to do some "mental health spring cleaning" along with the ac tual cleaning I was doing in my home.
As a pragmatist, I think it is important to mention that doing these things are a process. They take time. I'm sure I will have relapses of old thinking and behavior. I know that I will need to spring clean my brain again. I realize that causing change in life is not so much one definite action, but a series of small behaviors repeated until they become second-nature, habits even. I am convinced this "inner spring cleaning" will be very worthwhile and beneficial.
Happy Spring, and may your "spring cleaning" be meaningful. and not to feel from being raised in a home that is not safe, thatSarah Mears-Ivy brings 13 years of experience in the field of human sciences and advocacy.