Spring gives us the sweetest opportunity to cleanse our life, to shed those Winter layers and to re-ignite our passion and involvement with our inner health and outer surroundings. This week we’ll start where it all begins – within the mind and spirit.
Our culture is prone to emphasize the importance of cleansing the body of toxins. When you start an internal cleanse, your body works hard to remove impurities. While the benefits of a physical cleanse are many, a mental detox is of equal or maybe even greater importance. The body and mind work together, in harmony. No matter how good your physical condition is, if your mind is filled with toxic thoughts, beliefs and perceptions - you will still feel heavy, unclear, and unhappy.
This year I’m finding I need this ‘cleanse’ more than ever. It may have something to do with the fact that well - Spring has not Sprung. This prolonging of Winter weather has really stunted the growth of not only my garden but my spirits. I’ve learned a new word this Spring: melancholy.
I’ve decided that cleansing my mind + spirit will give me what I need to snap me out of my melancholic funk. Plus, I need to get my mind right in order to begin a successful detox of my physical body.
Be a Ruthless Editor of What You Allow to Enter Your Mind
In our 24/7 information culture, we have to be careful what we let into our mind. Too much bad news can bring you down, cause mental overwhelm and a sense of gloom, without even realizing why. Think about where your news and information come from. Is it the TV? The newspaper? A person? Can your access to these things be limited or maybe even cut out all together? An added bonus for removing this negativity from your mind - you have more time to work on positive things like goals, dreams, visions, etc.
Alternatively, let the good vibes in!
Do this by having inspirational items or things that make you happy handy. Listen to a podcast or music, watch a video, read a magazine or a book that are inspirational or motivational in nature. Start to take charge of what goes into your mind and make a choice to fill it with informative and positive thoughts. By proactively putting only mindful or truly necessary things into your mind you’ll start to feel as though that overthinking transforms into optimism.
Mindful Podcasts:
Flowerlounge with Katie Hess (duh)
Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert
Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations
If you enjoy these…there’s literally hundreds more your podcast app will recommend.
Meditate To Radiate
Meditation is a beautiful tool in the quest to cleanse the mind and spirit. In meditation the goal is not to completely quiet the mind – but instead to allow thoughts whether good or bad to come and then go. To observe and then let flow…
My favorite meditation tools are:
Nag Champa incense cone – I use this as a timer, finding stillness until the incense stops burning.
Lotus Wei Flower Card Deck – Do a flower card reading beforehand to set an intention.
Nature - find space outside to quiet the mind.
Journaling As A Weekly Practice
In James Allen’s book, ‘As a Man Thinketh’, I learned that “the outer conditions of a person’s life will always be found to be harmoniously related to his inner state… people do not attract that which they want, but that which they are.” With the daily practice of journaling, you can see your inner state more clearly, and make corresponding changes to the inner and outer conditions of your life, should you wish. In turn, it is just easier to observe yourself with this daily practice.
Find a journal that you love, maybe even a special pen or pencil and ultimately a spot that inspires you to do your daily or weekly writing.
Daily Affirmations
Affirmations are a simple yet powerful way to bring positive energy into your life. An affirmation or to affirm is when you are acknowledging something and proclaiming it to be true. Positive affirmations are phrases used to bring attention and focus to the areas of your life you would like to magnetize or bring more abundance. When written down or said aloud with repetition, these simple phrases become part of our conscious and subconscious mind, allowing us to have a better grasp on how we think, feel, act, and even react.
Try:
“I am connected to all that is around me”
Or
“My potential is unlimited and I am open to the movement and flow of life.”
Shake things up!
Go for a walk.
Take a weekend trip.
Take a month long trip. Change your scenery.
Yup I’m going to say it: Get out of your comfort zone.
Make friends with your discomfort. Find strength in your uncertainty.
Maybe you don’t need to make any sudden huge life changes (or maybe you do). You may just need a break from the norm.
Time to think, time to laugh, time to watch a magical sunset, time to hike solo, time to connect with friends.
The excuses will try to stop you.
Tell them to pound sand.
Go.
