“Spring is a time of plans and projects,” said one of my favorite authors in high school Leo Tolstoy. It’s about letting go of the old, making room for the new, and reflecting on ways to move forward and continue to improve and evolve.
The concept of making room for the new in life is exciting. How many of you have things in your life that are taking up physical and mental space and need to go? Your inner world is a reflection of your outer world. Is anyone else feeling like a clean-out of clutter and a clean-up of limiting outdated thoughts are in order? If so, this episode will be right up your alley.
Have you ever rented a mini storage unit? As I sit at my desk out my window on the other side of a 12-foot hedge is a mini storage facility, and I can see the red doors peeking through the green leaves of the hedge. Occasionally, a random car or UHaul comes into view as someone goes to their unit.
Sometimes people rent while doing a renovation; maybe they are moving or going through a major life change like a breakup or divorce. You’d be surprised how many people share their stories when renting their unit. Some units are filled with family treasures and memories- photos, beloved children’s toys, and heirloom furniture sets. Others are filled with “stuff .” I say that with heavy quotes around it. When I say stuff, I mean it loosely. 😊
It’s evident that the person didn’t know where else to put it. A hodgepodge of items where people had just deposited everything because they didn’t have time, energy, or mental capacity to cull before they moved.
I used the mini storage when we prepared for our renovation several years ago. It’s amazing that you can fit your whole life into a 10×15 unit. Sometimes it takes two, but imagine boxing up your life belongings and putting them in a space that size that you didn’t see daily. How much space would you actually need? Now there’s an interesting thought.
Some people live in 800-square-foot apartments, others in 8,000-square-foot McMansions. But at the end of the day, what do you have that’s really important to you? What do you have that makes your heart sing, what evokes memories, or brings you joy? The answer to that question is a clear start to figuring out the physical things that take up actual space and mental capacity in your life.
You would be surprised by the number of people who rent units for their important belongings and never return for their old life. Several units actually get auctioned off each year because what was once important is now forgotten. There’s something to be said for cleaning out a closet and putting the stuff in a box temporarily if you are unsure if you need it or not. Because if you don’t remember what’s in it or haven’t missed it, it’s safe to say you probably don’t need it 😊 Am I right, or am I right?
During my freshman year in college, our Resident Advisor did an icebreaker the first week of school to see what people would “take” if the dorm caught fire. It was easy for me: my photos, everything was pre-digital, cloud backup LOL. My suitemate proudly said her laptop. Laptops were just out, pricey, and again before cloud backup. Most of the answers from the 18-year-old versions of ourselves were materialistic in nature. I bet now all of us would have different responses.
And I think about this because there has been a lot of devastation from natural floods and tornados recently. My heart goes out to the people that lost everything. The images are devastating. And while it is tough to lose everything, those who realize their health, family, and safety are more important than physical possessions are far ahead of the game in the event of a loss. Everything else is genuinely replaceable. Yes, there are thoughts around our attachment to things, but with thought work and implementing the law of detachment, it becomes evident that we can select how we want to show up in the face of adversity—a topic for another day.
So in the Clarity Club, I talk about the extended body and how it impacts us physically and mentally. This is so important because as I said at the beginning, your inner world is a reflection of your outer world.
The extended body is everything outside of your physical body. Your home, office, and the environments you put yourself in. Everything around you and your extended environment impact you on some level or another. So your stuff and your belongings are all impacting you mentally and physiologically.
When I say that, what is coming up for you? Do you agree? Do certain things that are sore points come to mind? Do items that bring you joy pop up and bring you joy as you are thinking about them? Just take note of what is coming up for you right now because all those thoughts impact your life somehow.
Longing for Change
Often, people long for change in their circumstances. The driver for a change in circumstances usually boils down to seeking more comfort than is currently there. Being comfortable in not only our settings but also comfort in our thoughts is a game changer. Thoughts that bring us peace and calm allow us to show up so much differently and enjoy life a heck of a lot more than those that bring anxiety and overwhelm. Tell me where I’m wrong.
When considering change, there are two things areas that come into play. What is around us and what we “think” about what is around us. So our environment and our thoughts about our environment. Right?
It’s human nature to wonder what life would be like if it was different, and we are hard-wired to seek improvement. How often do you dream of what your ideal life would look like? How often do you wonder what your ideal job would be? Do you dream of your ideal vacation? How about the features of your ideal home?
When it comes to getting the ideal version of what you want, saying, “I’m going to start working towards XYZ, and everything will be better soon,” doesn’t work. The reason is that without addressing our environment – our extended body and our thoughts around our current situations we can’t be open to the future of possibilities. It’s like we are grounded in the past, and everything is being framed from that standpoint.
The concept of the interconnectedness of everything teaches you can’t change one area of life without it impacting or changing another. So where do you start? You can say what you want and dream about how things would be so much better on the other side. But you need to change your environment and thoughts around it to achieve your goals.
So, today I’d like to share one piece of the equation and give you an area around your environment to explore. What do you see when you look around your home, office, and car in this season of new beginnings? Do you see clutter, disorganization, or chaos? How does it confirm or contribute to thoughts of overwhelm and anxiety you might be experiencing? How can you curate a more enriching environment as you approach spring cleaning? How can you streamline your life to make your days easier?
From an environmental standpoint, I’d like you to select one area that brings you the least satisfaction. Just one. There’s no need to let the process overwhelm you. And for the next week, allocate 10 minutes daily to improve that area. If your closet is the area of least satisfaction, on the first day, you might come up with a game plan. The second day might be removing and sorting everything, consciously choosing what will stay and go. Maybe the third day is coming up with a new system. The fourth is cleaning the space and putting back only what you keep, and the fifth day is donating what you no longer need. The end goal is getting to the point where your environment gives you energy instead of draining it.
Maybe your area of least satisfaction stems from not having meal prep and meals down or the quality of food you are fueling your body with. Whatever the area of least satisfaction is, I’ll invite you to break it down into steps to start moving you toward a better outcome.
As you go through the process, note what thoughts are coming up. Are there areas that you get stuck on or feel hard? Are there areas that you want to address that feel too big? All these observations are important. Then I’d like to invite you to join me for a deeper dive into creating the environments and thoughts that will bring you the comfort and calm you seek.
In May, I’ll be offering a masterclass called “Living the Dream .” I’m so excited about this because it goes deeper into this week’s podcast and sets you up to step into the next version of yourself. One that is calm, confident, and comfortable.
If you are interested, head over to www/truebasishealth.com/livingthedream to register.
So, I want to share this. As I was preparing for the masterclass “Living the Dream,” I went through one of the exercises I’ll share with you. Immediately, I noticed how much less stress I felt in the present moment when I set my attention and intention on my desired life. I began to see how I accessed such a different feeling and outlook about everything around me. Even though I wanted more and better, it’s like I had more comfort because I felt I had a roadmap on where I was going. The clarity gained on moving forward with some of the things that had kept me stuck was incredible. So powerful, and I can’t wait to share it with you all during the class.
So, if you are interested in joining us for the Living the Dream masterclass at the end of May, register, and together we’ll explore how to unlock your best life. How to remove blocks to the flow of abundance and the thoughts that distract you from focusing on your goals and what’s most important – your health and your family. As Robin Williams said, “Spring is Nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s Party.’
So go on and get ready – things are about to get fun. I hope to see you at the end of May!
