Spring Reset: Refresh Your Mind
Nothing says spring like flowers blooming and spring cleaning. Keep reading to see how you can win some future flowers and apply a spring cleaning approach to the negative thoughts that clutter our minds.
Spring cleaning invites us to get rid of the junk and gunk that have been collecting in our homes during the winter months. We arm ourselves with spray cleaners, sponges, dust mops, and rubber gloves to do the hard work of ridding our space of things that no longer serve us or simply just need to be wiped away. We spruce up and refresh our homes with lighter bed linens, fresh flowers, new welcome mats, and the like.
What if we were to take that same approach of clearing and cleaning up our mental space by replacing our negative thoughts with positive intentions? What if I told you that in doing so, we can set ourselves up to flow forward toward our authentic selves and life vision?
Often, when faced with a negative or unpleasant emotion, we tend to do things that make us feel worse: wallow, spiral, take it out on others, and other thought patterns and behaviors that are not solution-oriented. We might even try to purge the thought from our minds, only for it to resurface later, oftentimes with increased intensity. That thought wants your attention, and it wants it NOW!
Next time you catch yourself trying to squash an unpleasant thought, what if you instead took a moment to do the following?
Get curious. Try to label the exact feeling you are experiencing. Are you angry? Frustrated? Sad? Salty? Now, take a look inward and try to figure out what is driving that emotion--what is the thing that you are responding to that is behind that feeling? For an accessible yet in-depth study of human emotions, check out Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart.
Honor the feeling by acknowledging it and sitting with it momentarily. Take a deep breath, count to 10, and thank the emotion for bringing awareness to something you truly want and need.
Next, stay curious by asking yourself what this negative thought wants for you that is positive. For example, maybe what your worry about your upcoming job review really wants you to do is showcase your talents in the best way possible. Maybe your lack of motivation to work out really just wants you to ensure that you are taking time to rest and recover from other parts of your life. Explore all of the positive intentions that are just behind the unpleasantness and write them down. Focusing on these intentions is a powerful way to reconnect with your broader life purpose.
Finally, seek out ways to accomplish what it is you genuinely want and need. Lay out specific action steps that reflect your positive intentions as you flow forward toward your life goals and vision. ❤️
Need a little help with decluttering your mind, navigating an upcoming hurdle, thinking through a plan, or something else that needs your clarity, attention, and action?
Book a session with me to reimagine challenges, discover solutions, and flow forward!
Take advantage of the opportunity to set your own rate for your first two sessions!
March Giveaway!
Comment and subscribe (if you haven't already!) before April 1, 2025 for a chance to win a package of flower seeds to start your spring with the hope and promise of new growth.
Comments