When was the last time you conducted a self-clearing checkup? One where you step away from the busyness to slow down and clear out all the excess junk holding you down and back?
In last week's Wellness Bite, I discussed the practice of slowing down. As we continue on with this practice, the theme of slowing down and taking a deep breath to just be, we can ready ourselves for being aware of and mindful of what we're holding to that holds us down and back from BEing our best selves and living our best lives. Both internally with our emotions, thoughts and limiting beliefs and externally with things, possessions and attachments.
This past weekend, I had a big "Ah-Ha" moment. One that shook me down at my core and caused me to feel physical pain with a heavy heart. I now feel much lighter and more free as a result of taking action on this realization of holding on to feelings and things - unnecessary "stuff" - that were holding me back and weighing me down. But it took a combination of four things for me to pause, observe and wake up to what was happening:
- My current study of Aparigraha (non-hoarding & non-attachment), one of the Yama moral codes in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.
- Our extra refrigerator in the garage that stopped working last week.
- Watching the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, based on a true story, with my daughter this weekend.
- And one of my own family member's heart wrenching current hardships and losing everything within the last week.
"Power is about what you can control. Freedom is about what you can unleash." - Harriet Rubin
I took my power back and chose to let go and free myself of both things and emotions that were not serving me or my higher power. Instead of allowing these circumstances to make me crumble and question, I conducted a self-clearing checkup to identify what I could clear out of my house and out of my head to let go, be free and make room for new, healthier spaces. My daughter, Sophia, decided to do the same.
Five large laundry bins later, filled with clothing - dresses, sweatshirts, pants, shorts, tops, shoes, purses, hats, scarves, gloves, and basic essentials like extra socks that someone who may have only one pair could use, coupled with release of emotional attachments to these things and the internal emotions I've been sorting out on personal family matters, I unloaded what felt like 100 pounds of dead weight.
Add in letting go of spending more money to fix the backup refrigerator that took up needed space only to hold excess, releasing the attachment to thinking I needed it, allowed me to feel and live lighter and rise higher. Sophia came to the same realization, which made it all even better.
So, here's a "Self-Clearing Checklist" of 5 Ways You, Too, can unleash and Let Go of the old (things and emotions) which no longer serves you and make space for the new and better YOU:
1. Clear Out Your Closets and Drawers - if you didn't wear it this Summer or Spring, you won't wear it next season. And if you haven't worn it in more than 3 years, time to make space, let go & give. This is a cleansing exercise to get rid of attachments to "what if" or "maybe one day" and imagine someone who has just the clothes on their back who would love that extra sweater, jeans or scarf you never wear. Play like Elsa in the movie Frozen and just LET IT GO, LET IT GO!
2. Clear Out Your Junk Drawer - You know the one. Almost everyone of us has at least one. Grab a trash bag and get going as you feel the stress start to release with each extra, unnecessary junk item that has taken up space while you've scrambled to look for what could be in that drawer. Stop the insanity and free yourself!
3. Kitchen Klutter - Just how many extra mugs, travel water bottles or fancy gadgets that you never use do you really need? I promise someone else could use it if it's in good condition. If not, then clear it out & trash it.
4. Who Do You Need to Forgive? - This one's a tough one, I know..... I had to do it myself this weekend. To truly take our power back, be the best we can be and live our best life, we must forgive those that have caused us pain. Forgiving is NOT for the other person, it's a gift we give ourselves. Forgiveness sets us free and allows us to take back our power from anyone who we've given it to by holding on to grudges and harboring anger or resentment. Thus weighting us down, blocking out room for the newer, lighter, happier life. Make a mental checklist of who may be holding power over you unnecessarily and let it go........
5. Replace That Old, Unhealthy Habit With A New, Healthier Habit - Identify at least one unhealthy habit (we all have them) and identify what you're attachment really is to this unhealthy habit. Ask yourself "Why" and "What If"? Why are you holding on to this unhealthy habit? No, really, why are you? What If you cleared it away for just one week and tried something new instead, to refresh, renew and make room for a new habit instead? I challenge you to try this one for just one week and assess how you feel after.
Cheers to you letting go, traveling lighter (inside and out) and thus, brighter! One Bite At A Time.
With Love and Light, Susan