Not that long ago I was flipping the channels on TV and began watching a show called Clean House. This program is dedicated to helping deserving families de-clutter and organize their homes. Since then I have watched this show several times and I am always amazed at just how much clutter these families live with. For many of them, the clutter has become a way of life and when faced with the prospect of de-cluttering, some of the individuals resist the change even though they know it will be for their own good. How many of us have become accustomed to clutter? I’m not just talking about books and magazines lying around or the pile of clean clothes that need to be folded. I am also talking about emotional cutter, things that are just thrown here and there in our lives that take up emotional space and cause emotional disorganization. When given the chance, how many of us would resist the opportunity to de-clutter knowing it will make a huge difference?
When I was younger, we always did spring cleaning. It was a dreadful time when we opened up the house to air it out and clean it from top to bottom. My job was washing the walls. I was surprised at how dirty the walls had become in just one year. In fact, that wasn’t the only surprise. Every year I would argue that the walls looked fine and didn’t need cleaning. It wasn’t until my stepmother took a wet cloth and wiped a small portion of the walls to show just how dirty it was that I understood. It is that way with us as well; we don’t realize the “dirt” in our lives until we wash a bit of it away and see the contrast. Sometimes it is just too much to deal with, and we learn to be satisfied with “dirty walls” and procrastinate our own emotional spring cleaning. Emotional spring cleaning can come in many forms. It is sometimes a byproduct of a de-cluttering of your office, your desk, your garage. It can also come about in the form of a spiritual awakening. In either case, it is an essential part of becoming happy.
As we approach a long awaited spring, take the time to assess the areas in your life that may need a little spring cleaning. You will be amazed at the emotional freedom that will come as you organize your life, organize your work space or even just your bedroom. Don’t procrastinate, do it today, you don’t need to wait for flowers to bloom or the weather to grow warmer. Do it today!