When you look out the window, you see evidence of Spring’s new birth everywhere. The trees are glowing green again, the tulips are blooming, and the birds are singing again. In harmony with nature, we also want to feel new again.
It is natural at this time of year to want to clean the house. Cold, dark winter days leave us lazy and unmotivated. The excess of winter fades our skin and expands our waistline. Spring allergies can indicate an overworked liver thanks to all those Christmas celebrations. Unfinished projects and household clutter impede the flow of energy through our lives. The spirit is ready to wake up from hibernation and enjoy new connections.
This article offers great tips to start clearing your body, mind, and soul from the past. Get ready to have the best spring of your life.
Refresh your body
Spring is naturally the most popular time of the year to start a cleaning program. A cleanse can help us lose unwanted pounds and improve our energy. According to Chinese medicine, spring is associated with the liver, an essential organ for digestion and elimination of toxins. Some foods and drinks that are especially hard on the liver are alcohol, chemicals, drugs, fried foods, and meats. An overworked liver can cause low energy, stress, mood swings, and inflammatory conditions.
There are many types of cleanings to choose from, depending on the individual’s needs. A simple recommendation is to make a few days of fresh fruit and vegetable juices, along with plenty of water. Increase exercise and sweating to help the body eliminate excess toxins. Adding more vegetables to your diet now will help to refresh, cleanse, and strengthen the body. In Staying Healthy with the Seasons, Dr. Elson Haas also recommends lemon water, organic cold-pressed olive oil, milk thistle herb, and olive leaf extract to aid and sanitize the liver.
Along with what you eat, the way you eat your food is also important to your overall health. Eating a meal under stress disrupts the body’s ability to properly digest and absorb the nutrients that the food provides. Before you start eating, take slow, deep breaths into your belly. While eating, chew well and stop when you feel full. These subtle changes can bring great healing to your body.
Clear your head and your home
In winter, we spend most of our time indoors and this often leads to a large accumulation of clutter. A cluttered desk, closet, or room is also often an indicator of a cluttered mind. We hold on to material possessions that we no longer need and this creates a stagnant energy in our lives and in our homes. As Karen Kingston writes in Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui: “An orderly home means an orderly mind.” She suggests testing the clutter test on every element of your space. Ask, “Does it get my energy up when I think about it or look at it? Do I love it? Is it really useful?” If you answer “no” or “more or less” to any of these questions, let it go. Throw it away, give it away or recycle it. Make room in your mind and your room for the new. This same principle applies to the clutter of limiting ideas and memories in your mind. If they don’t fulfill your life purpose, it’s time to say goodbye.
As you transition your wardrobe from cold to warm weather, fill a few bags with unused clothing and leave them with your favorite charity. A general rule of thumb to follow is that if you haven’t used it in over a year, you won’t miss out.
Nurture your soul
The spirit or soul is what connects us with something greater, with nature itself and with our innate creativity. Feeding your spirit is a very individual experience. For some, it means religious celebration and being part of a like-minded community.
Others find inner peace through yoga, tai chi, or meditation. For some, a spiritual experience can be as simple as a walk in the park, a day on the shore, an afternoon gardening, or laughing with a child. Whatever your preference, create the time to connect with yourself. Enjoy deep belly breaths, journal, reflect.
Once the soil of your life is replenished, what will you plant? Allow yourself permission to daydream, an often overlooked but extremely important activity. It is by daydreaming that you learn more about your true self, your creative desires and desires. Visualize the life you want. Create an action plan and take your first small steps. The spring rain will make your dreams grow and flourish, the summer sun will give them strength and power, and the fall harvest will bring you success and achievement. But only if you start today.
