Tidy up your Mind to get Unstuck!
I’m sure by now you’ve either read the “Tidying Up” book, or you’ve watched the series on Netflix, and either you’ve been motivated to start removing the things that don’t bring you Joy, or you feel completely overwhelmed. And it could be because you need to clear out more than your closet!
I’m here to tell you that as a Life Coach for women, I’ve helped so many clear away of all that mental junk that is getting in your way. Why listen to me? Well, because like Marie Kondo, I practice what I preach.
Years ago I was at a crossroads in my life and I had no idea which way to go. I was absolutely frozen with indecision! I had consulted my friends and family who were absolutely sick to death of hearing me talk about the same things over and over again. I read countless self-help books… let’s be honest, I partially read those books because there wasn’t one of them that said, “Heidi, this is what you should do…” The only thing that made me feel any better was organizing my house. This was way before the “Konmari method” was even a thing, but it made me feel lighter, and more capable of seeing things clearly.
Feeling stuck is a direct product of the thoughts that we feel we cannot change. But, we can! Here are a few of the methods that I use to tidy up my mind.
- Begin the way that Marie Kondo does and first offer a blessing and thanks to yourself. Everything that you have gone through in your life has led you to this place and this is exactly where you are supposed to be. Look back on the experiences you’ve had with Joy and then release them to make room for the new experiences you want to create.
- Have a morning routine. Sometimes I wake up before the sun, and sometimes I don’t. The time isn’t as important as the routine. I begin with a glass of water to rehydrate my body. I write in my journal. I begin with my waking thoughts. You know, those weird, almost dream like thoughts that come to you before you open your eyes… write them down. Then I write down things that I’m grateful for. Next, I ‘brain dump”. This is all of the things that I want to make sure to do, or research or remind myself of. And finally, I write down my intentions for my future. All of this takes about 5 minutes, but it offers a huge amount of clarity.
- Do NOT check your social media or emails right away in the morning! This is important because as soon as you do that, you are putting yourself in a reactionary mindset. In order to be able to clear your mind, you need to maintain control. This is especially important first thing in the morning because this is the time of day that your brain is fresh. Our brains suffer from mental fatigue as the day goes on, so utilize this early part of the day to make the best decisions, and tackle the biggest projects.
- Exercise every day. It doesn’t matter how you do this. It can be a dedicated time at the gym, a walk with a friend, or a few minutes of sit-ups or lunges throughout the day. Whatever it is, do it. Our bodies were designed to be extremely active and with the lifestyles we have now, it is important to give our shell what it needs to thrive. Exercise makes you happier, and that’s good for everyone.
- Our brains are lazy and so being stuck is completely normal. The act of thinking one way is your brain saving your mental energy. You do have the power to change your thought pattern! Start by allowing yourself to daydream about a different future. Keep these thoughts positive and try to imagine with as much detail as possible. Leave all of the practical thoughts to the side for now. Just allow yourself to dream! This might be difficult at first. Our minds tend to wander, but close your eyes and really focus for a few minutes. You will find that the more you practice this, the easier it will become. You will also notice that suddenly throughout the day you will discover solutions and new ways of thinking that you hadn’t thought of before. Your brain will make that ideal future a reality and then will look for opportunities to make it happen!
- If you take the time to tidy up your home, you are probably not going to go to all of that effort and then clutter it back up again, so don’t do that to your mind! Realize that because our brains are lazy, they will want to go back to the old ways, but it is up to you to keep your brain in check. Each time an old way of thinking comes up, gently redirect to your new, more positive way of thinking.
- Gratitude is key. Gratitude comes from a place of love and complaining comes from a place of fear. The more you practice feeling grateful, the more Joy you will bring to your life. It works.
I hope that you will give these practices a try. They have worked for me and for many others. If you begin to clear away the areas of your home that are cluttered, you will be amazed at how that activity will truly clear some space in your mind as well!
Recent Comments