Spring Cleaning Your Mental Health
The weather in Kansas City has been warmer than usual these past few days and has me excited about spring and all the wonderful opportunities it brings. With the snow and cold weather out of the way, flowers begin to bloom, the sun begins to shine and the gorgeous weather is a natural anti-depressant. While the month of march typically calls people to clean out their closets, dust off their blinds, mulch their gardens and shake out their rugs, why not spend the month cleaning your mind instead of your house (or if you are really motivated- you can do both!).
Clean out your closet- Let go of a grudge you have been holding onto for far too long. Holding on to negative feelings like anger and guilt can stop us from achieving the growth we desire. One of my favorite quotes is “Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” We tend not to realize that holding a grudge typically hurts us far more than it does the person we are frustrated with. Using coping skills like forgiveness and mindfulness can help in allowing previous hurts to heal.
Dust off your blinds- Restart a habit that has gone by the wayside during the winter. Many of us have positive habits we have created that simply drop off because we get too busy or stop putting energy into ourselves. Think back to a time in your life when you felt things were balanced, what habits were in place to keep you on track? Your bi- weekly run, early morning journaling with tea, or favorite comedy show are all helpful in keeping your mental health fresh.
Shake out your rug- Change up your negative thinking about something that has been bothering you. Pick a single item in your life that you find yourself often thinking about and mention it to a close confidant to see if they are able to give you any perspective. If they aren’t much help, mention it to your pastor or therapist and see if they are able to help you see things in a different light. Write down their perspective and put it somewhere you often look to remind yourself to change up your thoughts.
Fertilize your garden- Put energy into a relationship you want to cultivate that may have fallen stagnant over the past few months. We all get into ruts with our friends and co-workers, especially as life gets busy and our to-do list gets longer and longer. Plan a late night dinner with your mom or make time to call a friend that you haven’t been in touch with recently.
Spring cleaning your mental health is a great way to use the changing of seasons to start afresh. If you truly want to spend some extra time being intentional with your mental health this spring, sign up for a 3 week event our life coach, Ilene, is putting on in the month of April. In the “Refresh Yourself Wellbeing Group” you will focus on identifying perceived limitations, resolving challenges, and gaining clarity on how to make positive, life-giving, choices. Join today at the link below:
http://www.kcresolve.com/refresh.html
Amber Reed
Resolve - Counseling & Wellness
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