Cleaning Out Your Mental Closet
Think about how satisfying it feels walking into a clean and organized room after an exhausting day. Now imagine that same feeling when you aren’t carrying the weight of unnecessary mental and emotional baggage.
What if we all decided to rid our minds of thoughts that no longer, or maybe never even, served us? What if we spent more time being fully present and focused on not adding to our plate until something has been taken off? You’ll be amazed to see how much of your thoughts and feelings clutter your mental and emotional space.
It’s important to know when it’s time to let go of the thoughts and feelings that hinder you, conscious or otherwise, from being your best self.
I write this with much experience over the past few months. Having high energy one day and low energy the next. The back and forth and inconsistency were starting to really weigh on me. There became weeks where I would get so annoyed with myself for repeating the same unhealthy habits that were not serving my highest good. After month three of this “I have no idea what I’m doing or what I want to be doing” I decided that I needed to put in those vacations days and recalibrate the frequency inside my vessel.
Here are a few ways that have helped me and some practices that I make sure to have time for.
Create Quiet Time:
Take some time to do an internal inventory of your thoughts and feelings. Identify what has been cluttering your heart and mind. This doesn’t necessarily mean mediation (although if that’s your cup of tea, go for it ma). I’m saying here is to create a space where you actively tune into your inner world to determine what you can clear out of your mind that’ll help you become a more centered person. We all lead busy lives, but it’s critical that you also remember to create time to quiet your mind and tune into your current thoughts and feelings. Identify what thoughts, stressors, and/or ideas have been cluttering your mind and determine whether it’s going to positively or negatively impact your quality of life. All the positive and uplifting feelings, hold on tight to those. That is what will keep you floating when the negatives try to creep in all the negative unwanted thoughts, know that they do not define who you are or how you think. Clear them out of your mind and you’ll begin to notice that you’ll begin to feel more centered and calm.
Journal It Out:
I’m a firm advocate of journaling. Sometimes our thoughts get trapped in our minds because we have yet to release them. Putting your thoughts down on paper can be instrumental in clearing out your emotional space. Seeing it on paper may make those feelings and thoughts seem more manageable and help you to see a different perspective. The next time you feel emotionally burden write it down somewhere.
Drop That Grudge:
Sometimes we hold on to shit we experience with other people. That shady comment from your co-worker? Let it go. Got into a fight with someone close to you? Forgive and let it go. The releasing of grudges will free up space in your mental closet; allowing you to invest in more positive areas.
Saying “I’m Sorry”:
Conversely, knowing when to apologize is key. Just like grudges take up negative mental space, when we’ve wronged someone (whether intentional or not) and have yet to make it amends, it too can take up mental and emotional space. Apologizing can remove unnecessary discomfort and repair those damaged connections with others.
Forgive Yourself:
Positive reinforcement never comes in the form of criticism. We are often most critical of ourselves. But what I have learned is that dwelling on past mistakes clutters my present and can lead to constant self-critical thoughts and feelings. I don’t have time for all of that and neither do you, sis. Forgiving yourself when things don’t go as planned and refraining from indulging in destructive self-criticism opens you up to accepting yourself as you are. Flawed, and human.
Be Honest With Yourself:
Being emotionally honest with yourself is probably the most important tip. You’ll know when you’ve reached capacity. Being honest with yourself serves as a mental checkpoint. How much are you dealing with? Is there space to receive more? Have you reached your limit? What do you need to let go of? What is blocking you? These are all questions you should be asking and answering, truthfully. There’s no harm in saying you’ve reached your limit. Be honest about it, clean out your closet, and get back to being your fabulous self.
