Emotional Spring Cleaning

It’s the beginning of spring when many of us become obsessed with cleaning out closets, drawers, books, and clutter. I find it interesting that we are not as excited to begin an “emotional cleansing.” Why not take some time this month to inventory old behaviors and patterns that keep us stuck in drama and other harmful thinking and behaviors? We can clean them out along with the dust bunnies.

Emotional cleansing is an art form: It takes practice as well as a deep commitment to shifting your thinking. But you can clear out unproductive thinking, negative self-talk, and the clutter of past experiences. Just like cleaning out a closet, this kind of cleaning requires a sorting process (what to keep, what to release, what to give away).

TRY THESE 5 STEPS TO START YOUR EMOTIONAL CLEANSE!

1. Sit down quietly, with your journal or a piece of paper. While in that quiet moment, ask yourself, “What are my emotional actions hurting me?” Don’t edit the thoughts. Don’t judge the answers. Just feel the feelings. When you feel clear and calm, write it down.
2. Once your list is complete, take some time over the next few days to write when and how these emotions show up and what triggers them. Be as honest as possible, clarity is very important to identify what buttons are pushed and how.
3. Write a list of the ways your life would be more positive and live affirming if you focused on changing these negative thinking and behavior patterns.
4. Establish goals (no more than three per emotional issue) that you will begin to work on daily over the next six months. Include only those goals that you will commit to doing. You do not want to set yourself up for failure. Make sure, with these goals, that you create how you are going to eliminate the unwanted behavior.

Sample Goals

1. I will pray and count to 5 before I speak when I am angry.
2. I will use my support system before I act out when triggered.
3. I will take time to write down how a negative emotional response will cause harm to myself, or others and I will choose another response.
4. Make a “win” list: Every time you respond more positively, document it. The more wins you experience and celebrate, the more wins there will be in your life!

©Wanda Currie

Vision of Recovery believes in and practices a non-denominational Christian perspective on Addiction Recovery/Mental Health Care. Vision of Recovery integrates biblically based information with coaching and counseling interventions to treat the whole person: Spiritually, Emotionally, and Physically