As spring approaches, de-cluttering and spring cleaning are in our minds and hearts. But just like many of us avoid and put off regular cleaning of our house, we often do this with the thoughts and habits of our own lives.    

 

According to Statistics Canada, by the time an individual is age forty, approximately 50% have been diagnosed with a mental health illness or substance disorder.  We don’t want to let old and unhealthy patterns pile up for so long that the ‘house’ of our lives becomes this unmanageable to live in.  Instead, as we smell the warm spring air and announce good riddance winter, let’s get inspired – not just to reorganize our house – but to reorganize our lives.   

 

 

Let’s expand on these ideas.  

 

 

I’m sure many of us have never taken the opportunity to really think through who we are or taken the steps towards accepting ourselves. We can be kind to others, but are we kind to ourselves?   

 

See, to begin cleaning, we first have to move past ignoring the state of our ‘house’, and it can be hard to feel motivated to clean a ‘house’ that we don’t feel is truly ‘ours’ or that we mistakenly think is ‘too far gone’ to clean or to care for.   Yes – it is what it is – but we need to see beyond its current state and recognize its fundamental value.  Then we can choose to own it in all its uniqueness.  

 

Likewise, take the time to be honest, to get to know yourself, to understand your strengths and weaknesses. Choose to accept exactly where you are at, knowing that deep down you truly have worth, your unique qualities make you special, and that, with perseverance, you can experience transformation in these places you feel stuck. Accept yourself just as you would accept others.  

 

 

Deciding to spring clean your life will bring you face-to-face with messes and obstacles.  A deep clean is never easy; it’s hard work, a time commitment, even emotionally draining.  Life is full of inevitable challenges, and our response to these challenges often determines if we’ll keep moving forward or give up.  

 

First, we need to embrace this truth – that life will have its moments of difficulty.  There will always be something to ‘clean’; we need to move past the idea that our ‘house’ has to be ‘perfect’.  Such high expectations of ourselves leave us unmotivated, discouraged, or burnt out.  Maintaining a spotless ‘house’ need not be the mentality – it's about the process of working through the messes as they arise.  

 

Secondly, how do you handle these difficulties?  Our skills and capacity did not come out of nowhere; these were built on many smaller challenges that you learned from.  Reflect on some of these - how did you handle and survive these difficulties?  Remembering the things that helped you overcome then can give you courage to move forward now.  

 

 

Having confronted obstacles to beginning – why even clean?  What good things are we looking forward to; what purpose does a clean ‘house’ serve?   Finding a purpose or goal in your life, likewise, gives you that boost of motivation; it can fill you with hope and provide great joy.    

 

Take time to identify your purpose.  This might reflect what your strengths are, who you are in relationships, or what holds great meaning for you personally.  Importantly, that purpose may change and adapt; it may look different in this season.  E.g. you might be a daughter or a mother. At one time you might have been a caregiver. Your career or volunteering may be fulfilling.  When you identify your purpose – your main focus and priorities will follow.  

 

 

Here is the actual work of cleaning and de-cluttering!  What thoughts are garbage and which are not?  What patterns have you been using so long that they need to be cleaned up or updated to fit your current situation?  

 

We often let our thoughts pile up instead of putting them where they belong, but this is the time to be discerning, to take every thought captive.  As you sort through your thoughts and patterns, ask “How long has this been here?” “Does it truly belong in my ‘house’ or is it creating problems?”  

 

Taking hold of your thought life and removing old ways of thinking will truly help to optimize your mental health.  Avoiding falling into the rut of those negative thought patterns will enable you to approach life with more balance, peace, and joy in the day-to-day, and ultimately encourage success.  

 

 

These last steps are crucial to ensuring that your ‘house’ stays clean after all your hard work.  In a world full of distractions, setting boundaries to protect your space, time, and activities is incredibly important.    

 

Of course, healthy boundaries are easier said than done, but they are the difference between letting anything into your life vs. only that which enables your purpose and priorities.  For instance, just like you work to keep the contents of a room where they belong rather than letting them drift all over the house, leave work at work; don't respond to work related emails or text beyond clock-out.  Time away from the pressures of work is important for your mind to have a break and to avoid burn-out.  Or, just like you wouldn’t take in every product from door-to-door salesmen, be decisive about notifications so your focus and time are not drained by every online occurrence.  

 

 

Just as we need to accept ourselves, we also need to accept others.  Though it may require patience, we can recognize that, while not one person is perfect, all individuals have strengths and weaknesses.   

 

However, in the same way that you would not let just any person treat your house as their own, it is beneficial to be discerning about who we want in our close personal circle. Individuals who invest, feed, and make helpful deposits into our lives will be a source of support and encouragement, while those who drain our energy and time, or side-track us from our values and goals, may be a source of contention and confusion.  

 

Spring cleaning is just as important for our minds as it is for our house.  Accepting who you are, where you’re at, and the challenges you’re facing, can give you peace and courage to make positive changes; diving into your personal life goals will fuel you and clarify where to put your focus; and being discerning of your thought patterns and setting boundaries in your life will help you maintain your momentum.   Though requiring effort and dedication, it is immensely worth it to build a healthy, stable, and purposeful life.  

 

  

By: Julie, RN ~ Perinatal Support Manager

  

 

Resources:   

 

Health Canada - https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2016/10/vision-healthy-canad...  

 

Health Canada - https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/about-mental-health.html  

 

Statistics Canada - https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/260121/dq260121c-eng.htm  

 

Government of Canada- https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-liv...