Spring Cleaning For Your Soul
Consider how every March, with the advent of spring and the anticipation of fragrant blooms, lush greenery, and balmy weather, we succumb to spring fever. If you’re like me, you’ll have already shoved your sweaters and boots to the back of your closet and eagerly brought forth the pretty spring dresses, shorts, and sandals as if willing the weather to cooperate with your wardrobe. Who isn’t ready to shed the winter doldrums and embrace the prospect of long, sunny days, a spring in our step (pun intended), and eating at outdoor cafés? Mother Nature promises this renewal of the earth every year. What if we promised ourselves the same by reinvigorating our souls with a good spring cleaning?
Generally, we think of New Year’s Day as a symbol of fresh beginnings with the onset of the new year. Though we earnestly make our resolutions and have every intention of starting anew, the dreariness of the winter season tends to douse that fire. Going into hibernation mode isn’t exactly the best motivator either. During January and February, we’re far more prone to self-pity and depressive feelings that arise from the isolation and lethargy brought upon us by this humdrum time of year. When moodily self-reflecting under those conditions, the impetus for change is transient or feeble at best. It’s also hard to prevent the remnants of the past year from piggybacking onto the current one. Dwelling obsessively on our yesterdays or worrying incessantly about our tomorrows can wreak havoc on the soul, weighing it down until it’s positively sagging.
How often have you come across someone who looked as if they were carrying the world’s weight on their shoulders? Probably every day in the mirror. What if we chose spring as the opportune time of year to thoroughly cleanse our soul? To unburden it back to the point where we can once again smile happily back at our reflection because it radiates inner peace.
Ideally, we should air out our soul as regularly as we brush our teeth (which I hope is daily), but most people need a significant marker or event, like New Year’s, to propel them towards change. Every spring, when March rolls around the corner before you swap out the clothes in your closet and joyfully mark up your social calendar with little margarita symbols or dreamily plan your vacations, what if you created a vision board for your soul?
I only recently discovered the meaning of a vision board and was initially skeptical of its usefulness. Essentially, a vision board is a collection of images and words that you choose to motivate and inspire yourself. I didn’t realize the power in such simplicity until I bought one for myself, buoyed by my spring fever and optimism in the wake of the thawing temperatures and sunny skies. In creating my board, I set aside all the noise and focused purely on myself, my inner and physical self. It encouraged me to contemplate what I needed to do or change to function happily and effectively each day and what I wanted to do with my life to maintain a peaceful and happy soul. I split my vision board into two halves, one half representing my daily needs such as getting more sleep and allotting time for other acts of self-care (like a relaxing bath), exercising regularly, and spending quality time with my children and spouse. The other half displays my career goals, such as focusing on my writing rather than my law practice, along with reviving old hobbies like playing the piano and painting. I also included meaningful phrases like “laugh more” because what better way to enjoy life?
Why is this effective? The magic behind the vision board lies in its visual appeal, as a daily affirmation that you can look at throughout the day—the pictures and words are literally in your face so that you’ll be less likely to forget or dismiss them as dreams or fleeting thoughts. The board’s impact also lies in its uniqueness as it is carefully curated by you for you alone. Simply put, it’s a constructive tool for anyone who chooses to reinvent their life. Of course, I don’t pretend that I will succeed in meeting all my goals every single day. However, the images and words will remain constant reminders to keep my soul at the forefront and live my life with intention. I also expect to adjust my board as my needs and desires shift along with my personal growth.
But I’m not writing to sell you on vision boards. Instead, I’m sharing just one idea that has personally worked in giving my soul a much-needed reset—experiment with what works for you to reboot your soul periodically.
The other day, dropping off my youngest at his after-school activity one afternoon, I suddenly noticed a little yellow wildflower shooting up through a crack in the parking lot next to my car. My son and I paused to admire it, caught by that pop of unexpected color. As I left him at his class, I stopped to photograph it before driving off because it was so cheerful and pretty against the backdrop of the rough, broken pavement. It had brought a spontaneous smile to my face and a sense of marvel at the beauty that persists in nature amidst the world’s chaos. As I drove off, I wondered whether another car would crush it. The thought made me regret not having plucked it. Then I realized that as long as its roots remained strong, it would grow back again and again. And that led me to the observation that we are not so different from that flower.
Life can crush us at times, but if the essence of our soul remains strong, we can withstand anything and begin again. It takes commitment to honor your inner self by eliminating everything that encumbers your soul. New challenges will continue to arise on your life journey that may threaten to overwhelm your soul until it is weary. If you remember to restore it every spring or more frequently, your soul will continue to bloom.
