It’s February! The warm fuzzy feelings of December have been traded for winter’s bitter cold, kale, and guilt. Decluttering has become all the rage, and #konmari is trending.
I’m all for cleaning out those closets, but why not take some time to declutter your mind? A cleanse for your soul.
The trail is the perfect place for a little introspection. The rhythm and repetition of placing one foot in front of the other, over and over again, facilitates reflection. Being surrounded by beauty doesn’t hurt.
Let’s take a hike, #konmari style. Here are a few tips to get you started.
1 – Say Goodbye to Fear
Fear holds us back and is often irrational. How easy is it to go down the rabbit hole with fear? Step one is to name the fear. When you ignore fear it grows. Face it and shrink it. Name it and let it go. Especially if there’s nothing you can do about it. If there is something you can do about it, do it. And move on.
2 – Make Peace With Your Body
Enough already! If you’re alive and breathing and I assume you are if you’re reading this, show your body some love. Whatever state it is in, right this very moment. Think of all of the fantastic things it does every day to catapult you through the universe. And all of the incredible adventures it’s carried you on. Stop hating on yourself.
3 – Stop Doing Shit You Hate
Just stop. I’ve talked about this before. If someone asks you to do something and your immediate response is not “hell yeah!” then your immediate response should be a definite “hell no!” A common complaint is that there’s no time in an already jam-packed schedule. Once you stop doing shit you hate, you’ll free up time to do the things that YOU want to do.
4 – Give Negative People the Boot
We all have these people in our lives. If a conversation or dinner out with someone leaves you feeling drained, it’s time to reconsider the relationship. You are not obligated to continue relationships that no longer work. Maybe you were friends in high school or worked together at some point. Doesn’t mean you have to be BFFs forever.
5 – Be Brave
What do you want this year? Just answering this question honestly takes a certain amount of bravery. We named our fears, let’s name our desires. Then let’s figure out how to take steps toward achieving them.
I once stayed in a job much longer than I should have even though it felt bad. It felt bad, but it didn’t feel scary. I knew what to expect. A change did not come until the thought of staying became more uncomfortable than the fear of leaving. Huge waste of time.
What if we declutter our minds #konmari style and get rid of all of the thoughts and emotions that don’t spark joy? What if we allow ourselves to give a voice to only the things that will spark joy in our lives?
What if?
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