Spring Cleaning
While I was a child, I helped my mother and grandmother do a “spring cleaning” every year. This was a deep dive into all corners, nooks, and crannies of our home. We were in search of dust bunnies, smudged walls, and every-day grime that had built up over the long, cold winter months.
We usually did this boring, difficult work when the weather was warm enough to open the doors and windows. The goal was to have our home ready for the seasonal transition and “new life” mentality of spring.
We also worked through drawers, closets, and cupboards – searching for anything that was broken, used beyond its capacity, or no longer valid. I remember making the difficult choices of getting rid of the beloved outfit that no longer fit, the favorite toys that were now broken, and school papers and memorabilia that had lost their luster.
Recently I was doing some long-term calendaring and remembered I needed to schedule my own spring cleaning. With that thought, I was reminded of the internal spring cleaning I needed to do. I was drawn to the New Year’s resolutions and goals I had set. I pondered on how those were going – what was working, what needed a small adjustment, what was a total bust, and where I needed to focus today. Two months have now passed since beginning all those grand plans for 2023. It was time for an assessment and adjustments.
But then I remembered that every day is a new beginning. Depending on your culture, your day can start either with the sunrise or the sunset. As a student of the Holy Bible, I appreciate the mindset of the New Testament culture – that of starting your day at sundown, resting first before the difficulties and work of the day, and ending the day with the family coming together for a satisfying and nurturing meal, and conversation about the “day.”
Many years ago, I learned a concept from an address given by David A. Bednar in 2000, while he served as the President of Ricks College. He stated, “As I encounter problems/questions during the day, I write in a column in my day planner those questions for which I should seek answers. As time permits, I try to find the answers. When the answers are found, I write them in the planner and cross that ‘problem’ from the list.
“That evening when kneeling for prayer, I present the unanswered question list to the Lord knowing He has all the answers, and then I promise the Lord my first and best time in the morning to listen to the answers. In doing so, I place my burdens at the Lord’s feet, and I rest peacefully.
“As I arise and open my day with prayer and then write the answers that come into my mind, I review the list of questions with the Lord. During the day I consult my planner and follow the plan the Lord has set for me. No stress; pure joy.”
Now if you aren’t a religious person, you can still apply the principle taught here. I like to call it a “brain dump.” Create the same list during your day, and at days end, make time to review and complete the list, including what is most important for the next day. Then go to sleep so that your mind can work on these things as you sleep peacefully. You will be assured you haven’t forgotten anything important, and the restorative processes of sleep can help sort, file, and access all the needed information to allow you to move forward with the “problems.” Then, at the beginning of your day, do as David did – review and record the impressions that come to your mind. You will then have a reasonable plan for the day.
I have been amazed at how efficient and effective this simple strategy is for my short-term activities a AND my long-term goals. Restorative rest is SO VERY important to our health and mental well-being. Giving yourself this assurance every day makes all the difference in finding those small and simple things done each day that can change even the hardest problems.
My post last month talked about the importance of taking someone with you on your journey to bring in more accountability AND more joy in a close relationship of caring and nurturing. This is the part of coaching I love the most – experiencing the small, daily changes that come into a person’s journey. I have learned the value of doing my internal “spring cleaning” every morning and evening – capturing all the dust bunnies and grime at day’s end, and then throwing open the windows and doors of the new day with the rising of the morning sun. I, too, share with the Lord, but I also share with my husband, children, and close friends – all of whom are my accountability buddies. Additionally, I rely on my network of fellow coaches who get where I’m coming from and keep me focused.
Schedule your spring cleaning today – both physically and mentally. Put it in your calendar with specific dates and times. Then honor the time and commitment. Every day (and even every minute) is a new beginning. And consider bringing a coach along for the journey. We love adventures!