Spring Cleaning: Start With the Mirror

Before you start deep cleaning the house, consider taking a broom to some of your internal cobwebs

The same spirit that spurs us to do spring cleaning can also be applied to self-reflection. (Biba Kayewich)

It’s that time of year when we want a fresh start, a clean slate, a new beginning. Typically, this takes the form of cleaning out the garage, organizing a closet, deep cleaning the carpets, or stuffing old items into donation bins. It’s beneficial to take good care of our external environment in this way.

What if, instead, we started with the mirror? That same spirit that motivates us to spruce up our spaces can be harnessed to perform an internal spring cleaning, if you will.

The past few years have been taxing mentally and spiritually for most people. Perhaps this spring would be a good time to clear out the cobwebs in our hearts and minds, and to fortify our internal capacity to face whatever the world throws at us, regaining a sense of inner peace and hope.

Character

Self-reflection is an act of humility and a search for truth. Everyone can find room for improvement within themselves if they’re honest, and the benefits of doing so are like magic. The first aspect of ourselves we may wish to clean up is our character.

The current societal climate has been marked by strife, discord, division, and even hatred. The world seems chaotic and dark. Even the most reasonable people have found themselves angry, discouraged, judgmental, impatient, and full of fear. The best parts of ourselves are being buried under layers of defensiveness and protective armor.

You can ask yourself a simple question to begin to dig out your true character from the rubble: Who are you when you’re at your absolute best?

Perhaps you’re warm and kind, friendly and lighthearted. Perhaps you’re truthful and forthright, honest and trustworthy. Perhaps you’re strong and resilient, hardworking and patient. Perhaps you’re joyful and encouraging, an inspiration to everyone around you.

If you’ve buried the best parts of yourself, pick up a broom and sweep the dust away. Allow your true self to spring forth and shine bright like the sun.

Conduct

Our conduct is a reflection of our character and our state of mind. When we’re stressed, fearful, and attached to so many weighty concerns, our conduct might not be all that becoming.

You can ask yourself a simple question to assess your conduct: Are my day-to-day actions aligned with my highest personal values?

Perhaps you’d like to be more caring toward your spouse or understanding of your children, or to procrastinate less and take action toward your goals. Perhaps you’d prefer to smile more often or steady your emotions. Perhaps you’d love to muster the courage to be more authentic and truthful, or to recapture your appreciation for joy, beauty, goodness, and light. Perhaps you wish you acted as a source of love and strength for those around you.

If you’ve sabotaged your best intentions and paralyzed your ability to do what you know you should do—if you’ve been led by fear, worry, mistrust, or even hatred—wash away the negativity and allow your actions to reflect the best parts of yourself. Be born anew this spring.

Thinking

Buddha said, “What you think, you become.” Our thoughts are powerful. They direct our emotions, our actions, our focus, and our perceptions.

Many entities have been vying to capture control of our thoughts. The attention economy drives the market, while propaganda campaigns muddy the waters. The people around us are impacted just as we are, and they, in turn, influence our thoughts further. We’re inundated with information and messages like never before. Our thoughts have become complicated, and they affect every aspect of our lives.

You can ask yourself some simple questions to assess your thoughts. First, find solitude and stillness. Try to quiet your mind and observe your thoughts. Notice the quality of your thoughts, thoughts that repeat often, and patterns you may find. Ask yourself: Are these thoughts true? Are these thoughts good? Are these thoughts serving me well? Where did these thoughts originate? Do I want to foster these thoughts? Are these thoughts in line with my values? What thoughts would allow me to be at my absolute best?

Awareness gives you the power to take command of your thoughts.

Clean out your mind, purify your thoughts, and head into the season of rebirth focused on what’s truly good.

If we all did this kind of spring cleaning, it’d be a hopeful springtime indeed.