One way to bring peace and mindfulness to your day is to practice being intentional.
Being intentional means “moving and acting with a sense of purpose.” This could look like drinking your coffee slowly and without distraction, to fully enjoy a few quiet moments. Or having full awareness while working out at the gym, noticing what it feels like to contract your muscles and hold good posture throughout each squat instead of trying to get it over with as soon as possible.
Everything you do, you do with intention. But most of the time, you likely aren’t aware of what that intention is. Sometimes you might catch a glimpse of someone else’s intentions and make a judgement about it. Again, these judgements can often be subconscious, but they play a big part in your opinions of others. For example, if you went to the gynecologist and your doctor was heading home right after your appointment and they were focused on being done for the day, you might feel like the doctor was distracted during your visit and maybe even a little less careful. Their intentions were “I need to hurry up and get out of here” and not “I need to focus on this patient who trusts me.” We pick up on these hints often, whether or not we’re aware. Imagine what subconscious feelings you have about your own home.
As the weather takes a turn towards warm and sunny, you might be ready for some spring cleaning, especially after a year of being stuck at home. This is the perfect time to practice cleaning with intention. Here are some tips for intentional cleaning:
KonMari method of cleaning out the closet: put every item of clothing into one pile. Hold each item one-by-one and ask yourself if it “sparks joy” for you. If it’s a yes, keep it! If it’s a no, give it thanks before tossing it into the donate pile. Be wary of clothes you are keeping out of guilt, like that ugly scarf Aunt Sally was so excited to give you on your birthday 4 years ago!
Feng Shui: the practice of Feng Shui comes from the idea of human life being connected and flowing with the life around it, by arranging living spaces in a way that harnesses the energy forces of the environment.
Set your bed, desk, and couches so they have a view of the door without being in line with it or having backs facing it. This allows the space to keep an eye on anyone who may come in while also being welcoming and open.
The kitchen represents how we nourish ourselves. Improve your kitchen feng shui by keeping your refrigerator clean and tidy. Clear out any expired food, then wipe down the inside with the intention of creating a space where you can nourish yourself with healthy food.
Cluttered hallways represent obstacles in our lives. Keep narrow hallways well lit and clear of clutter.
Replace old décor: A lot can be said about the joy we feel from looking at something pleasant. Walk through your home and make a note of all of the things you dislike or avoid looking at, and then find something to replace it that you do like. If the flowers your husband brings home get put into a drinking glass, consider purchasing a beautiful vase that you can use instead. Or if you no longer like the framed painting you got from a garage sale 2 years ago that’s hanging over your bed, find a picture that you do like. It’s ok if your tastes change over time!
Have fun with your cleaning and decorating! The energy you have while cleaning can result in creating more subconscious and conscious feelings of joy as you move about your day. Before you start cleaning with intention, walk through the rooms of your house and see how they make you feel in their current state. You could even rate it on a scale from 0-10, 10 being pure joy and 0 being “this is the worst”. Maybe even make some notes about what you like best and what you dislike. Then once you do your cleaning, walk through again and compare your ratings. Hopefully by the end of it, your whole house is a 10/10!
This concept also transcends to your body and health
In Ayurvedic medicine and Chinese philosophy, Spring is a time of birth and new beginnings. The 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝 is associated with spring and living, growing entities: trees, plants, and the human body.
The bodily organ systems related to the wood element are 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐫 (their job is to detoxify the blood and make bile to help metabolize carbohydrates, fats and proteins.)
To support liver functioning, think spring cleaning
Drink plenty of fluids, add lemon to your drinking water to help detoxify the liver
Try eating light, raw foods such as greens, sprouts, fruits, nuts, seeds and celery
Avoid heavy or fried foods, anything with chemical additives or alcohol
Since exercise and sweating aid liver detoxification, spring is a great time to create a workout plan or ramp up your current routine
Wood governs the early hours of the morning. Just as morning is a great time to plan the day ahead, spring is a great time to look at your life and where you want to be in the future. Take a little time to write a new health/life plan, including goals for how you wish to feel and what you would like to do and see happen.
𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 + 𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘳: 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘴, 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘧 + 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘵, 𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴, 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘴, 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘧𝘺 𝘷𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘤, 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘴
