“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3
Day 5: Cleaning Up Your Chaos
One thing that always feels really good at springtime is clearing out the clutter and chaos of our daily lives.
Most of us think about spring cleaning as a household task of wiping away all the dirt and dust bunnies. The warmer weather beckons us to open up the windows and doors of our homes and let in the fresh, clean air.
Spring cleaning is not only an opportunity for cleaning out our closets, but all of the chaos of our busyness that may be weighing us down. It’s a good time to re-evaluate our priorities. It’s also an excellent time to clear out time-wasters and simplify other areas of our life.
What's chaotic in your life?
Invite some peace into your life by cutting out the chaos and calamity. Make room for calm, mindful ways of managing your daily life.
It could be an overbooked calendar or too much clutter in your living space. Perhaps your chaotic feeling comes from cabinets stuffed to capacity, constantly looking for things, or even your mind simply on overdrive.
One of the best things you can do for your own peace of mind this spring is to let go of everything that creates static and confusion.
Did you ever consider such as thing as "visual noise?" Anything that's an assault on the senses tends to make it more difficult to think and maintain a calm composure.
If you're greeted with a feeling of stress when you walk in the door, it may be time to rehome some of your belongings or pack up some things to stow away for another season.
If the thought of sitting down to a single task has your brain running through a long to-do list of obligations and commitments… then that's mental chaos. It's time to clear out the clutter of your busy mind!
Journal Exercise: Replace Chaos with Comfort
One of the best gifts you can give yourself this spring is a clearing of chaos. This starts in your physical space, but should also include your mental space.
For your journaling exercise, sit with the chaos for a moment. What parts of your day make you feel stressed? Where do you typically go that brings you a sense of chaos and confusion? and why?
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Write down one area of your home or your life that amplifies the chaos factor in your life. It could be your kitchen, your office desk or your car, etc.
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What would you change about this space if you could so that you might replace the chaos and disorder with a sense of order and serenity?
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Brainstorm and write down the steps you can take to rid of the extra mental clutter and visual static.
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Next, journal a place where you visit from time to time that brings you strife and confusion. (It could be the thought of another Friday approaching, and all the things you still have to do in order to prepare for your busy weekend.)
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Now write down an action that you can take to eliminate that bad feeling of confusion and stress in your life. Jot down the steps you'll take to make a positive change.
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Take Action: Set Your Intention
You've already taken care of the difficult part of this. In your journaling exercise, you outlined the steps to declutter specific areas of your life and your mind of chaos.
Set an intention to take action and do the series of steps. (Rarely do we make necessary changes in our life that are not scheduled or planned out.)
Schedule action steps on your calendar. Follow through. When you've completed each chaos-clearing series of actions, give yourself some type of reward.
What will be your reward? (We are often motivated to work for rewards.)
Finally, plan a maintenance program for yourself. As daily life goes by, there tends to be an accumulation of more clutter mentally and physically.
Try to plan monthly maintenance tasks and evaluations of those areas in your life.
Bible Verses to Reflect Upon:
(A Collection of Verses on Orderliness, Priorities, Planning & Peace)
“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8
“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:” Proverbs 6:6
“Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” Proverbs 16:3
“Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:” Proverbs 24:3
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12:34
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” Luke 14:28
“Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;” Romans 12:11
“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Romans 12:18
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” Romans 15:13
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” I Corinthians 14:33
“Let all things be done decently and in order.” I Corinthians 14:40
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:2
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” II Timothy 1:7
“For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” James 4:15
Spring Cleaning for the Soul #5