Spring:
The word brings many things to mind for most of us. As far off as it has seemed during this long, frigid, polar vortex-laden winter, we still hold on to the sense of hope and newness it brings. Green buds on the trees, spring flowers peeking out from under the snow, and the sounds of birds chirping once again are all welcome signs we look forward to.
Another ritual of spring is the idea of cleaning. For the most part, this cleaning is done to our physical environment, perhaps with the hope of starting out new as nature does at this time. As you scrub, wash, rearrange, and clear out closets or garages at your home, consider cleaning out a different closet as well this year. How about digging through your emotional closet?
As humans living in a sinful world, we tend to store up many experiences in our emotional closets: hurt, resentments, disappointments, sadness, and anger are a few that seem to take up the most space. Can you let go of any of these feelings? Ask yourself a few questions to help clarify what you need to keep and what you can let go of:
- Do I still need this?
- When was the last time I used it? Did it help or hurt me then?
- Does it spill out of the closet and into other places, creating more difficulties?
- Is it getting in the way/taking up space that could be used for other things such as happiness, contentment, and joy?
- Am I spending my time and energy hiding it?
- When was the last time I put something positive in the closet?
Answering some of these difficult questions can get you on the road to living with less emotional clutter, which results in having more room to experience the new things in life, appreciating positives more and storing up these instead. What a more pleasant experience when opening the doors to your closet and having nothing tumble out uncontrollably!
If this task brings up painful hurts from your past that seem to be stuck, consider talking to a Christian counselor who can help you deal with the difficult emotions and point toward the peace you can find in God’s loving arms. May God bless you as you do your “spring cleaning” this year!
If you would like to speak with a Christian counselor who can help, please contact WLCFS Christian Family Counseling. To make an appointment at one of our clinics, call 800-438-1772. For a list of our clinics, please click here.
