Healthy RGV Issue 114

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE · MAY 2018
It's Springtime (no matter what that pesky
groundhog may have said), which means it's time to open
up the windows, breathe in the smell of new blooms
(hopefully without launching into a sneezing fit) and pull
the ol' capri pants out of storage.
There's a feeling of renewal in the air... of
new beginnings and fresh
starts. The New Year's
resolutions have all crashed
and burned by now, but that's
a-okay because the warm
air brings with it another
opportunity to clean up and
start over.
Suddenly, even people who
hate to clean find themselves
excitedly buying a new broom
at Target and feverishly
clearing out their closets.
Ahh... spring cleaning. It's a
wondrous thing. But today,
I want to talk to you for just
a few minutes about a different kind of
cleaning.
Since spring is a time of new beginnings,
there is no better time to clean out all that
emotional and spiritual junk that has been
cluttering up inside of you. You know what
I'm talking about... the grudges you've been
holding, the people you need to forgive,
the regrets you need to let go of, the
limiting self-beliefs that need to be kicked
to the curb.
It's all the junk that makes you feel tired,
worn down, helpless and possibly even
hopeless. And I say it's about high time for
it to take a hike, don't you?
Now, I know just reading those last two
paragraphs may have sent some of you
into a full-blown anxiety attack. It's not
exactly a fun thing to do. After all... that
is why you shoved it all down in the first
place. But it is a freeing thing to do.
And that's what it's all about, right?
Feeling cleaner, lighter and freer? Not only
in your home, but also in your spirit.
So, if you're ready to get cleaned up and
poised for your new beginning - here are
some effective (even if they're not so easy)
tips to spring clean your soul.
To regret means to "feel sad, repentant
or disappointed over something that
has happened or been done" (Google
Dictionary). Now right off the bat, you need to
pay attention to something in that definition...
do you know what it is? It's past tense. You
can't regret something that hasn't happened
yet or is currently happening. You can only
regret something that has already happened
or been done which, in and of itself, is fruitless.
If something is in the past, then you can do
absolutely nothing to change it. No matter
how hard you try. It was already over and done
with. So, ruminating over it with regret won't do
anything except make you feel miserable.
Now, of course, there may be decisions in your
past that you wish you didn't make or things
you did that you wish you could take back. But
instead of regretting them - a wasteful emotion
that only causes you turmoil - why not choose
to learn from them instead and move on? Often,
it's from some form of misplaced guilt, where
you believe if you just regret it enough, for a long
enough period of time... then "they" (whoever
they are) will know that you're really sorry.
Except, that too, is a lie. Half the time, the "they"
you are imaginarily making amends to, doesn't
even realize that you're walking around carrying all
that weight. So, make the intentional effort to let
go of regrets - whether they are over something
you did to yourself or others - learn from the
experience(s) and let it go.
Which brings us straight into the next tip - say
you're sorry. There will be some cases where you
owe someone a heartfelt apology (I'm guessing
they are already popping to mind right now) and
for those, you need to put your big girl (or boy)
panties on and just do it.
Again, this may not sound super fun, and it will
require some humility on your part. But, you
(and the other person involved) will never be able
to truly move on, until you apologize. How you
decide to apologize will depend on the situation
- you may have to rely on the phone or sending
a letter if they live far away from you. Although
email and Facebook are okay, they're a little on
the impersonal side. So, try to avoid them or at
least, only use them for the initial contact and
then ask if you can speak by phone.
It doesn't have to be super fancy or a long
dissertation. Most of the time, the offended
person just wants to hear you acknowledge your
wrongdoing and offer a sincere apology. That's it.
Whether it leads to a mended relationship or not,
you can rest easier (and feel lighter!) knowing that
you took responsibility and did your part.
(Note: Please realize that this does not apply to
anyone who puts you in danger. In those types of
situations, write an apology letter as if you were
speaking to them for the cathartic benefit, but
then burn it or throw it away afterward. Do not
put yourself in harm's way.)
32 HEALTHY MAGAZINE