Cleanse the Mind
What does “cleansing the mind” mean to you?
When I think about “cleansing my mind”, I think about getting myself back to a place of clarity and happiness. In the winter months especially, my brain tends to get foggy, I tend to have a lot of pent up emotions and ideas that I either can’t act on or am not able to act on until spiring / summer. Then, the new years resolutions start and I’m hit with another wave of emotions, goals, manifestations, etc. I find myself saying things like": “I need a break”, “I need a vacation”, “when’s then next holiday?”. Pair those feelings with seasonal depression, anxiety, and stress and it’s an understatement to say I feel like I’ve got a lot on my mind. I started thinking about “cleansing the mind” a few years ago when I got stuck in the winter blues. Summer time was all fun and games. I spent time outside, I saw friends, I went on vacation. I fully embraced the positive side effects of the sun’s vitamin D. Fall was go time. Time to refresh, refocus, and turn my brain back up to high speed. I loved the fall season and the empowered feeling I got as I ticked goals off my list. Then, winter hit and life was at a standstill. There was nothing to look forward to, the holiday season both excited me and stressed me out, I was tempted into eating all sorts of foods that did not agree with my body, and my normal workout routine took a plunge. However, January resolutions kicked in just in time. At first glance I was thrilled! It was something to distract my brain from the funk of winter. I found energy in tackling my newly declared goals and excited for the opportunities the new year could bring. But it was always February and March when I fell off my resolutions, when I was itching for something new, when I was swallowed into comparison traps on social media, and when I just wasn’t satisfied. I could feel all the pent up ideas and emotions from the winter pushing their way into my brain: “Hurry up and wait!” I hated that feeling. This was the feeling of disempowerment. Little did I know, all I needed was time to myself. Time to be present, time to reflect on the emotions I’d experienced during winter, time to slow down, and time to get clarity on my thoughts and begin to sort out what was important to my present moment and what was causing me unnecessary stress. But how? I was never taught to slow down. I was never taught to take a moment to reflect. I was always taught to push harder, faster, better. I was taught to do everything all at the same time. Yoga changed everything for me. It was around that same winter when I decided to stop being just another body in a yoga class and instead allowed the class to be time for my own self reflection and meditation. I felt the weight of the world lift off my shoulders. I valued my mind, my feelings, and my time more than ever before. I actually liked going to class instead of just ticking class off my to-do list. I started a journaling practice. I integrated small moments of meaningful meditation into my day. I set boundaries around the time I chose to “cleanse my mind.” April is the perfect time to begin sorting out stressors, releasing negative energy and tension, lifting the brain fog, and recognized your own growths. There are so many different ways to “cleanse the mind”, and, don’t be fooled, it took me a lot of trial and error to figure out what methods worked for me and which methods did not. Every body is different. We all experience life differently and we all have unique DNA. So when it comes to cleansing the mind, I encourage you to try something new! I’ve listed a few options and resources below. These are ABSOLUTELY NOT the only options out there. They’re just a few that have helped me along the way. Do your own research, and set time aside to see what works for your lifestyle and your mind. Meditation Resources: Read & try How to Meditate by the New York Times
Journaling Resources:
gratitude resources:
manifestation resources:
Yoga resources:
Find a studio near you by searching “Yoga Classes near me” in Google
Read about the benefits of yoga and breathing
If you are interested in further discussing how to cleanse your mind, sign up for a free nutrition & wellness coaching consultation with me via the link below.