The 12 Days of Spring Cleaning: Day 12

Here we are already at Day 12!!! Hope you have enjoyed all the tips/tasks and are feeling a new lightness of being after clearing some clutter ~ physical, electronic and emotional/phycological! Isn't springtime wonderful?!? A beautiful opportunity to reinvent YOUR wheel!

To catch anyone up that is just joining me now, here is the list so far in the 12 Days of Spring Cleaning, linked to the blog that will fill you in on the details for each task:
DAY 1 ~ Your computer desktop.
DAY 2 ~ The bathroom cupboard.
DAY 3 ~ Your purse, diaper bag and wallet.
DAY 4 ~ Your freezer.
DAY 5 ~ Your Schedule.
DAY 6 ~ The First Aid Kit.
DAY 7 ~ Your e-mail inbox.
DAY 8 ~ The garage.
DAY 9 ~ Your work space.
DAY 10 ~ Your pantry/kitchen cupboards.
DAY 11 ~ Your goals/vision board.

I think I may have saved the best for last! This last task is a bit of a doosie, so it may take a little longer than a day...well really it is a constant evolution, but this is the opportunity to make a big shift and start the purging process!

DAY 12 ~ Your relationships...insert *gasp* here:) this may be a good time to pull out your journal...just sayin'!

By nature, humans crave and create relationships. This does not necessarily mean a partnership, but relationships with others in general. The trouble is we often allow ourselves to *should* all over ourselves when defining our relationships! I *should* like her. My marriage *should* look like this. We *should* be closer friends. My kids *should* have a close relationship with (fill in the blank here). STOP *shoulding* all over yourself!

Take this opportunity to evaluate your relationships and start to think about what you want and need out of those relationships ~ please remember this evaluation needs to take away those *shoulds* and look at what is important to your happiness.

As you evaluate where YOU are, you may notice there are some changes that need to happen to move forward. I just saw this quote off a status on facebook and LOVE it:

“Healing always involves releasing the past as we move into the future. If we don’t release the past, we keep re-creating it—and it becomes the future. As we release, it’s also crucial to have a powerful vision of a hopeful and exciting future that draws us forward.”
~ Dr. Christiane Northrup

As you look into your future and evaluate your present, what/who do you need to purge? Look at who you are within those relationships. Are there patterns of behaviour that you keep demonstrating that are allowing a negative cycle to continue? What is your role in the areas that need changing...what habits/patterns of behaviour can you purge?

“Nobody can hurt me without my permission.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Are your actions/inactions giving someone permission to take time you are not willing to share? Be honest and brave when asking yourself these questions...and don't forget to turn them on yourself and the relationship with yourself!

Taking the purging even farther, there may be relationships that need fall away. Are there people with whom you cannot be yourself, who only drain you, who always bring you down? Maybe that relationship has run its course. Generally in this is the case, you will know it deep in your gut...create some time to listen to that gut intuition!

As the fabulous Misty Tripoli has said in many a course/discussion, "Tell the truth and tell it with love"! This includes when speaking to yourself...

Signing off with love...

Photo Props: POPOEVER via Flickr