Now is the perfect time. Winter has passed and its time to create afresh. But before you do, it's time to throw out the old. Old junk, old habits, outdated attitudes and behaviours. Let's start with your desk. Take a look around. What needs to stay? What can you let go of? How's your filing cabinet? Overflowing with unnecessary papers and files? Where's the bin? If it is not needed throw it out. Be ruthless. Or get your partner to do it for you!

I remember a guest at a health resort I worked at, complaining about how 'all of a sudden' he had appeared to go physically downhill. In truth it was a slow process. He just never noticed the slow and gradual decline. It's the slow and gradual degeneration that often does the most damage - because it goes unnoticed. Don't let it go unnoticed. Pay attention or pay in pain.

For example, lets say you wanted to reduce weight. You notice that you tend to overeat when you get home stressed from a hard day at work. Emotionally hungry, you head for the fridge and quickly scoff some unhealthy junk food because its easy and convenient. Or you have a store of chocolate hidden for such emergencies. Dangerously, you have set up your environment (what is in your fridge or pantry) to support your bad eating habits. If instead you dumped the junk food and bought healthy foods, snacks and drinks, then when you arrive home emotionally hungry, your environment would support you to get healthy and reduce weight.
So how is your waist (waste) line? If you have some gym equipment in the garage hidden from view and access, it isn't going to help you to exercise. Get it out of the garage. Set up a program. Go swim, run, jump or hop! Give your body a fresh start. It will just love you for it and reward you with extra energy!
Do your attitudes need refreshing? Is your mind minding you? Does your mental software need updating? What about your heart? Does it need a treatment of forgiveness? Do you need to look at yourself or others through 'eyes of compassion'? Take a good look around and inside of you. Spring is here, make good use of the season.

Here's a tip. Before you go running off for the broom, take a moment to connect to your core values and what is really important to you. Take a piece of paper and quickly jot down what really matters in life to you. Is it your health, your family, career or creative expression? (If you would like a more formal exercise to elicit your core values send me an email with 'core values' in the subject line.) Define, clarify and link your core values to your clean up program. That way it will have more power. We tend to get things done when we connect to their real importance, otherwise it's just a chore. Chores are boring. Ask any teenager. Get this process done well and you will find it a breeze. And fun!
Need some assistance with this? As a special offer to 'On Track' subscribers, take a look at the Spring Clean Program below. Happy Spring Cleaning!

You are welcome to reprint this article as long it remains unaltered and contains full attribution as follows:
© by Bill Lee-Emery 2004
http://www.altitudealliance.com
email: bill.lee.emery@gmail.com