Spring has arrived in full force; short cold days will soon give way to garden tours, egg hunts, proms, spring break trips to the beach, and the inevitable spring cleaning. As ‘Rites of Spring’ go, cleaning probably isn’t at the top of most peoples’ lists. However, I think it’s invaluable and as essential to our personal growth as it is to our environment.

Just as a garden blooms most vigorously when the plants have been pruned and the debris cleared away, we flourish when given the physical and emotional margin necessary to grow and create. Conversely, it’s incredibly difficult to focus on what’s really important to us when we are overwhelmed by the clutter in our lives.

Like a scary basement closet, our days are full to overflowing, so crammed with activities, commitments, and appointments that we rarely have a moment to pause and consider the relative value of our choices. Furthermore, deciding what to keep and what to prune can be difficult. It can be difficult enough to part with things we know have outlived their season, but when your life is overrun by worthy and enjoyable pursuits, the weeding things out is even harder.

It’s important to remember that even good causes can be detrimental if they distract us from more important priorities. My recommendation: start small; keep your priorities in mind; don’t focus on the cleaning undone, savor your success. Even a little pruning creates space for new growth!

Jill Howgate
jhowgate @ growcounseling.com