A little life refresh: 6 juicy tips

As a little girl, I’d sometimes walk through my front door and all our living room furniture had been moved around! This was wildly thrilling! Like a hurricane had just blown through (OK, call it my mom, needing a change) and suddenly, I saw everything through fresh eyes.

Refreshing!

I’m a huge fan of the big, bold “refresh.” Just like when our computers get stuck, and we “refresh” the screen to create an instant, real-time alignment—we humans benefit when we intentionally refresh. We even take “refresher” courses.  January is naturally the siren-call of refreshing (if we’re listening). She invites us into a cleanse. It’s not quite spring cleaning—but we sense and see potential to pare back to what is most essential. To create space for the new.

It’s a bit like the old 7UP commercials.  “The pause that refreshes.” Refreshing is hard-wired into humans. We long to quaff deeply. And then, to oh-so-naturally say, “Ahhhhhhh.”

 It’s the new year. You’re thirsty. Let’s refresh!

1)    Delete. It’s OK. Remember, not everything is forever. It shouldn’t be. Let that which no longer serves you move on. To another human.  Or to the recycling bin or Goodwill. This instantly creates a flow of space, energy and openness.

2)    Oh, and about that old “luggage” both real and in your mind that you’ve been carrying around for decades: Is it time to let it go? (This can be old ways of being that once served you—and maybe even protected you—but are now in the way of your fullest life.)  Shed them.

3)    Let your senses lead the way. Let the light shine in. Let the aromas be pleasing. Fill your space with sounds that reflect this new you. Let your sense of touch be met with smoothness and grace. Let your sight-lines be clean and uncluttered. Let your intuition rise, too.

4)    “Workability” is your friend. Create mighty little systems that really work. This is a big concept in a simple word. Where everything has a home. And you only touch something once. This will bring oodles of joy and energy. (This is the opposite of piles that fall over!)

5)    Don’t forget your mindset (See #2.) This is your opportunity to do some inner thought hygiene. Invite in only invigorating perspectives. Splashes of sweet and bold. Anything stale, old or stuck is now too small for you.

6)    Bless and release all that is not wholeheartedly aligned with who you are and where you’re going. (I know this sounds harsh, but this is actually a deeply respectful and honoring process—-in all directions.)

Here’s to your (re)FRESH! And when you’re done, make sure to treat yourself to a refreshment, or two! Of course!