I have a love/hate relationship with Spring. The sun re-emerges through the clouds and you can feel the air getting warmer with each passing day. Flowers are blooming, birds are singing, the air smells sweeter and everyone seems to be walking with a bounce in their step. The promise of new life, new beginnings and perhaps even new love floats upon the gentle breeze of Spring. It’s as if everything is throwing off the dreary shadow of winter and getting ready for a bright and happy Summer.
How’s that for an introduction to Spring; corny enough for you? For me, the truth is that Spring is the time of year when I am at my most unattractive. A long-suffering victim of chronic hay fever and seasonal allergies, I spend the glorious months of September, October and November with red, puffy eyes, a grotesquely swollen nose, blocked and tender sinuses, a dry sore throat and fits of uncontrollable sneezing that make the casual passer-by stop and stare with a look that conveys something resembling a mixture of sympathy and annoyance. For me, Spring is an exhausting season where I am forced to retreat inside and hide away from the cruel treachery of beautiful blossoms!
So as I cuddle up on the couch with a box of tissues at my side, I have plenty of time to contemplate and wonder “What exactly is the message of Spring?” Spring represents the transition from Winter into Summer. It is a time of change where Mother Nature eradicates what is no longer needed to make room for fresh growth. The message then is clear; out with the old and in with the new. We can all relate to the desire for a clean and uncluttered house, garden, shed or office. But what else needs cleaning, tidying, pruning, trimming or discarding in your life?
Sometimes things finish serving their purpose. Sometimes we no longer use the things we have. Sometimes we hold onto things long after we should have just “let them go”. Sometimes we persist in a situation even though it no longer brings us any happiness or fulfilment. We are experts at finding reasons (or excuses) to accept the status quo. Lousy job but it pays the bills, miserable relationship but it’s better than being lonely, abusive boss but I can’t rock the boat, I’m always broke but that’s life. It’s always much easier to stay put and not take any action than to face your fears and make a change. But just because it’s easier, doesn’t make it a good decision. Settling for less than we deserve and tolerating mediocrity (or worse) never brings happiness. The road to success is not paved with reasons and excuses.
So what are you currently tolerating in your life? What are you holding onto that should be thrown out? What heavy baggage is weighing you down? What’s your excuse for not being happy? Are you ready to look a bit deeper and see what’s lurking in your system and limiting your potential? Or would you prefer not to look and continue to turn a blind eye?
Perhaps you know its bad but want to pretend that it doesn’t exist or will go away on its own. Perhaps you know you need to clean it out but think it’s not the right time. How long will you let the clutter fester? How long will you let it corrupt your contentment? How long will you let it restrict your success? How long will you let it spoil your chance of living an amazing life? What if you decided to free yourself of it all right now? What could your future look like?
Spring is the perfect time to clean and de-clutter your life of all the “stuff” you’ve accumulated that’s outlived its purpose. Wake yourself up from your drowsy sleep of excuses, shake off that dusty coat of complacency and summon up all that courage that’s been lying dormant within you. You have everything you need to make a change, you just need to bite the bullet and decide it’s time. Time to let go of old beliefs that are no longer serving or supporting you. Time to remove yourself from negative situations. Time to free yourself from disempowering relationships. Time to embrace uncertainty and step into a happier future.
So how about it? Are you ready to start cleaning out your wardrobe to make way for some new clothes? What about tackling the huge task of cleaning out your office to make room for new opportunities? And then, if you’re really game, why not just take the bull by the horns and tackle a much bigger issue? Perhaps you’ll need to assert yourself. Perhaps you’ll need to ask for help. Perhaps you’ll need to try a different approach. As long as you are taking action, you will find a way. After all, creating a life you love is worth it. Maybe Spring will become your favourite season…
