Welcoming 2017 With A Clearer State of Mind – Clutter No Longer Serves Me!

Welcoming 2017 With A Clearer State of Mind – Clutter No Longer Serves Me!

So, I started out the New Years with a single-minded focus on cleaning my bathroom drawers. Sounds boring, but it gave me such a sense of accomplishment!  As I began developing some of my intentions for 2017 (which are still in process), I realized that I really value a clear, settled mind. When my mind is steady I have more room for intuitive thoughts to come through and for my creativity to flow.

I’ve been taking herbal formulas with herbs like Bacopa and Brahmi (Gotu Kola) for a few months now, and I can’t overstate how much they have helped me to go from overwhelm and lack of focus to more clarity, sharpness in thought and get up and go.

So back to the bathroom, when I opened those drawers it felt chaotic, clumps of hair and all, and no longer aligned with who I am. I got to thinking, my home reflects the state of my mind, and even if the counters look clean, it’s somewhat a façade if it’s just on the surface.

With that in mind I felt juiced up to attack those drawers, throwing away items like half used bottles of who-knows-what, and using my Pitta (sharp fire) energy to organize and wipe down the shelves.

Funny I suddenly felt lighter and clearer within myself as well, like I just cleaned my inner spaces too. I’m so proud of my bathroom drawers. Still have the cabinets to go, but now I am motivated! Who knows what inner resources will be available once I do!

For help clearing your mind, check out one of my favorite herbal formulas from Banyan Botanicals: Mental Clarity.  Here’s a description of this formula:

The herbs in Mental Clarity have traditionally been used to support all aspects of mental performance, including memory, concentration, and learning capacity. This effective blend helps sharpen the mind and is useful for those prone to forgetfulness, confusion or indecisiveness. Mental Clarity is an ideal supplement for students, seniors and anyone with a mentally demanding workload.*

Some other activities that have helped me to move from overwhelm to a clear, calm state include meditation, good sleep and naps when needed, Yoga Nidra, QiGong, essential oils and a good diet.

This particular post was supposed to be about my bathroom drawers, but it was a confluence of ongoing, positive lifestyle choices that led me to the state where clutter no longer serves me!

Meditation

I meditate every morning (almost) for 20 minutes or more. Currently I am using the TM technique, although I believe that any kind of meditation helps to both ground and inspire the spirit. When I occasionally skip my meditation practice, I feel like something is missing from the start of my day, and I tend to get pulled off center easier.  I’ll go more into the topic of meditation in a future blog.

Sleep

How could I have addressed those bathroom drawers with such vigor if I hadn’t had a good night’s sleep? In Ayurveda, sleep is considered one of the essential pillars of life. Your mind just can’t function at its optimal if most of us don’t get 7 to 8 hours on a regular basis. Best times to sleep: 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. More on this topic later as well!

I will add one of my favorite resting activities – Yoga Nidra – in a January post, along with Qi Gong, general diet for balance and my love of essential oils.

Meanwhile, I’ve got to go, as I’ve got a bathroom cabinet now that is calling me!  Remember to check out Mental Clarity to help clear your head. Who knows what inspiration will come knocking once the cobwebs are cleared!