The word 'detox' comes up in conversation a lot more now than ever before. More specifically when we're talking about diets & cleansing but of course there are various other forms detoxes come in too. We're constantly talking about their endless health benefits but the truth is, our bodies are already equipped with a detoxication system that can defend itself pretty well as long as you're in pretty good health.
What I'm more interested in is the idea of a mental cleanse. A mental cleanse and/or detox is the same as cleansing/detoxing the body; getting rid of & eliminating certain 'bad' things. What you need to remember is that when it comes to a mental cleanse a lot of effort is required. Just like your lifestyle & the foods you eat, they'll either fuel or limit your body & you're mind is very much the same. Feeding your mind with positive thoughts & engaging in good habits & keeping it healthy is just as important.
Majority of the time we're too busy to properly deal with our emotions & we often just out them aside. We're also not always aware of where our energy is going. Doing a mental cleanse is not as simple as saying, "Okay, let me just replace my bad thoughts & feelings with something happy & positive". It's more about gaining clarity, staying resilient & reclaiming control.
Having clarity will help you with reaching your goals, learning to move past setbacks & embracing change, all without fear. It can also help you better understand your emotional reactions.
Emotional Detox
The idea behind an emotional detox isn't so much about getting rid of any feelings or emotions that you'd consider to be negative but to rather find & identify any emotions that might be displaced or repressed. My favourite approach to an emotional detox is through journaling & writing. Some times it's guided, other times it's free-writing. Find a quite, comfortable place, light a candle & start to ask yourself similar questions to there . . .
- Lately I've been experiencing feeling a lot of . . .
- I feel most like myself when . . .
- One thought that has been causing me stress lately . . .
- The things that bring me the most joy are . . .
- One old pattern that doesn't serve me that I wish to let go of . . .
When approaching journaling allow yourself to feel absolutely everything! This will help you spot any patterns & discover may misplaced feelings that manifest themselves into your daily life.
Mind Clutter
One of the things that can help you get rid of any mental/mind clutter is to actually get rid of any physical clutter first. Your desk, wardrobe, office - everything & everywhere. Keeping things tidy will help improve your mental clarity. Also, having a small, sacred place where you can disconnect from the outside world is also important for clarity. Make it a place where you can go gather your thoughts, reflect & renew your connection with yourself
Focus On What You Can Control
Whenever I feel like things are slowly slipping out of my control, normally when life is a little stressful, I try my best to focus on those that I can control. Is it always easy? Hell no! But when you're facing a situation where you know you can't change certain things, you can find yourself feeling overwhelmed & frustrated. Any energy that you give things that are beyond your control is a complete waste. There is a huge difference between taking action & solving problems compared to contemplating. What you can control is where you direct your focus & there lies your power. Focus on all the things you do have control over.
Protect Your Energy
It's taken me awhile but I'm definitely learning how to protect my energy more & recognise who & what drains it. It's not always that the noise & clutter surrounding our minds is our doing. Sometimes we can act as an emotional sponge & soak up other peoples emotions & feelings. Empaths & highly sensitive people can very easily absorb that energy from other people & places. The need for learning to detach myself from other people's emotions is something I'm continuously working on. Sometimes you'll interact with someone & can immediately feel your own energy change as you immerse yourself in the emotions & feelings of that person. If this is something I noticing happening, I'll asks myself, "Is what I'm feeling right now my feelings or someone else's?"
Setting up healthy boundaries is one way to protect your energy & it's all an important part of a mental cleanse. Fear may also be a culprit. When you become fearful, you immediately sense your energy shift. To let go of that fear, imagine & feel yourself being strong & staying tall. You tell yourself that your are safe & remember that it's your energy & it's your responsibly to protect it. It's one of those things no one else can do for you.
Staying Present
Life moves so fast & sometimes it's easy yo lose track of some of the things the matter to us most. We tend to spend a lot of time worrying about the future & re-living the past. Being present is all about letting go of those fears & allowing your mind to be free of judgement in every single moment & thought. Don't spend time wishing you were somewhere else - teach your mind to pay attention to & be present in the current moment even when it's not a fun place to be. Staying present will help improve your mental clarity & practicing it is a crucial part of a mental cleanse.
Embrace Stillness
This is one of my favourite steps for a mental cleanse. Mediation is one of the essential ingredients in restoring mental balance in your life - especially when you feel like that mind clutter is weighing you down. Being still & silent can be very intimidating & even scary at first if it's not something you're use to. We don't always love being alone with our thoughts & feelings but once you get over that fear & full embrace the stillness though, it will help you find peace & clarity.
Doing a mental cleanse can help guide you back to you authentic self. There will be days when you find yourself feeling lost; when you don't know what the next step should be. There will be days when there is so much going on around you that you don't know how to find yourself again.
You can't be afraid of letting yourself feel because the more you try to push away any negative thoughts & feelings away, the harder they come back to bite you. Cleansing your mind is not just about embracing the good, it's also about allowing yourself to feel the bad too & realising that you negative thoughts have a purpose too.
B x
