“Life is a balance between holding on and letting go.”
– Rumi.
Spring has officially sprung this week. British summertime starts on Sunday and the Vernal Equinox was on 20th March, the date when day and night are the same length. Also known as the Spring Equinox, it’s a time when we notice the light returning to our life, bringing with it renewed energy, enthusiasm and excitement.
More daylight plus the sun streaming through the windows of our homes, shines a bright spotlight on what needs a good spring clean within our physical environments. It also prompts us to look closely at ourselves as we start peeling off the layers to reveal our bodies. As we harness the renewed sense of energy we also notice our emotions and thoughts in relation to the summer months and the hopes and dreams which accompany them.
For many this can be a shock to the system, especially if hibernation during the winter has left us feeling overwhelmed and resistant to moving into the new season. If this resonates with you, here are 3 small steps you can take to gently wake up again and ease yourself into the new season.
- Spring clean the body with a gentle detox – do a one-day juice fast, soak in a magnesium salt bath or increase your water intake for a day.
- Spring clean the emotions with the breath – write a list of any emotions you want to release and then sit with the list and breath them away. Do this by saying the emotion in your mind on the inhale and the word ‘gone’ on the exhale. Keep breathing in and out until you feel it has left your body.
- Spring clean your thoughts by becoming the boss – any negative thoughts can often be rapidly stopped by challenging them and saying a commanding ‘NO!’ when they enter your mind.
After clearing out the old, the Vernal Equinox is a reminder that our lives need balance and it encourages us to pause, reflect and assess all areas of our life, our habits and our behaviours, search for equilibrium and press your re-set or delete buttons if necessary.
To do this spend 5 minutes reflecting on the different areas of your life – examples include family, friends, work, self-care, recreation, exercise. If you know you are out of alignment in an area, habit or behaviour but are unsure what needs to be changed, you can gain clarity by asking yourself two simple questions:
- What are the benefits of continuing with this habit or behaviour?
- What will it cost me to continue with this habit or behaviour?
The answers will give you pointers as to what to hold on to and what to let go of, so you can create more balance into your life, feel rejuvenated and step forward into the next part of the year with hope, health and happiness.