Cleansing. You cleanse your body, but do you cleanse your mind?

It’s a new year and so many people I know are doing a “cleanse”.  You know, the kind that involves food sacrifices and discipline?  If you make it through the 10 – 14 days you feel great (I’m not sure if that is a result of the physical cleansing or the sense of accomplishment, but equally worthy!) if you don’t you will berate yourself and make all kinds of promises to do better next time.  While I am a big supporter of cleansing the body, I also believe it is equally important to cleanse the mind.  It is interesting to me  that people are willing to use their will power to improve their physical self, but ask them if they meditate or practice mindfulness and they will say “I can’t do that, my mind is too busy”.  The problem is there is a direct connection between mind and body, as much research has proven, so you will never achieve a true “cleanse” until you do BOTH. 

So why are we willing to use sacrifice and discipline for our body but not our mind?  We all seem to be a little afraid of what might “come up” if we cleanse our mind.  We are okay to handle the physical symptoms (which if you have ever done one you will be well aware of!) of the cleanse but not the emotional ones.  Much of this is based on our western cultural belief’s.  We have been taught to place more value on the physical/material world than on the mental/emotional/spiritual one.  We have survived as a culture based on this belief, but does it provide REAL fulfillment? If you are interested in living a cleaner more fulfilled life then you must incorporate mental and emotional cleansing into your detox program.

The Mind Cleanse:  Start by incorporating 15 – 20 minutes of silence into your daily routine.  Create a retreat space in your home or nature that will allow you to just be with yourself (You are going to need to become your own best friend!).  Take a few deep breaths, relax and be aware of your body in space and time.  Close your eyes, focus on the spot between your eyebrows, as thoughts arise notice them and say “thinking” and let them go, continue to watch these thoughts, no judgement, just become the silent observer.  By doing this mindfulness practice in silence you will learn how to do it in every minute of your day, well most of them anyway! When you become a really good “observer”, both in silence and out in the “real” world, you will feel as if you are watching a movie and you are the main character.  You will become curious about the story line and that’s when you are ready for emotional cleansing.

The Emotional Cleanse:  As the experienced observer of your thoughts and mind you will now be able to watch your emotions arise (this is a little more challenging as it is easy to lose our focus at these times, but I know you can all do it, if I can you can!). You will still feel the heat of anger, the hurt of disappointment, the stabs of jealousy, but you will not be over taken by them, you will simply notice them (they are part of the movie).  The process of emotional cleansing is three fold; be AWARE of the emotion, this is that moment of inner recognition – “I am angry”, then ACCEPT that this is what you are feeling in the moment – “I am feeling angry right now and that’s okay”.  Just be curious about it, feel how it feels in your body say “isn't that interesting?”. And finally ALLOW the emotion to move through you and not become stuck.  Relax your body, take a few deep breaths and release, visualize the negative energy moving out of your body. This will be tough in the beginning believe me I've been there, but use that will power and discipline to keep at it because it does get easier.  

By not “reacting” and being taken over by your emotions your gift will be greater clarity, clearer understanding and deeper compassion for yourself and others.  You will then be able to respond to each emotional situation from a centered and grounded place.  In my experience the greatest benefit of this has been no more guilt for what I said or did in the “heat of the moment”.

Today I challenge you to consider whether or not you are spending more time, discipline and sacrifice on your physical self and if so make a choice to give equal time (as they are equally important) to your mental/emotional self.  Creating that mind body balance will bring the clean, fulfilled and peaceful life that we all desire and deserve!

Cleanse on my friends!!