Clearing: the Big and the Daily

In the on-line course I am taking called  "Mondo Beyondo"  there was a lesson I wrote about encouraging us to do a "clearing"- a cleansing of sorts- whether it be clutter, unhealthy relationships, a bad job, old business, your closet- just the healthy and freeing idea of clearing out- cleansing. Some people went on a media diet and watched no TV or read no newspapers for a week, others went on a fast, and so on.  


I cleared out some of the basement and my closet.  Whew! I received the below today from "Daily OM",  and I love that it echos this idea of clearing and freeing- a daily way to unclutter the mind by not putting so much clutter in it (like TV news, magazines, etc.) A good reminder- that constantly consuming information is like mind-clutter. I welcome the idea to make sure that once a day I find something that  will unclutter and settle my busy mind. I enjoy walking with Beau in the woods, a short meditation in the early morning in front of my second-hand fireplace, and yoga with Ava Grace.
 I will try and do at least one of these a day. Is there something you like to do each day to calm and unclutter your mind?

Clearing Your Mind Allowing Spirit in Set aside time each day to unclutter and settle your mind. Whether through yoga, dance, walking or journaling. After a full day out in the world, stories, words, images, and songs from any number of sources continue to play in our heads hours after we encounter them. Even as we lie in bed, in the quiet dark, our minds continue noisily processing all the input from our day. This can leave us feeling unsettled and harassed. It also makes it difficult to take in any new information or inspiration. Like a cluttered house that needs to be cleared if it is to have room for movement and new life, our minds need clearing if they are to be open to new information, ideas, and inspiration. Too often, the activities we choose to help us relax only add to the clutter. Watching television, seeing a movie, reading a book, or talking to a friend all involve taking in more information. In order to really clear our minds, we need a break from mental stimulation. Activities like yoga, dancing, or taking a long walk help to draw our attention to our bodies, slowing our mental activity enough that our minds begin to settle. Deep breathing is an even simpler way to draw attention away from our mental activities. Once we are mentally relaxed, we can begin the process of clearing our minds. Most of us instinctively know what allows our minds to relax and release any unnecessary clutter. It may be meditation or time spent staring at the stars. Whatever it is, these exercises feel like a cool, cleansing bath for the brain and leave our minds feeling clear and open. Setting aside time to clear our minds once a day creates a ritual that becomes second nature over time. Our minds will begin to settle with less effort the more we practice. Ultimately, the practice of clearing our minds allows us to be increasingly more open so that we can perceive the world as the fresh offering it is, free of yesterday‚s mental clutter.