Spring, that time that calls out for the traditional spring cleaning, lightening up ritual. Open the windows, air out the rooms, let go of old stuff, shed the winter layers, and often begin to fret about shedding those extra winter pounds! But, how about the Lightening up of your soul?

Lightening Up is about unburdening yourself of outgrown thoughts, ways of being and sometimes of unnecessary obligations, areas of work or, even of relationships that have outlived their season or their reason.

To lighten up we must look at our life from a thoughtful distance - with detachment. Now, please understand, detachment doesn't mean disinterest, rather it means "caring deeply from a distance”. I have discovered that only if I practice detachment can I begin to see the shape of what is really working and what may be holding me back from growing and bringing more light into my life. Think about it, without sufficient distance it's as if you are locked into looking at a flower through a microscope, you would only see a fraction of its beauty, shape, coloration and uniqueness of being. From a distance, you can take in more of the wholeness of your work, life and relationships. Then you can decide what demands holding on to, what is beautiful and what begs to be let go.

Lightening up affirms that we create the conditions of our lives and that we do not have to be the victims of habit and fear.

Are you holding on to things that you no longer need? Maybe, it's time for you to consider lightening up. Are there things in your work, business and life that no longer work? Are you caught in the trap of working harder to make things that truly no longer work, work? Do you find yourself frequently disappointed and frustrated? Are you burdened by long-standing grudges old resentments, and worn out belief systems that no longer assist you? Are you keeping yourself from moving on?

We all are guilty of this, but why do we do it? Don't we really know when things no longer work; after all, we talk to ourselves incessantly about it, it pulls at us, it nags. But do we let go? Often we don't. It doesn't make sense…or, does it? We hold tight to insure that we will never have cause to regret. We refuse to let go because we are afraid to be without. We would rather walk over piles, move papers from one stack to another and risk setting off avalanches in our garages than to experience the anxiety triggered by emptiness, space and the unknown.

We cram, stuff and jam many unnecessary and outdated things into our lives. We chronically over-commit, fill our calendars to the brim and get lost in the constant demands of life and then complain about being exhausted, overwhelmed and stressed out. Why, often to maintain a sense of fullness and self-importance. Most of us are terrified of solitude, of silence, of open space, and perhaps ultimately of being with ourselves.

And, what I've finally figured out - A jammed up life is heavy. It keeps me from moving fluidly from one place in my work and life to another. It creates an energetic block to anything new and ripe to emerge.

Sure, you can always accumulate more without clearing out; there is always that little square inch in that closet. But haven't you experienced, as I have, that what you've pushed in often quickly turns into tomorrow's useless and meaningless junk? When we fail to step back, and grant ourselves permission to have some space and time and clearing, anything new becomes old very quickly, The thrill of the new fades fast and ultimately so does hope and joy.

So, want to try some lightening up? Take first steps first. Lighten up the tangible things in your closets, drawers, bookshelves and attic. The impact on your life can be astounding!

Why? Because…

Clearing out one space clears many.

Everything in life is connected. This is not just some spiritual babble - it's the truth. Just look at the discoveries of quantum physics and the holographic universe - everything is in every

thing and therefore a change in one aspect subtly changes every aspect. Take one new action and it has unimagined ripple effects on other parts of life. And, once we've begun - when we have pushed through the inertia - we feel freer, lighter, energized and hopeful.

Tips for Taking the First Steps:

1.Start with the easiest, quickest, most concrete chores first. There's nothing like the taste of success.

2.Start with one drawer at a time.

3.Set a limited amount of time - 30 minutes perhaps, and stick to it. You don't have to get rid of everything all at once. That's just as compulsive as holding on to everything.

4.Write a check-list, to-dos with specific accomplishment dates and complete them on time, one at a time. Or, even better, write a "not-to-do" list - it's effective and feels less overwhelming.

5.Ask for support and acknowledgement from a positive, supportive person. You have embarked on a mighty effort and it helps when we ask for some cheerleading from the sidelines. Who knows, you could even inspire them!

6.Journal what you are feeling - even if you may be embarrassed that getting rid of "stuff” is making you jumpy, uncomfortable, maybe sad. Journal your pride in accomplishment, affirm your commitment to lightening up. Don't keep it in your head - write it down and make it real.

7.Congratulate yourself at accomplishment.Be shamelessly self-praising.

8.Avoid berating yourself for things that you have not yet accomplished. As James Taylor has sung, "It's enough to be on your way…it's enough to just cover ground, it's enough to be moving on.”

9.Honor what you are letting go. It gave, or perhaps promised you benefit, pleasure, joy and/or love, which is why you wanted to hold on to it, It's time to let go of it and perhaps releasing it will give someone else pleasure.

10.Imagine something, someone or some state of mind that you don't presently have that could possibly enter if there were more room in your life. Write it down, draw a picture of it, and tape it inside your closet where you will see it each day. I have found that if I am not clear about What's-In-It- for-Me to go through the pain and discomfort of change- that I may begin something, but I can almost be guaranteed not to complete it.

11.And lastly, here's a simple formula that can make your plan to lighten up more action-able: What will you stop doing? What will you begin to do? What will you continue doing because it works?

If you are still feeling overwhelmed, just remember the Chinese saying, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” .

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