Clean Out the Kitchen Cupboards

Dear Jessica Brennan,

I think we all know what it feels like to look in the kitchen cupboards and think, “I need to go through all this stuff and see what is still good, and what needs to go.”

Sometimes you know that everything has to come out, the cupboards need to be washed, and then only what is still good gets to go back in.

This is one of my favourite analogies to life.

Every once in awhile, we need to do that in our relationships, our businesses and ourselves.  What is working? What is fresh? What has gone stale? What (or who) needs to go?

It is so easy to ignore the leaking bag of rice or keep reaching over the custard powder – something you might only use at Christmas – to get to the sea salt that you use every day. What if you moved the salt to the front and the custard to the back?  What if you took the time to find out where the bag of rice is leaking and patch it, or transfer it to a better container? Also, when did you buy that rice? Was it before anyone had heard of Rick Astley? It might be time to send it to the bin.

Going through your stuff, like cupboards, household items and closets, is a great way to purge, which always feels amazing. Going through our thoughts, our actions, our relationships and our emotions, takes a bit more discipline, but when complete, feels even more fantastic.

What are the default thoughts that keep you stuck?  I’ll never be _______. I’m too _________. I should ___________. Isn’t it time to change those to something more positive?

What are the default actions that keep you sluggish?  Hint: think about the regular bags of chips, and the exercise bike turned into a clothes horse. Or think about not sticking up for yourself or being overly defensive.

What about full on toxic relationships? Or those relationships with people who you aren’t good for and they aren’t good for you?  Do they need to go to the back of the cupboard with Rick, so that the better relationships are front and centre every day?

What about those emotions that run away like an unbridled horse every time you don’t get your own way? Is it time to find out where the leak is in the bag?

I think we would all do well to occasionally clean out the cupboard of our minds and emotions, wash down the shelves of our actions and purge our toxic relationships.  This creates space to breathe and invites a new freshness into our lives.

If you haven’t worn a pair of jeans in a year, give them away.  If a thought hasn’t served you well, an action has kept you stuck, or a person has been hurting you, or you them for the same length of time, it is a good idea to review what’s in your metaphorical cupboards and have a good purge.

Love,

Mum xo

Gentle Reader, if you enjoy this blog please follow and share. That’s how others find us and how we know if you are enjoying the content. Also, find us on Facebook and Instagram @DearJessicaBrennan