Welcome to another fresh start Monday, where we change the narrative… Today we will be looking at making room for the new. Along our purpose journey, we will come to areas where newness will not simply fall on us like rain, we will have to prepare for it. For if we are not prepared, we will be like seeds on concrete, receiving the rainfall but nowhere to germinate.
If you’re like me, spring cleaning is an activity that I have a love hate relationship with. I enjoy clearing out build ups over time and rearranging the furniture. I enjoy the dusting, mopping and sweeping. Each time I look at the space I’m inspired to go on with a picture of the end result in mind. I can feel and smell the newness in the atmosphere and it gets me excited. What I don’t like however, is that I’m one of those detail-oriented persons so I may spend time on something someone may overlook and that causes me to take longer in many occasions. Which leaves me with a backache and foot ache. But was the spring cleaning necessary? It always is!
As important as it is to do routine spring cleaning in our homes and work spaces, so it is important for us do to routine spring cleaning within ourselves. What are those things we hold on dearly to? Do they help us to move forward? Or are we simply sticking with the familiar and comfortable? Even if it won’t encourage our growth?
We are fully aware that life can present with many challenges and if we are not careful and sometimes even when we are, we will develop resentment that grows into bitterness and hatred among other things. It is therefore, our responsibility to rid ourselves of resentment, unforgiveness and bitterness. Yes, I am fully aware that the situation was or is very unfair. Yes, I’m aware that you were hurt deeply by someone you cared immensely for. Yes, I am aware that you are wondering “how did I get here”. But releasing these negative emotions benefits us, yes YOU… yes ME… more than anyone else.
It is ok to experience hurt, disappointment and any other negative emotion, we ALL experience them at one point or another. What is paramount is doing regular inventory so we get out with the old and make room for the new. I’m in no way suggesting that all should be forgotten. Especially, knowing from experience that we tend to hold on to bad experiences longer than we do good experiences. What I am saying, however, is that if we hold on to our bad experiences, we will miss new and possibly awesome experiences.
“All our emotions are important, and it is okay to experience them all.”
Vanesia Bowden
Let us think for a minute about having our hands full, can we receive with filled hands? That answer is mostly no, and mostly because maybe something can be placed on top of what’s in our hands. But surely, it won’t be much!
So, it is with us as times, we want to experience love but we hold on to bad relationships clenching to them for dear life, not realizing we are setting ourselves up for disaster, as we see everyone and every relationship through the lens of broken relationships, be it family, intimate or work. Or we want to experience freedom within, but we tie ourselves up with unforgiveness and bitterness. All our experiences will be different, but the principle holds true. In order to attain the new, we must let go of the old.
May we release that which holds back and make room for the new… thereby changing our narrative…
Thanks for the reminder… amen!