Now, let’s be real. The idea of cleaning isn’t thrilling. It’s messy, loud, and tiring. But what if I told you that Passover or Spring cleaning could actually be a wild ride?
Growing up, Passover meant one thing in my house: endless cleaning. We weren’t just hunting for chametz, we were on a quest to cleanse every nook and cranny of the house. It was as if my mom thought we’d find the meaning of life behind the couch (spoiler: we never did, just specks of dust). But while we were so focused on scrubbing floors, I never realized Passover had a deeper cleanse in store for us – one that involved decluttering more than just our cupboards.
Yes, you heard that right. It’s not just about tossing out the bread, it’s also about examining which parts of our lives need a good ol’ scrubbing. We may need to consider bad habits, toxic relationships, or that old sweater that, let’s face it, is never coming back in style.
Out With the Old, In With the New… Relationships?
So, you’ve cleaned out your pantry and your closet, but have you ever thought about spring cleaning your relationships? I’m talking about tossing out the toxic ties and renewing the ones that actually sparkle. We’ve all been through the emotional wringer this past year (thanks, universe), and as a result, we’ve seen the value of people who add joy, not stress, to our lives.
If your relationships were a fridge, would you find fresh, nourishing goodies inside, or some five-week-old takeout that’s starting to plot its world domination? Let’s face it, maintaining toxic relationships is like keeping spoiled food. It’s not going to get better and it’s probably going to make everything else stink too. However, I know it’s not that easy: we connect to people, we get used to them, and we are afraid to let go. It takes courage to look closely at our self-worth and to trust the process. Better relationships will show up in their due time.
“When I clean relationships, it is the loudest. The noisy thoughts that run through my mind, the dusty shelves stocked with yes and no answers, hard decisions scratched across the blackboard of my life’s story, the greasy pain that seems impossible to scrub off.”
My book, UnAddicted to You, p. 247
People Pleasing: The Habit That Needs to Go
While we’re tossing things out, let’s chat about people-pleasing. You know that habit where you twist yourself into a pretzel just to keep the peace? Yeah, that needs to go. People-pleasing is like the junk drawer of habits. It’s messy, it doesn’t serve any purpose, and it makes it hard to close the drawer.
This Passover, let’s aim to say what we mean and mean what we say. It’s about setting boundaries like they’re going out of style (which, thankfully, they’re not). And guess what? The people who truly cherish you will stick around—the rest are just clutter.
So, What’s the Game Plan?
Here’s a simple guide to decluttering your emotional space:
- Reflect: What parts of your life need a refresh? What relationships feel like they’re past their sell-by date?
- Act: Start those difficult conversations. Set boundaries like a boss. Toss out the habits and ties that no longer serve you.
- Renew: Focus on what’s left – the good stuff. Invest in relationships that bring you peace and joy. Bring in new habits that actually make you want to be a better you.
Remember, decluttering isn’t just for closets. It’s for every part of your life where you’ve accumulated too much stuff that doesn’t serve you. This Passover or Spring, let’s not just “pass over” our old habits and toxic relationships. Let’s face them, clean them out, and move forward. You’ll be lighter, happier, and maybe just a bit more sane.
Who knows? Perhaps this time, you will actually find the meaning of life behind that couch (or, at least, a couple of lost remote controls).
