For me, there’s something about January which feels light and fresh and clear. The end-of-year holiday congestion has dissipated. The trees stand tall and bare, allowing the winter sun to make its way through my window. The new calendar on my kitchen wall boasts a brand-new clean slate.
If only that were completely true. While in many respects it does feel like a clean slate, I’ve found again and again that it’s never purely a clean slate. Remnants from the months, and years past, still vie for attention. It’s been a lot these past few years. And despite my desire to move full steam ahead, I sense a part of me is holding back.
It’s the reason why so many of those lofty resolutions barely make into February. Despite our best intentions, when we don’t let go of the past, it can feel difficult, even impossible, to move forward. When we don’t take time to clear the residue, we repeat the same old patterns which keep us stuck.
Often, when I notice resistance around my intentions, I pause. And, rather than giving up, or pushing forward, I look within to determine what’s still in my way. I tune into my fears and doubts so that I can help clear them away. And, though I often do this, I don’t always. So, this year, I aspire to add more consistency to my practice.
During the first few days and weeks of January we are bombarded with countless practices to help detox and shape the body. It’s assumed, especially after holiday excess, that January is the perfect time to begin paying more attention to the physical body. Yes, maybe this is true. Yet, just like the physical body needs periodic cleansing, so does the emotional body. Similar to any other toxin, our doubts and fears, when allowed to build up, form the sludge that weighs us down.
I suggest that in order to cleanse the emotional/energetic body, we incorporate doable daily practices into our lives. And, just with any type of exercise, consistency is key. Consistently releasing old emotions, along with relaxing the nervous system, reaps benefits for every area of our lives.
When I worked as a nutrition coach, I would recommend gradual dietary changes, and slow detoxes. Slow and steady is what ensures lasting results. The same goes for an emotional detox. Little by little is what helps our system get used to the changes, allowing them to take hold.
Tapping, meditation, therapy, and body work are fabulous tools to help clear stuck emotions. Some can be done in as little as 10 minutes a day. Those with longer time commitments can be practiced less frequently. All will help clear out the pockets of sludge that weigh us down. Find what realistically works for you, so that you can stay consistent.
Here’s to clearing your way forward! Commit to what you can do, and enjoy!
Happy New Year!
Marian
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