Spring cleaning goes beyond organizing drawers, cleaning out your closet, or washing your car. As the weather gets warmer and flowers begin to bloom, take a look at yourself and consider eliminating these five things that may be holding you back from success.
1. Should've, Could've, Would've
You know what they say about hindsight—it’s 20/20. In other words, it’s easy to look back at a situation and determine what the best course of action was. It’s a totally different story when you’re making a decision in the moment. Instead of constantly holding yourself to an impossible standard of should-have’s, could-have’s and would-have’s, eliminate those words from your vocabulary. Start saying, “Today I will,” rather than, “Yesterday I could have.”
It’s so much more productive to direct your energy toward achieving something today, instead of focusing on yesterday’s regrets.2. The Superhero Mentality
I hate to break it to you, but you simply cannot do everything. You are going to let people down. You are going to let yourself down. You are going to feel like a failure sometimes. Eliminate unrealistic expectations of yourself. Be real about your shortcomings, and you’ll encourage someone else to do the same. As long as everyone continues to pretend they’re superhuman, we’re all wearing a superficial mask of perfection.
3. Comparison
Don’t compare your chapter one to someone else’s chapter 20. Don’t compare your weakness to someone else’s strength. Don’t compare your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel. In other words, find your strengths and develop them instead of wishing you were like someone else. Eliminate comparison from your life and become a better you.
4. Brain Clutter
Those million and one things you’ve got on your mind? Start writing them down. Everything from your daily to-do list to little inspirations to things you’re anxious or nervous about. Buy a journal and write it out. Eliminate the clutter from your mind and put it down on paper. Somehow seeing your thoughts as words on a page makes them less overwhelming, more manageable, and easier to sort out.
5. Mixed-Up Priorities
In the words of Dr. Seuss, “Step with care and great tact,
and remember that life’s a great balancing act. Just never forget to be dexterous
and deft, and never mix up your right foot from your left.” Keep the first
things first and everything else will fall into place. If you feel like unimportant things are claiming too much of your valuable time, eliminate them temporarily and focus on the things that truly matter. Take a step back and re-prioritize. As Dr. Suess said, "And will you succeed? Yes! You will indeed! 98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed!"
