Are You Ready To Do Some Mental Housecleaning?

In Wednesday’s post, The Mental Benefits of Memes, I shared 8 facts about myself regarding mental health, and I encouraged 8 of my fellow bloggers to do the same – only, instead of listing their involvements with mental health I asked them to list 8 facts regarding their own blog topics.

In that post I also stated:

When I was finished with that meme, I felt both physically and mentally lighter. It was almost therapeutic to list those things and read them back to myself, even if no one else would read them. I looked at some of the things in awe, shame, mild embarrassment, and total pride.

Having thought more about it, I want to suggest another way for you to become physically and mentally lighter, without having to participate in a meme. It’s a very common exercise that has probably been used by 99.9% of all counselors, therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists, as well as anyone who’s ever been a patient.

There are various names for this activity, but I like to call it Mental Housecleaning.

First, grab a pen and piece of paper and head off to some place where you can be left undisturbed. A cafe, a library, or even inside your parked car. Just make sure there’s nothing to distract you.

Then, decide on which section of your mind needs to be “cleaned up.” Maybe it’s the corner harboring all your stress. Perhaps it’s the open drawer all your worries are spilling out of. It might be those stuffed suitcases full of all the guilt you’ve never gotten around to shipping away. Or, could it be that chest right in the center of your mind that holds all of the things for which you’re happy and grateful?

Next, divide your paper into columns for each area of your mind you’re going to clean. You may want to use a sheet of paper for each area. It’s up to you.

After that, you’re ready to start listing everything appropriate for each category. You’re fed up with your daughter’s disrespect. You’re afraid you won’t get your rent paid on time. You still can’t let go of that awful thing you did/said to your best friend so many years ago. You finally landed your dream job.

Finally, take a long hard look at each of your lists. Most folks suggest throwing them away, claiming this will help you rid your mind of them.

It won’t.

Sure, it will feel great once they’re out of your mind and on tangible paper, but what many people don’t realize is that once they’re on tangible paper, it’s more difficult to push them into corners, and chests, and suitcases to avoid thinking about them.

Once they’re on paper, it’s time to keep them on paper (but for your happiness, of course). You can read them again and again – not to remind yourself of shameful, worrisome, frustrating, and embarrassing parts of your life, but to push you to take action.

Throwing your mess away offers only immediate gratification – immediate relief. I know, I know, we don’t hang on to the dust we sweep of the floor in our houses, but this is just a metaphor, remember?

Stay tuned tomorrow because I’ll be offering examples of how to handle the messes you’ve cleaned up before you can really toss them in the trash.