Golden Nuggets

Author's Website:
http://donfrazier.com

Virtual Vacuuming

The spring of the year is a unique time for most of us. For those suffering the misery of allergies, we lament its “Tis the season to be sneezin.” Spring also represents the time for tilling the garden, getting the golfing or fishing gear ready, starting the new diet in order to fit into our swimwear, or sprucing up the house both inside and out. It is this latter activity commonly called “Spring Cleaning” I want to focus our attention on in this article.

Spring cleaning is a ritual performed by most conscientious homemakers and/or their companions. It takes the mundane and monotonous chore of cleaning house to a whole new level. This is the time to aggressively go after the cobwebs, vacuum the dusty corners, sweep out the garage, shampoo the carpet, clear away old limbs and shrubs from the yard, and tackle a whole host of other areas not always “spit polished” throughout the year. Spring cleaning is a rite of passage into summer. It has to be done, so the sooner the better.

It has been suggested that we should also use this time to examine the corridors of our mind and emotions. Sensory sediment can linger in the cracks and crevices of our minds and cause significant levels of discomfort or distress. Far too often, people sweep the psychological pain or anguish from life’s events under the emotional carpet and try to ignore its existence. This form of denial is potentially destructive. Out of sight does not mean out of mind.

There is another way that people respond to lingering problems. They resort to an emotional process called Sublimation. By definition, “Sublimation is the transformation of unwanted impulses into something less harmful.” This can simply be a distracting release, or it may result in a constructive and valuable piece of work. When we are faced with the dissonance of uncomfortable thoughts, we create emotional energy. Sublimation channels this energy away from destructive acts into something that is socially acceptable and/or creatively effective (music, flower gardens, paintings, sports, interior design, etc.). Sublimating is a first-line defense mechanism used by people to avoid facing their distressing or upsetting emotional issues. Instead, they bury them where they gather dust in the corners of their mind. A good VIRTUAL VACUUMING will do wonders for the soul.

Many times people create a “safe zone” to accommodate the archiving of their feelings instead of properly dealing with them. This neglect will not diffuse their issues, but may actually set in motion a process that can detonate these time-bombs at a later date. Emotional infestation does not just go away on its own. It must be uncovered and eliminated.

While we are gearing up for the rewards of spring cleaning, shouldn’t we also use this time to address old hurts, pains, frustrations, and fears? Our emotional house is more important than the apartment, condo, townhouse, or mansion where we reside. Why not pull the rug back that may have been covering your emotions and see if you discover something that needs to be cleaned out or cleared away?

You can carry out the virtual vacuuming of your mind, memories and spirit by avoiding the temptation to just do a casual walk-through. A “lick and a promise” emotional house cleaning will not suffice. You can also give yourself a cathartic cleansing by facing the issues you may have buried expecting that time would heal the wounds. Your mind has played host to these emotional parasites long enough. If you will vacuum them up, you will immediately discover the enormous benefits of your personal spring cleaning spree…both inside and out.

If you need a little help getting started, I am here for you…let’s visit.

****A Personal Word to Our Readers from Dr. Frazier****  Please feel free to share your questions, observations, or insights with our readers and me. Website: http://www.donfrazier.com