Inspired by Zen practitioners and Shaolin monks, I began a journey of mindful cleaning in 2024.
Cleaning and organizing are not merely chores, but transformational acts.
The steps are simple: discard, organize, repeat.
The transformational effect is profound — as we clean our space, we clear our mind.
Each object in our possession holds energy, yet we often forget what we own.
We accumulate too many items that got tucked away, forgotten, and left collecting dust.
Similarly, our mind accumulates things — our thoughts piled up like unopened emails.
When we neglect to examine our mind and be aware of our thoughts, we become disconnected from our true selves.
Our thoughts are stories we tell ourselves, which are often fantasies rather than reality.
Our thoughts are the shadows that cloud our present moment.
To be in touch with reality, we must start examining our thought with awareness.
While meditation is a tool we can use, perhaps the act of quietly cleaning our house is the first step.
We can feel better physically in a cleaner, more organized space.
Then we can imagine what it is like to have a cleaner, more organized mind.
I wish you and your family a happy new year, filled with the peace that comes from both outer and inner clarity.