Maintenance

I cleaned my washing machine today. Did you know that washing machines need to be cleaned? I certainly didn’t.

Scrubbing and wiping icky brown sludge out of the rubber ring of my front-loader was harrowing enough to deter me from ever cleaning it again. However, I want to feel the way I do when my clothes are clean, fragrant, and healthy. I know now that regular upkeep will make the cleaning minimal and manageable each time; today’s undertaking was only overwhelming because so much had built up over time.

Caring for our interior world can be like this sometimes. We may bump up against a feeling that is so big it seems insurmountable, and the thought of regularly tending to that newly-discovered part of us can be daunting. Even dipping a toe in the waters of the spirit can thoroughly spook one who has never set foot there before. My partner guides his therapy clients through the same scary obstacle that I have met in my own healing journey: backed-up feelings (ones that are unfelt, un-tended-to) become enormous, so we avoid them — but, after the backlog has been felt, our emotions really do become regular-size.

Just as I was never informed that a washing machine needs cleaning, many of us are never taught about spiritual health. We may not even realize that we have a spirit, let alone know what it needs. The first deep-clean after years of accidental neglect may be harrowing, but regular upkeep is manageable and (unlike household chores) really quite lovely. More so than fresh clothes, a fresh spirit is a true joy to experience and a necessity for maintaining health and ease in daily life.

For Reflection:

What were you taught about your spirit growing up, if anything?

In what ways do you tend to your inner world?

Like a smelly washer or clothes that come out less than fragrant, what lets you know that your spirit needs some TLC?

Do you notice any differences in your life when your spirit is healthy vs. when it is neglected? (In your interactions, creative pursuits, mood, intuition, movement toward goals, offerings to community, physical energy, sensory awareness, mental sharpness, thought patterns, etc.)