We have reached spring and as I write this the daffodils in the garden are glistening from the brilliant sunshine that is streaming down.

Seeing this got me thinking that at this time of year, lots of people embark on a spring clean and get rid of some of their physical clutter.

An important part of the goal achievement process or when we pursue a change to our routine is to let go of mental clutter and thought and behaviour patterns that are not helpful and stop us fulfilling our potential.

When I support clients through transition I get them to think about what no longer serves them and what they need to let go of.

Doing this helps them create some mental space. It brings clarity on what they want and the steps they need to take to make their vision and goals a reality.

It is vital if you want to experience something new in life that you let go of old ways of thinking. The exercise described above is a great opportunity to get honest with yourself about what is holding you back, how you get in your own way and what needs to change.

I have listed below some of the thought and behaviour patterns that clients find helpful to release:-

• Self-criticism – we all make mistakes, things do not always work out as we plan. They say to err is human! How much time and energy would you save if instead of beating yourself up you focused on the learning? When something goes wrong – ask yourself “what has this taught me?” Learn the lesson and move on.

• Procrastination – I am always telling people to “live now and procrastinate later”. How much time do we waste thinking about a task or something we have to do? It is so easy to get into the habit of putting things off and distracting ourselves away from what needs to be done. When we get round to completing tasks quite often they are not as tough or don’t take as long to complete as we imagined. Get into the habit of breaking tasks into small chunks and take action. Being in action is far better than inaction!

• Striving for perfection – lots of people waste money, time and energy searching for perfection in projects and people, only to end up frustrated, disappointed and tired when they discover it doesn’t exist. Start striving for excellence rather than perfection! This slight tweak in your expectations will make life more pleasurable and less pressured. It is possible to achieve excellence every time. If you always look for perfection, you will always be empty handed.

• Always putting others needs before your own – many people have grown up with the belief that it is selfish to put themselves and their needs first. In lots of situations that simply is not true. Life is about give and take – we need to have a healthy balance in this area. Never putting yourself and your needs first does nothing for your self-esteem and self-worth. On a plane, during the safety announcement, they tell you in the event of an emergency to put your oxygen mask on first! If you have no oxygen you can’t help others! Take care of your needs first.

• The phrase “I can’t” – The messages that we send our sub-conscious brain almost certainly come true. They become a self- fulfilling prophecy (our thoughts drive our behaviour which drives our self-talk and ultimately our results!). If you tell yourself that you can’t do something that will become the case. Instead say, “I can do this and I will figure out exactly how.”

• Ignoring instincts (intuition) – have you ever had an instinct about something or somebody and allowed your brain to talk you out of following that gut feeling, only to regret it later? Having space in our minds allows us to hear those subtle powerful messages that our intuition provides. Have the confidence to follow your intuition more frequently.

• Limiting beliefs – “I am not experienced enough”, “I am too old to do this”, and “I can’t do this” are a few examples of the way people limit themselves with their thinking. We all need to be careful what we think about and wish for, as these thoughts so easily become our reality. When these thoughts appear get into the habit, of asking yourself “is this really true?” Then consciously start creating more empowering and positive beliefs.

This week, why not take a few moments to think about if there is anything that no longer serves you and that you need to let go of?

Quote for the week:

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be” Lao Tzu

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk