Ah...spring. Our thoughts turn to flowers blooming, birds singing and, of course, spring cleaning. To most of us, that means tidying up our homes and offices, and cleaning out our closets. There's no doubt that my closet could use a good cleaning. I continue to cling to outfits from years ago, with the notion that they will come in handy someday. Hey, you never know when you might need a tie-dye t-shirt.

But spring cleaning is also about taking inventory, prioritizing what is important and getting rid of the rest. So, this year, recognizing my propensity to hoard stuff, I've decided to take an inside out approach and do some "inner" spring cleaning first. I'm talking about the inner clutter that piles up inside us, and is the major contributing factor to our outside clutter. You know what I mean; things like old grudges, negative feelings and needless fears. The stuff that takes up space, blocks our path and holds us back.

If we focus on our inner cleanup, our inside stuff, then surely we'll see a difference in our outer stuff as well. So, here are few ways to get our inner spring clean on its way:

1. Dump the trash: Still holding on to detrimental relationships that create stress and more stuff?  Harboring resentment about something that occurred quite a while ago?  Filling your mind with negative self-talk or "trash talk" that chips away at your confidence? Let all that go. Focus on your assets and how you can make a difference going forward.
   
   
2. Find a friend: Sometimes we need outside reminders to shift our unrealistic expectations and put an end to pointless worrying or senseless grumbling. A trusted friend can tell you when your inner critic is taking over or when it's time to stop dwelling on inconsequential matters.
   
   
3. Make a list: Ask yourself, "what lifts your spirits" and jot down whatever comes to mind...whether it's listening to music, connecting with friends, reading a good book, walking your dog or taking a nap. It doesn't matter what’s on your list. Just make a point to do one thing every day that rejuvenates you.
   
   
4. Smile more: A smile makes you feel good inside and can change your disposition. According to recent research, frequent smiling has many therapeutic and health benefits. It can even impact life satisfaction.

And, clearly there is something we can all smile about now. Winter is over!