Summary

The article discusses how to reframe the mindset around cleaning by using imagination, emotional connection, and personal goals to make mundane chores more enjoyable and motivating.

Abstract

The author shares a personal experience of finding inspiration in the act of dusting, suggesting that by changing one's perspective, cleaning can become a more fulfilling task. The article outlines three methods to transform the chore of cleaning into an emotionally engaging activity: envisioning a cleaning spirit that appreciates a tidy space, tuning into the emotions elicited by different rooms, and setting intentions for personal desires in the home. These approaches aim to replace feelings of guilt and shame associated with cleaning with a sense of care and motivation, ultimately making the routine maintenance of the home a more positive experience.

Opinions

The author believes that cleaning can be more than a routine task; it can be an act that nurtures both the home and the spirit.
By pretending that a cleaning spirit, such as a Buddha statue, appreciates a clean environment, one can find more joy in dusting and maintaining the home.
The article suggests that paying attention to one's emotions in each room can lead to a greater desire to care for and clean those spaces.
Setting intentions for personal goals, such as manifesting money for a desired course, can make the act of cleaning feel more purposeful and emotionally engaging.
The author emphasizes that changing habits and routines around cleaning does not need to be a painful process, and that emotional inspiration can lead to a cleaner home without negative feelings like guilt or shame.

Inspirational Cleaning: 3 Ways To Change Your Mindset About Mundane Chores

It is all in the story you tell yourself

“Cleanliness makes it easier to see the details.” ― Aniekee Tochukwu Ezekiel

Yesterday I had a fascinating experience with dusting. Most of the time, you would say there is not anything to note about this chore. However, on my 100-day journey of exploring routines and habits in my home and daily life, I learned something at that moment.

I have done my daily cleaning routine in the late afternoons or evenings. With all honesty, dusting is always last on my list.

To a creative person like me, it seems boring.

Luckily yesterday, I had a big ah-ha moment while cleaning my living room.

I will share with you three ways you can change your mindset about your chores. When you are more emotionally motivated, you will do them more often.

Imagine A Cleaning Spirit:

On our coffee table, we have a beautifully carved laughing Buddha statue. In front of it is a cherry blossom ceramic tray on which I place fruit or other treats as a daily offering.

Yesterday I noticed this area was getting dusty.

I pretended the Buddha is a cleaning spirit. I imagined he appreciates a clean outlook on his offerings for the day. Dusting this area means that I am taking care of this spirit along with my home.

This way of looking at my home helps me want to do more of my dusting. The more we pretend, the more this situation becomes real for us.

What if you had a cleaning spirit? What do they require of you?

Pay Attention to Your Emotions in the Room:

Paying attention to our emotions is another way we can find more inspiration to clean our home. Instead of using guilt and shame to force ourselves to move along with our chores, we can tap into our emotions instead.

Take a moment to sit down in each area and scan the room. Notice what emotions you feel.

I often notice that I am more motivated to take good care of an area if I can pinpoint how to feel good there. When you emotionally invest in a space, you will want to care for it.

Be patient with yourself. Take some time with this process.

How do you feel in each room of your home? Is something bringing you down in a room? Write about it in a journal and take action as you see fit.

Think of Something You Want:

As I was dusting yesterday, I suddenly had a flash about something I want.

Right now, I am taking a creativity course. It is helping me move forward with a lot of things. There is an opportunity to join a year-long group soon. Joining this group is something I want.

A few weeks before this course started, I placed a sticky note below the tray I set out offerings to Buddha. I wanted to manifest the money I needed for it.

I left a note for this group I want to join. I did that, and it motivated me to dust even more and keep that area clean.

This idea was emotionally engaging!

What is something you want? Can you place an intention for it in your home?

My prayer for you today is to find new ways to keep your home clean. Changing your habits and routines does not have to be painful. You do not need to feel shame or guilt. There is a better way.

Day #5: How can you find new ways to inspire yourself emotionally to keep your home clean?

I am including a short video to accompany this article. I hope it will add to your experience and enjoyment of this journey and help you with your routines and habits.

I am tagging my beautiful friends on Medium who have followed me on my past journeys. I ask that you follow them in return and read their amazing writing:

Dr. Preeti Singh, Michele Thill, Tony Young, Jr., Charlotte Zobeir Ali, Amy Marley, Gurpreet Dhariwal, Desiree Driesenaar, Neha Sandhir S, Melissa Bee, Vishnu*s Virtues, Rasheed Hooda, Karen Madej, Tree Langdon, Joe Luca, Terry Mansfield, Noma Dek, Cocoa Griot, Annelise Lords, Henery X, Nihan Kucukural, Sherry S, Aurora Eliam, CMP, Lanu Pitan, Annick Batamuliza, Bob Jasper, Jenine Bsharah Baines, Rebecca Romanelli, Ashley Nicole and many more! Thank you!

Connect with Trista on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, or by email: [email protected].

More from Trista Ainsworth:

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About Me — Trista Signe Ainsworth

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