The Purification Process…

Today is Day 15 of my 21 day cleanse/detoxification/purification process.  To be honest, I never imagined that I’d make it this far.  Last time I tried this, I made it to Day 5 and was a blithering idiot!  I cried all day long and finally decided that this journey was not right for me.  Come to find out, it was just my blood sugars screaming for me to get them into some kind of order!

This time around, I decided that I would take it one day at a time.  Each day I say to myself, “Today I’m doing the cleanse.”  When I think I can’t stand it and want to eat something undesirable, I just tell myself that it is just for today and maybe tomorrow I can indulge in said treat!  So far, so good.

Change is a funny thing.  Some changes are very easy to make…others, difficult.  Making life-long changes in my eating habits is one of those difficult ones.  Too many years of emotional and pleasure eating; paying no mind to what I was putting into my mouth… just knowing that it made me feel better.  Research says that it takes 21 days to change a habit.  Here’s to my 21 days!  Day 22 will be very telling!

This little 21 day process I’m going through is “detoxing” my body.  I wonder if they have any other 21 Day programs?

Closet Cleanse – Clean out your closets in 21 days!                                                      Pantry Purification – Rid your pantry of unhealthy food in 21 days!                    Drawer Detox –  Diminish your drawer space in 21 days!  

Sometimes it’s difficult to let of go of things in our life that weigh us down.  We are comfortable with the way it’s always been.  Deep down inside, we know that we need change, but the comfort far outweighs our willingness to do so.  We look at things in the moment.  We let feelings take over rational thinking.  My Day 5 of the first go around was a prime example of that.  My high emotions all day long dictated how I proceeded.  I could not see out of that moment in time.  I could only see how “miserable” I was right then.  I was unable to see that with a little “suffering,” I would be stronger and in a better place.

As we approach spring, many people begin thinking about “spring cleaning!”  It always sounds good to me, but when the rubber meets the road, I struggle to let go of stuff that has been around for a long time… stuff I “might need!”  My spring cleaning this year is going to entail more than just my house.  I need to continue cleaning out old habits that have crowded my “drawers” and begin to make room for new ones.

My first husband used to tell me that if I brought a new pair of shoes into the house, I needed to get rid of an old one.  Hmmmm, I wonder if that method of cleaning out will work in other areas?  As I begin a new, healthier habit, I need to rid my life of an old one.  Perhaps throwing away old habits and ways will make room for better things in my life.  Once I can really see the greatness of the new, I won’t allow the old to come back to visit.

Not only will my spring cleaning entail things of my physical life, it will also include my spiritual one.  I have so many habits that take precious time away from my relationship with Christ.  I’m busy doing things and don’t carve out time for Him.  This morning, as I reflect on making changes, I’m reminded of Ephesians 4:22-24.

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph.4:22-24 NIV)              

I’m beginning to make my spring cleaning list so I can get a head start!  After all, the sun is shining today and if feels like spring!  What is on your list?