If light is in your heart,
You will find your way home.
– Rumi –

With a hint of warmth in the air and the first glimpses of green buds peeking through the dirt, we instinctively want to embrace spring and throw open the windows and begin freshening our homes and tidying up. But before you grab that dust rag, take a second to consider giving your soul the refreshing cleanse it needs first.

After burrowing ourselves indoors during the long winter, spring is ideal for a good self-assessment on how we’re doing physically and emotionally. What built up inside you over those winter months and what stayed with you that needs to go? It’s time to clear the clutter out of our heads and hearts to make room for the light to shine in.

To help you begin, here are 5 ways to spring-clean your beautiful soul:

Throw out mental and emotional clutter.
I am letting go of…This is the mantra to repeat to yourself daily. Have you doubted yourself too much in the past year? Or held onto anger you feel towards someone or something? Maybe you’ve let the hurt in your heart steal your joy for too long. It’s time to free yourself from the hold these feelings have over you. You don’t need them anymore, and soon you’ll feel lighter physically and emotionally.

Wipe away frustrations.
Annoyed by a long checkout line? Rude customer service person on the phone? Don’t let your spirit be muddied by these irritations. Tell yourself to ‘rise above’ and make a conscious decision to not get pulled into the negative vortex. Take a calm breath and give yourself a few seconds to “wipe away” that frustrated feeling so your energy can be focused on more positive and fulfilling things that really matter to you.

Air out your dreams.
Spring is all about renewal and rebirth. If ever there was a time to resurrect your wishes and passions for the things you’d like to try (or try again), or places you’d always dreamt about seeing, now’s the time to breathe new life into them. Nothing is too big or too small—maybe it’s a hobby like painting or learning how to play an instrument, maybe you’ve always wanted to adopt a pet, or perhaps you’ll decide this is the year to get another stamp in that passport—or to GET a passport. Give yourself permission to play and embrace the excitement of stretching your wings.

Polish your relationships.
Winter often makes us hibernate inside our homes and inside ourselves. We maybe don’t get together as often with friends or family members due to shorter days and frosty weather, and the next thing you know the weeks pile up like snow and we find that we haven’t talked to some of our favorite people for way too long. Now is the perfect time to bring out the shine in your heart and theirs by reconnecting with the people who matter most to you. Make that long overdue phone call, write the thoughtful note, and see how your simple kindnesses will make your relationships bloom.

Give yourself grace.
There’s a wonderful quote that says, “God doesn’t use a microwave, He uses a crockpot.” Your spirit is the same way — nurture it, have patience, and let it flourish in the time it needs. And soon, just like the bird every spring, you’ll hear its sweet song.

For a handy reminder and daily dose of inspiration, enjoy this free printable checklist while you embrace spring! Click here to download and print.