Getting Rid of Junk in Our Lives-Purging the Soul in the New Year

One reason for New Years Resolutions is that we have had excesses in our lives.  Excess eating over the holidays.  Excess spending on credit cards.  So the calendar rolls around and we seek balance.  Its time to cut back or purge our souls.

Whether you want to get rid of junk in your closet, junk in your diet or junk in your souls its tough.  It feels almost impossible to break a habit.

Here is an analogy:  I have owned a gorgeous black leather coat for over ten years.  Recently the lining on the inside has become all shredded and the pockets ripped as well.  I loved my leather coat and it has been very comfortable on me.  I called around to replace the lining and it is very expensive to sew into leather.  So, I realized its time for a new coat.

I actually bought two, its a girl thing.  Women will understand.  To justify it, one was 50% off and the other purchased with extra money I received at Christmas.  One very padded and warm for extra cold weather, another bright red, stylish and fashionable.  So now I have 2 new coats in my closet.

Well I am always in a hurry to run out the door and it seems that old leather coat is the first thing I grab.  I have become so accustomed to wearing it.  Its comfortable on me.  It still looks great on the outside.

The old coat no longer serves its purpose even though I am so comfortable in it.  It is like that with habits.  You have to put off the old and put on the new.  Your old habits of how you shopped, procrastinate, handled your temper, eat for emotional reasons no longer serve you or you wouldn’t want to change them so badly.

To take on a new habit requires conscious effort to change, stop doing what you are doing and put on the new coat.  The new coat doesn’t feel as comfortable at first but ultimately serves our life purpose better in the long run.

So when struggling with breaking habits into a New Year remember your purpose for change.  Stay committed to it and hang your new coats in the front of the closet in view.  Remind yourself every day you want to change and pretty soon that new habit will become your well-worn comfortable coat you can’t live without!