Just as we maintain physical hygiene to prevent illness, emotional hygiene involves daily practices that safeguard our mental well-being. It includes managing negative thoughts, fostering self-compassion and setting healthy boundaries to maintain emotional balance. Often mistaken for a ‘Mental Detox’, emotional hygiene is a proactive approach rather than a reactive cleanse. While mental detox focuses on clearing stress and information overload through breaks and mindfulness, emotional hygiene is about consistent upkeep, ensuring long-term resilience and stability.

Imagine going to a museum and seeing numerous beautiful life-sized relics, all protected in air-tight glass cases. But if people constantly touched and cracked/damaged the glass for a closer look, the air could cause the relic to fade in colour, rust or even weaken and break. Aren’t we all like live relics in this vast dynamic museum called life! Just as relics get rusted, chipped and even break, over time, the same happens with us when we are constantly bombarded on an emotional, mental and psychological level. We too need to undergo the process of Restoration for our mental wellbeing at regular intervals!

Enter Emotional Hygiene, setting you on the path to refresh, rebuild, restore and rise stronger than ever before… here’s the first of a 4-part series:

The Process of Dusting and Scraping: Just as relics need cleaning to restore their true form, we, too, must shed the layers that dull our essence. Rid yourself of hurt, ridicule, neglect, or self-doubt that suffocates your spirit. Dismiss irritant thoughts, petty remarks, and insincere praise—anything that doesn’t align with your true self. A joke that unsettles you, a coercive act, or manipulative behavior has no place in your space. Protect your emotional well-being by refusing to entertain negativity. Clear away what doesn’t serve you, and make room for a healthier, more authentic version of yourself. Just dust and scrape off all that doesn’t serve your purpose!

What You Can Do:

Think: Will this truly impact your life? A mean comment may hurt, but it doesn’t define you. Let it go.

Return: Reject negativity. Refuse to accept unkind words or actions and mentally send them back.

Recognize: Hurtful remarks reflect others’ unhappiness, not your reality. Don’t take them to heart.

Cleanse: Just as clothes can be washed, your aura can be purified. Detach emotionally.

Strengthen: Build resilience so negativity bounces off you, making you unshakable. Protect your peace and energy.

For Cleansing and Protecting Your Energy:

Affirm and Accept Only the Positive – Repeat affirmations like, “I only accept what benefits me” and “I allow only positivity to influence me emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically.” These reinforce your boundaries and protect your energy.

Visualize and Cleanse – In a quiet space, imagine brushing off negativity from your body, starting from the back of your head, moving down to your face, torso, arms, and feet. Repeat for your back. This technique, inspired by Tai Chi, helps remove stagnant energy and refresh your aura.

Smooth and Strengthen Your Aura – Regularly check your energy field. Envision a glowing, smooth layer around you. If you sense disruptions or discomfort, gently move your palm a few inches from your body in long, calming strokes to restore balance.

Focus on What Energizes You – Engage in thoughts, activities, and experiences that uplift and empower you. Avoid over-analyzing negative events or dwelling on distractions that hinder your growth.

Guard Your Boundaries – Be your own protector. Stay aware of manipulative influences and refuse to be pressured into actions that don’t align with your well-being. Prioritize self-care and maintain control over your choices, ensuring no one takes advantage of your kindness or emotions.

Once you’ve brushed away unwanted thoughts and intense emotions, clearing them from your mind, the real cleaning can begin. If you’ve managed to dust off and scrape away the weight of the past, you’ve already reached the first milestone on your journey to a better you. Now, the true cleansing begins! Until next time…