STRIPPING.
Have you ever heard of stripping laundry?
As something who loves thrifting and vintage clothes this is a must-do! For obvious reasons...
It’s a pretty simple process, you take a small load of clothes and soak it in a combination of very hot water, laundry soda, and borax. All you need is to load up the bathtub with the selected items and let them simmer. That’s it.
The process is gentle, slow, and doesn’t do any damage to the clothes, but the results are incredible. I mean, the amount of muck and schmutz that is pulled out can lead to brighter colors, softer textures, and an overall revival of well-worn pieces.
I did a whole load the other day and it had me thinking about people. Just like how we can remove layers of dirt from fabric, sometimes we need to strip away our emotional armor to reveal our authentic selves.
We often accumulate layers of self-protection – past experiences, fears, and insecurities – that we carry with us. And we may not realize that those layers which once served us are keeping us from revealing our true power, joy, and possibility.
And the process *doesn’t* need to be dramatic, sudden, or damaging. It can just be an awareness that we’ve become a little grimy here and there with our thoughts or habits. So, we crawl into the bath and get to soaking.
Just as we trust in the power of detergent to cleanse our clothes, we can trust in the process of gently letting go, clearing our hearts and minds, opening ourselves up to growth and, most importantly, better outcomes. It's in this state of awareness and vulnerability that we can truly connect with others, foster genuine relationships, and embrace new opportunities.
Maybe it’s time to engage in a gentle cleansing? Let go of what no longer serves you and watch as your life blossoms with color and texture.
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Jennifer Wren, founder of The Wren Way, is a Life and Leadership Coach who helps mid-life women stop feeling stuck and start having fun though the intentional practice of compassion, play, curiosity and aligned action.
