I came to know from a few people who are associated with Mother’s Ashram in Pondicherry, India, that when anyone seeks their advice on improving their economic condition, they suggest them to clean their houses; they keep repeating the same advice even when the person has not seen any improvement.
For a very long time, I did not understand the correlation between cleanliness and prosperity. I think I am beginning to understand now. Let me share my understanding.
Let us imagine a scenario of a hall of 200 sq. feet with about 20 tables and 40 chairs thrown here and there with cobwebs giving ‘wonderful’ company to the furniture. Even if you walk into that hall with high energy, your energy level will take a beating after being there for just five minutes. Now let us assume that someone clears the cobweb and also removes 19 of those tables and 38 of the chairs. If you enter this room now and spend even 30 minutes, you will feel energetic. Are you getting the point?
It is so clear that cleanliness directly contributes to both physical and mental energy levels. Obviously when you work with better energy, your productivity will improve resulting in better success and prosperity. Of course, there can be more reasons for our elders’ statement,"Cleanliness is next to Godliness." For the moment, we will confine to our discussion to the impact of cleanliness on our energy levels.
Can we look at a few areas for improving cleanliness? Let me start with this list;
- Home: After all, charity begins at home. Cleaning your house can be a good physical activity during weekends. Even if you spend 15 minutes per week end, it will be a good starting point. My Prosperity Mentor suggests that you may remove one clutter (other than your spouse!!) every week. May be, once three (or six) months, you can employ a person to do full cleaning. The money spent on this is really worth it.
- Workplace: Clean your desk every day. It is better to have a clean desk and that alone will give you a lot of clarity to your thinking. Keep the papers for filing in a separate folder and file the same ASAP. Of course, thanks to the electronics age, paper work is reduced now, but at the same time, properly organise the documents in your PC / laptop. Delete the unnecessary mails and documents daily. So in both physical and electronic forms, clutter is to be cleared.
- Mind: This requires equal importance. The accumulation of clutter in our mind owing to stress or our own emotional responses cannot be underestimated. Daily practice of Walking, Yoga, Pranayama and Meditation really help us in cleansing our mind. For some of us, who are fortunate to have a great Spiritual and Life Mentor and a weekly Satsangs (association with right minded people), cleansing of mind is a simple process through the power of association.
The more I understand the spirit behind of some of the values and principles taught by our elders, my respect for them keeps going up. I think it is our duty to pass on those values to the future generations with as much of logic as possible. Cleanliness is definitely one such value not only for Personal Finance but also for life as a whole.
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