As I decorate for the different seasons I often take note of how I feel in my home. As I walk around my abode replacing summer accessories with fall foliage decorations or holiday trimmings with splashes of spring embellishments I take a moment to really notice my space and the messages it is sending me. This gives me the opportunity to determine if my space is supporting me or depleting my essence. It also gives me a great barometer for where I am at personally. If clutter has begun to pile up or my desk has cascading files, I know that I am in a state of overwhelm and it is time to shift gears. Let’s look at your home and determine what it is saying to you and about you. Your home not only speaks to you but it says a great deal about you. A Buddhist monk once said, “When you get up in the morning, the way you leave your bed, tells us what is going on in your head.” You can begin to understand yourself better by looking at your environment and determining what it is saying about you and to you.
Let’s look at a few ways to begin the process…
First, begin to notice your space overall. If you had to describe it in in a few words, what would those words be? Would you say neat, clean and organized or would you say disheveled, messy and cluttered? Would the words be serene and harmonious or chaotic and discordant? Finding the words to describe your space gives you the first clue about your internal environment. In my many years of working inside people’s homes I have witnessed a wide variety of examples of home spaces that reflect the inner environment of the inhabitants who live there. There is the teen whose room is a disheveled mess, (the one whom literally needs to hunt to find things at the bottom of mile high piles) which conveys that they are feeling a bit lost and probably searching for themselves. There is the mudroom that has labeled bins and color-coded calendars probably belonging to the type-A parent whose household runs seamlessly despite having six kids. Then there is the home of the overwhelmed and harried inhabitant, which is conveyed in the piles of clutter that demonstrate an outward representation of their internal barometer. Your home gives you information on your psychological state; begin to notice the clues that your home is giving you.
Second, observe the messages that the items in your home are sending you. Everything in your home literally speaks to you and your subconscious. It is your job to see, hear and identify the messages. Begin to look around your home and determine if the objects that surround you on a daily basis are sending you supportive, nurturing messages or life draining messages that deplete your vitality. When you walk by a piece of artwork that you picked up on your last vacation it may make you smile. As time goes on and the artwork fades into the background walls, your subconscious still takes note of the happy memories when you walk by the art and it uplifts your spirit. The same phenomenon takes place when you walk by items that hold negative memories. The expensive vase that was gifted to you by the relative who made unkind remarks year’s earlier triggers those energy-draining memories in your subconscious every time it comes into view. Begin to notice the messages that the items in your home are sending you.
Third, set an intention for your home. Do you want to live in a space of harmony and serenity? Do you envision your dream home as a clutter free oasis where everything is easy to find? I recently re-read an article on Rob Lowe in Architectural Digest. In the interview he explained that he had a vision or goal for his Southern California home. He wanted to create a space that was comfortable, kid friendly and welcomed guests to relax and enjoy themselves despite the grandeur of the home. He wanted it to be a space alive with energy. The pictures conveyed a space that captured the essence of his intention and goal. Decide what type of environment would best support you and set that intention for your home.
The fourth key is to clear your environment of the things that do not resonate with the intention you have set for your space or the one’s you have determined have negative associations. Look at every space and every item within the space and determine if it is aligned with your vision. If it is, great! If it isn’t, it is time to clear the clutter to make room for only things that support you and the goals for your home.
These four steps can give you a new way to access your home environment and inner environment. Learning what your space says about you can be an eye opening experience. Deciphering the messages your space currently holds can help you determine the intentions, goals and vision for your future space. Envisioning this aspiration will help you create the inner and outer environment of your dreams!
If you haven’t already signed up to receive solutions & tips to help you live your best life, click here to receive your FREE E-Book and Bonus Gift, plus our weekly Home in Harmony Lifestyle Newsletter!
Happy Soaring!
XOXO
