Clutter Calm

I have to say that my internal instincts have triggered a need to organize and clear out my home as spring officially began on the calendar. I have even noticed other people listening to their intuitive guidance as garages are swept out and closets changed from the tones and textures of winter to the brighter, lighter hues of spring. It is so energizing to clear the clutter and clean the house! This organizing, clearing and cleaning of one’s external world brings an internal sense of peace and calm. In this week’s blog we look at some simple solutions to make the organizing process a whole lot easier…

Our external world has a huge impact on our internal sense of well-being. We can harness the power of our natural instincts that urge us to organize, clear and clean during the spring season. This and the following tips can help you efficiently and effectively manage the clutter and chaos, which will soothe your mind, body and soul.

1. Don’t Organize

Sometimes in our need for perfectionism the idea of organizing can feel very overwhelming. This can lead to stagnation or a complete roadblock. In these moments move forward by focusing on what you can get rid of first. This will lighten the load of what needs to be organized, which will lessen the psychological burden of the task. The very act of purging will make your space feel lighter and uplift your spirit. This will give you the energy boost needed to finish the project.

2. Fewer Favorites

It is important to have special pieces around your home that remind you of happy memories. These items bring a smile to your being on a conscious and unconscious level. That being said, it is important to be selective with these happy-memory-making items. Clutter is clutter, even with the “good” stuff. If you have so many pictures and trinkets on your bookshelf that you can no longer see the special tokens it is time to pair down. Think about removing a portion of the items and rotate them with each season. Leave your favorites out for the first interval. See if you actually bring out the one’s for next season. If you don’t, think about donating them.

3. Destination Detour

That brings me to my next point, I don’t know about you, but I often have bags of items sitting around waiting to be given to this person or that charity. Getting them to their final destination can be challenging for a whole assortment of reasons. The key is, if you aren’t able to get them to their intended destination within a week bring it to the charity drop-off box down the street. Those bags are still considered clutter (that is draining your energy) until they have found their way out the door.

4. Seasonal System

Make a point with each season to notice what you have used or not. If you haven’t used it, whether it is a lotion under the counter, a can in the pantry or a sweater that has been sitting on the shelf, it is time to purge. When you do this on a regular basis you develop your own clutter clearing system that will help you all year long.

Designing habits that help create your Home in Harmony allows you to effortlessly create a sanctuary that nurtures your mind, body and spirit. Utilizing the natural rhythm of the season and developing systems to keep clutter at bay and organization as the default mode will help bring inner calm and harmony to every day living.

If you would like guidance to begin living your Inspired Life feel free to connect with me for a FREE 20 Minute Home in Harmony Lifestyle Private Call by clicking here!

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Image credit: muebles-macal.com

Let Your View Create a Calm Harbor

In our fast-paced world, it is becoming more important to find ways to create inner peace. Our minds are like the ocean, and finding calm and stillness brings a depth of clarity to our being. Our world is similar to turbulent waves that move and shift. Constantly creating unseen debris that swirls and becomes murky. Our balance is challenged while riding these waves. Let’s look at some ways to help you move out of stormy waters and allow you to find the sanctuary of a calm inner harbor.

There are two things one can look at to begin assessing where your boat is anchored in the sea of life; your home and your head. These two areas, although seemingly very different, are interconnected and can influence how gracefully you maneuver the changing tides.

Let’s take a look…

Your thoughts create your reality. Your view or the way you think about life is your window to your world. Although you and I may be standing in the same room, our experience is going to be very different depending on the window we are looking out to view the world. This perspective can be very different depending on our perception. One person may look out the window and think it is a big scary world while another person looking out the same window might look at the vista with awe and appreciation. Depending on your response this will in many ways determine your experience. We often draw experiences to us to prove our thoughts were and are accurate. Some people call this a ‘self-fulfilling prophecy’ while others call it the universal law of attraction. Whatever you call it, it is important to begin examining the lens you view your world through.

An important part of understanding the depth and breadth of this ingrained viewpoint is to begin noticing the things that you are repeatedly saying to yourself throughout the day. Are they positive or negative messages? Are they depleting and focus on lack or are they supportive and life affirming? Are they messages that you heard as a child that no longer support you? Begin to notice these habitual patterns of thought and think of uplifting sentiments and positive new thoughts that can replace them. You have the power to make a new life template just by changing your thoughts, which determine the quality and creation of the beauty of your life. The simple action of noticing is the first step in creating a calm and peaceful harbor. The second step is replacing negative thoughts and attitudes with positive patterns that can steer you to your tranquil port.

Looking at your home through this same lens can have a similar impact. What messages does your home convey to you day-in and day-out. Begin noticing how you feel as you walk through your space. Our spaces are often a reflection of what is going on in our inner world. When things are cluttered and chaotic are you feeling the same way inside? Conversely, your environment can have a direct impact on your mental state. If it is cluttered or filled with items that remind you of negative experiences, these things are speaking to your unconscious, draining your energy on a consistent basis. Begin noticing how your home, and each room within your home, makes you feel. Are you supported and nurtured or are you feeling depleted? Begin creating a view throughout that will support you within.

Assessing the messages in your home and your head is the first step in finding a calm harbor. Noticing the impact of your view, within and without, can help you navigate your way to a beautiful vista that encourages the calm, peace and tranquility of a serene bay.

If you would like guidance to begin living your Inspired Life feel free to connect with me for a FREE 20 Minute Home in Harmony Lifestyle Private Call by clicking here!

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Spring Transition

After running in 10 degree weather last week, I am looking forward to thawing out and transitioning to spring. I truly understand this year more than ever the idea of “spring fever”! After being cooped up inside… even if it was by a beautiful roaring fire, I am ready to breath fresh air and feel the sun on my face. I am sensing that even the wild animals are feeling the same yearnings. I have begun to hear the robins sing their beautiful morning wakeup song and have witnessed the deer lounging in the leaves while basking in the sun. In my home my internal barometer begins to think about cleaning, organizing and throwing open the windows to allow the soul of our homes to breath deeply after a long winter slumber. It is as if our home, body and soul is ready to transition from hibernation to the aliveness and renewal energy of spring. Maybe the age old tradition of spring cleaning came from the natural instinct that awakens in all of nature’s creations, including us. Let’s look at some ways to invigorate and refresh your home, body, mind and spirit during the transition to spring… the Home in Harmony Lifestyle way!

HOME: Throw open the windows and let your home breathe a deep sigh of relief! This allows old, stuffy and potentially toxic air to move out and fresh air to circulate though your home refreshing your space and rejuvenating you!

BODY: Tune into your body and determine if you need to adjust your intake and output. Spring and summer are just around the corner. With them comes the shedding of layers that might have helped hide some extra “comfort food” pounds over the winter. Sometimes winter promotes a sedentary lifestyle that can decrease your energy. Begin to flow with the rhythm of the season and make an effort to move for at least 2o minutes a day. Reduce your intake of processed products and include nutrient dense real food in everything you put into your body.

MIND: Take time to notice the transition of the natural environment around you. It is amazing to truly witness the awe-inspiring dance of winter gracefully gliding into spring. As each new bud begins to blossom, take time to breath in the sensations that touch each of your senses. This will help curb the chaos and connect you with your natural state of balance and calm.

SPIRIT: Listen to the cacophony of natural spring songs that tickle your ears and can uplift your spirit. Being aware and tuning in to birds chirping or water beginning to trickle from its frozen state are a natural way to raise your vibration or energy level. Take the time to allow nature to sing to your soul and help you soar.

The Home in Harmony Lifestyle helps you design your best life by creating an inspired home, healthy body, calm and clear mind, and connecting you to your inner light. The transition from winter to spring is the perfect time to evaluate these four pillars, and determine what areas need your attention so that you can begin living your inspired life! If you would like guidance to begin living your inspired life feel free to connect with me for a FREE 20 Minute Home in Harmony Lifestyle Private Call by clicking here!

Happy Soaring!

XOXO

What will your legacy be?

When looking at life I see people ‘Pillars’ that stand out amongst the many individuals that have come and gone. These individual pillars have created pieces of the structure or the foundational elements that have helped design the architecture of my world. Their influence has set a strong foundation from which to build a beautiful existence. We can be a pillar for others on their journey. This is the legacy that we live and leave. What type of legacy do you live and hope to leave that will impact the design of someone else’s life?

I have been blessed with two amazing individuals who were pillars in my life. They helped design the architecture of my beliefs, attitudes and worldview. They have given me a foundation from which I have built my life. I carry their legacy with me as I stride through each day.

This week I sat by the bedside of one of these beautiful individuals, and was able tell them how blessed I felt to have them in my life. I was able to express the profound impact they had on my life and me. I am filled with gratitude to have had the chance to say thank you to this pillar for the gifts of love, strength, integrity, patience and an expectation of excellence that he instilled in me. It made me begin to think about the legacy I am living and leaving as I walk through my life and touch the lives of those around me. What do I want this legacy to be? Will I be a profound pillar in someone else’s life? How can I help the individual lives I touch design a beautiful structure for their life? I ask you, what will your legacy be? Let’s look at ways to design your inspired legacy.

I think the first step is awareness. Looking at our own lives and noticing which individuals had an impact on us. Were these experiences positive or negative? Did you have to re-frame the structure of your life because of a destructive impact? Or, can you see the pieces that were given to you that support the construction of your life?

The second step is evaluating where you are right now. By taking an honest look at your life and deciding whether you are living and leaving the legacy you hope. Are you a pillar that helps others stand tall?

The third step is choosing what type of legacy you hope to live and leave. The beautiful thing about life is that we have the opportunity to course correct at any given moment. If we are not on the path that we are hoping, we can change course. If when evaluating where you are right now is not the place you hope to be, decide what it is you want as your legacy. What would you hope that someone said to you fifty years from now as they sat at your bedside?

Everyday in our actions, thoughts and words we have a major impact on the world and those we touch. You have the opportunity to live and leave a lasting legacy. What will your legacy be?

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Happy Soaring!

XOXO

Healthy Haven

With Spring on its way, there is a sense of renewal and energy that can tangibly be felt in the air. With this comes a flurry of activity in our homes. Everything from spring-cleaning, redecorating to looking at new spaces and places. It is no wonder that the housing market begins to pick up and people have “everything-house-related” on their minds. This year I have witnessed, along with colleagues in the design and staging business, a barrage of pre-Spring activity in the housing market. It is exciting, invigorating and inspiring! When thinking about design, re-design and potential new spaces it is important to be aware of and take into consideration three things: the look, psychological impact and healthfulness of the interior environment. For today, let’s focus on making it healthy!

As I have mentioned in a previous blog, I am in the process of redesigning my teenage girls room. When I begin any design project, I need to take a number of things into consideration. These include the need to ensure that I am creating a space that is aesthetically pleasing, psychologically supportive and healthful. Most people overlook the last two pieces of this integral part of the design process and focus solely on the visual impact. And, although this is a critical component of good design, it is not the only element that needs consideration. When figuring out how “we” are going to decorate my girls’ bedroom the girls are solely focused on color and impact, which I completely appreciate. However, my goal is to make the space gorgeous, happy and healthful. Because they will occupy this space for long periods each day it is imperative to ensure it has a positive influence on their mental & emotional state and that it is clean of toxic substances that create havoc for the body. Let’s look at one simple way to create a healthy bedroom haven that will have a huge health impact…

It is amazing to think of the various products that go into creating homes, cleaning our homes and making our homes beautiful. A few items that come to mind include rugs, couches, bedding, cleaning products, air fresheners, and beauty items. Understanding what these products are composed of and which ingredients are healthful or hazardous is imperative in creating a healthy, non-toxic home environment. There are 80,000 chemicals that make up the ingredients of the products that the average person brings home. Only small portions of these chemicals have been tested, and even a smaller portion is considered un-harmful to humans. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency has confirmed that the 1976 Toxic Substance Control Act allows chemical manufacturers to keep 20 percent of their ingredients secret. Products considered benign for human exposure have been tested with a limited degree of usage, and not in combination with other chemicals that are used simultaneously. We are now learning that the combination, along with inundation, of certain chemicals is creating a ‘toxic body burden’ for the average person. This correlates to the frightening increase of disease in our society. And because of their small body mass, chemicals have a greater impact on the health of our children.

So, let’s first look at mattresses. You spend a large percentage of your day sleeping on a mattress. Inadvertently most people are sleeping on a typical synthetic mattress. During that time you are potentially breathing in noxious fumes from the mattress itself that is more than likely made of petroleum based product or polyurethane foam. These synthetic mattresses are highly flammable because they are made of petroleum. Insurance companies actually refer to them as solid gas. Because of the corrosive nature of a petroleum based synthetic mattress, manufacturers need to cover them with toxic fire-retardant chemicals. This means you are sleeping in a toxic chemical soup.

There are two things you can do to abate the issue or at least diminish the negative impact on your body. The first is to choose a mattress made out of an organic substance like latex or wool. They are definitely more expensive but worth the price to ensure you are not being exposed to off-gasses for many hours each night. If this is not an option, you need to throw open the windows and unwrap the new synthetic mattresses allowing it to air out for a number of days before actually sleeping on it. Unfortunately, this helps diminish the impact of the initial off-gassing, but doesn’t prevent off-gassing that occurs over the life span of the product.

The key element to keep in mind when creating your healthy home is a conscious awareness of the products you bring home. Creating a healthy environment is directly linked to making informed, healthful choices that include non-toxic furnishings. Start with the mattress that you spend 7 or 8 hours on each day. Exchanging your mattress for a healthy alternative will help you eliminate breathing these noxious substances for extended periods of time. This is a great place to start when designing or re-designing your home and making it healthy and harmonious!

Happy Soaring!

XOXO