The surroundings in our home can have a significant impact on our lives, on our wellbeing and happiness. What we see every day has an effect on how we feel. Our environment can affect us in a positive or negative way.
When we observe with critical eyes the space where we live, What do we see? How does it make us feel? What kind of mood do we get out of it? Is it comfortable? Is it crowded? Are we happy with it? Is it conducive to relaxation? Are we satisfied with what we are seeing?
It is not about the size of our home, it is not about the price tag of the objects in it. It is about knowing if our homes help us feel whole in them.
If what we see is neglect, clutter, disorganization, our space is in need of healing!
Healing is a beautiful word...it is full of promise. When thinking about what we can do to make our homes more livable the purpose of using the word healing for this mission is that when we are thinking healing we will have a better disposition for the tasks ahead, allowing us to get more involved in them with a special meaning, which will give us results that make us proud and happy. If otherwise we say I have to clear this mess the attitude for the job will be different and also the end results.
When ready for this mission of healing our space – or any other endeavor – we have to prepare our minds for doing the best and the job will be a fantastic one, striking great.
When assessing what needs to be accomplished to improve what is going on it will help to have some sense of humor about thinking how we got into that situation and maybe taking some pictures for some laughter later with the before and after.
To move forward we need to take a hard look at our surroundings and see what is there...what we value and what we don't. What do we want to be with us in our space? When alleviating clutter I do not like to call junk the things I do not care to have anymore, if I have these objects is because at one time I liked them and they had a place and a purpose in my house...and I am grateful for that. Now they just take space that can be used better and I have to decide what to do with them: repurpose, rearrange, donate, or discard them?
When finally ready to take action tackling this job we will plan on doing smart work so we will be satisfied with the way we are doing it and with the results we are expecting to obtain.
From my own experience, it is better not to try to do it all at once because this way it has lots of chances to make us feel overwhelmed and discouraged. When trying to accomplish too much when starting -or wanting to do it as fast as we can, quite often we end up creating a big mess on top of the other one we already have, and that is very frustrating and hard to deal with.
It is much better to have patience and split this process into sessions – as many as required, and that way we will work more effectively. When doing it this way we are helping our brain to create a good habit of being more in control, better organized, which will assist us from now on. This new habit will become more like a ritual that will incline us to keep our space in good shape. This ritual even awakes our creativity allowing us to find nice ways to arrange and display what we have in our homes.
Before engaging in any activity it is important that we have a positive attitude that will boost our confidence. Something that works for me when starting any endeavor – no matter the size of it, how intellectually challenging, or physically demanding – the moment I am ready to begin I tell myself IT IS EASY. I CAN DO IT. This sets my mind in a manner that assists me while doing all the work needed the best way possible.
If when ready to start a project we think that it is hard, that it is too much work, that I would rather be doing something else – playing the victim – we will be setting our mind for doing mediocre work.
Our intentions and attention are what make us succeed, achieve great results that make us proud and very satisfied with our performance.
Quite often what creates a deplorable situation with clutter, neglect, and lack of organization is our disinclination to use our time and energy for the activities that will help us in this regard, procrastinating as much as we can. When having some free time we rather go for a walk, read, watch a movie, or whatever, and it is understandable.
When we keep procrastinating about these matters or doing nothing in particular, considering them unnecessary tasks to perform, and eventually pretending that the mess does not exist, we are depriving ourselves of having an environment that will support us better on a daily basis. Once we discover how great it feels having our space set up in a manner that is pleasant – body and mind friendly – it becomes easy to keep it that way and the effort is worth it.
It is not about becoming neat freaks -pardon the expression- where everything is impeccable, where we get so obsessed about folding and keeping everything
so perfectly arranged that we are afraid to touch it, or even use it.
It is all about transforming our space and making it more livable, more welcoming: Easy going in effect. Easy-breezing comfort!
Quite often we can be very organized for some things and totally neglectful about others. It is a matter of balance. Our life has to be balanced if we want to commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence.
With attention and intention and some loving care, we can heal our space making it a sanctuary...a place for cultivating joy.
– Omaira
Framing it as "healing our space" is brilliant! I healed some of my space after reading this and it felt good! I experienced more support and less anxiety than I usually do when organizing and cleaning. Thank you!
A place for cultivating joy, wellbeing and happiness is a great description of a real home. Thanks Omaira for making me think about how to make it that way.