Your space is your stage. It’s your sanctuary, your safe haven, your green screen, a blank canvas for you. Is it clear and ready for you to splash intentional color onto? Or does it have a bunch of unintentional built-up gunk and overspray from everything else going on? Over time, it has become very apparent how important it is to give that attention and intention to our space, both where we live and where we work or create.
You know that feeling you get when you come home from a long day, you walk into a room and a feeling of dread sets in immediately? Why was that? Sometimes it could be related to a mess made by a pet or housemate, maybe an unsavory piece of information received in the mail. Is it just one of those days where you feel like you can’t win, and now that you’re home, it’s time to just sit down and check-out? Brain-fried. Most of the time that feeling sets in for me, it has a lot to do with the long list of chores I have to do. It’s a mess and it makes me feel so heavy! When my space is in shambles, I know my mental and physical health are crying for attention. If I want to cook dinner, I’m going to have to clean all this first, and I’m too hungry to wait that long, so I guess I’ll order out, even though I want to save money and know I can make something healthier here. Or maybe I’ll just eat the most convenient and satiating food around the house, which is likely not the healthiest choice. The destructive thoughts set in, “No one has time to take care of all of this every day, how am I supposed to?” My subconscious wants to turn around and avoid these perceived obstacles, but instead we must coexist with it until we have the courage and strength to face it head-on.
What does it feel like without those hang-ups? When things are where you’d like them to be and there isn’t a bunch of extra, stressful material laying around, what do you do with that time and space you have? To me, it feels free, inspiring, and healing. It feels crisp and fresh when my creative spaces are ready for me to start a project or create movement or stillness in my body and mind. There are many ways to set the stage in a meaningful way. Whether it’s the kitchen waiting to be cooked in, the desk ready to work on your passions, the living area asking to have guests for games, or a quiet and private place for self-care and reflection, they all feel better when they are well-kept and cared for intentionally on a regular basis. No matter the size, if it’s a house, apartment, or a room, our space is there to nourish us. When we nourish our space, we nourish ourselves.
The value of setting the stage is worth the time and attention it requires. Knowing how lovely your home environment is where you’ve taken care of it is accompanied by a feeling of accomplishment and gratitude. It may not happen overnight, but progress is what really matters. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but for some reason, we feel we have to deconstruct this empire of tasks that have built up that quickly. One step at a time and with enthusiasm, we make our dreams come true. I see this labor as one of love and inspiration.
It is in the cave we dwell in, our stories scribed on the walls, our fates are decided. What stories are written on your walls? Which need to be rewritten and which need to be touched up?
What are some of your favorite ways to set yourself up for success?
– Laura
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