Learning to Love the House You Have
Do you feel crappy whenever you watch design shows and wish you could change just about everything in your house? Have you been trying to figure out how to love your home? And nothing is working? I’ve been there too…and it’s no way to live! Today I’m sharing the secret to loving the home you have.
Comparison is the thief of joy. Theodore Roosevelt said that once and gosh, his words are still very true today.
Wouldn’t you agree?
Can I share a major struggle I have with social media, the internet, and tv?
First of all, let me say how I love that they can connect and INSPIRE us. But on the other hand, I can so easily get trapped in the comparison cycle.
And it’s SO HARD to get out of that.
I love watching design shows, but then I start thinking things like:
“Oh, this room would be so much better if I changed this or bought that.”
“I should paint this.”
“I wish I could knock down that wall.”
“Oh, this bathroom should be totally gutted!”
(Does this happen to you too?)
But I Want a Beautiful Home
Now, let me clarify that there is NOTHING wrong with wanting a beautiful home! I love decorating my house and I don’t feel bad about that.
It’s the cycle of comparison and never feeling satisfied or content with what I already have that is the issue.
I find that it’s similar to loving my body.
Each one of us is different and beautiful. It is possible to embrace that fact while also being on a journey of self-improvement and seeking a healthier lifestyle.
It’s all about finding a balance.
How to Be Happy with the Home You Have
So, how do we find the balance of loving the home we have while also being on a journey of decorating and styling?
It comes down to practicing gratitude for your home.
Simple. But how do we do that?
How to Love the House You Are In
First, we need to get back to the basics.
I’ve got a free printable to help you with this process. You can get it in our Happy Home Vault!
Don’t forget to use the password! (If you’ve forgotten it, I include it in my weekly emails!)
If you’re not on the email list, that’s no problem!
You can sign up right here!Ok, back to our list.
Write down BASIC things that your home provides you with.
Things like warmth, privacy, safety, light, protection from the elements, somewhere to go, a sense of belonging.
A few weeks ago our furnace broke (keep in mind this January in Utah!) and we lived without heat for three days. Our home got down to 52 degrees…that’s cold!
All I could bring myself to do was lay in blankets in front of a space heater.
I vowed to never take a heated home for granted again.
Part Two of Learning to Love Your Home
Second, write down things that happen in your home that you are grateful for.
For example: this is where I’m raising my family, nurturing happens here, love happens, growth and memories; it provides identity, unity, a safe place, gatherings.
Final Step on How to Love Your Home
Finally, write down what you like aesthetically about your home. For me, my list looks something like: the layout, its updated (ish), lot’s of storage in the kitchen, we have a master bathroom, no stairs leading up to the house, wooden blinds on windows, carpets are neutral and hide imperfections, etc.
Can you feel a difference already in how you love your home?
Our thoughts have such a huge impact on our lives and moods and outlook.
If we can focus more on gratitude, we can shift our outlook and feel more happiness in our day to day lives.
Now, when I’m walking through my house and I think, “Oh, I wish these floors were different”, I:
-catch myself
-acknowledge the thought
-and replace it with something I’m thankful for about my home.
“Yes, I do wish my floors were different, but I’m so grateful for all the light my house provides through these great windows.”
Just because we’re focusing on gratitude for our home doesn’t mean we can’t or shouldn’t want to change things. Keep making plans keep decorating.
How to Love Your Home
Just STOP the comparison, stop the negativity and keep focusing instead on creating a space for your family to love and thrive in.
Having a decorating plan for my home helps me keep my mind clear and helps me keep gratitude as well.
If I know that we’ve got plans for updates in the future, it helps me be more accepting of the present.
Yes, it’s coming.
And in the meantime, I’m thankful for what my home offers me now.
Make a Plan to Improve Your Home
I’m excited to share with you my Whole Home Design Plan, coming out next week!
And the best part is that it’s totally free. Stay tuned!
And in the meantime, focus on gratitude for your home.
Hang your list up as a visual reminder of everything it offers you.
Don’t forget, you can get a free printable to help you practice gratitude for your home!
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Learning to Love the House You Have
