Shelah Riley Photography
Hopefully we’re constantly evolving: mentally, spiritually, emotionally, etc. Our perspectives change when we travel, our beliefs morph as we expand our friend circles, and we become more confident as we learn to set boundaries.
When we collect new experiences and learn from them, we come to understand ourselves and the world a little bit more. Understanding the world helps us appreciate its beauty. Inspired to be active participants in our lives, we can be grateful that we get to experience all that life has to offer.
As you read this post, you can follow along with a free printable worksheet I’ve made. It will help you practice gratitude, set boundaries, and start to organize your home to align with your renewed mindset. Click here to get it sent to your preferred email address.
What Made Me Realize I Needed a Change
A huge practical step in my personal evolution towards a gratitude mindset was deciding to set boundaries in my home environment. There’s nothing like taking ownership of the environment you live and sleep in and intentionally creating opportunities for it to serve you.
It obviously took me some time to get there.
When I first bought a house in Lancaster City with my partner over a decade ago, we worked with what we had and added whatever we could to make our house feel like a real home to us.
I’ve always had a bend toward tidiness, but things hit the fan when I found out I was pregnant while I was still nursing my first baby.
Struggling through some postpartum complications with little sleep and two babies left my house looking like a war zone by the end of the day. I was in survival mode. I wish I had had the awareness and tools (like this worksheet) to truly simplify before this transition, but sometimes it takes a roadblock to get our attention and spark a change.
Setting Boundaries Mindfully
When the dust finally began to settle, I remember deciding to be more conscious of my surroundings, for my sake and my family’s sake. I began to notice how I was feeling in a room and I was learning a lot about what I truly needed and what I could live without (physically, emotionally, and spiritually, too).
I took one room at a time, starting with my living room because that was the first room everyone enters when they come into our house. It’s also the room I decided would function as a gathering place and I wanted it to feel safe, comfortable, welcoming, and peaceful.
The wall color needed to be changed from tan to a soft blue gray. I saw extra furniture that was taking up valuable breathing room instead of serving me and my family. I replaced knick knacks with functional things that brought the room to life like plants, candles, light fixtures, and art. I started to ask myself, “What do I want to bring into my future?” and things just took off from there.
What A Gratitude Mindset Does
Contrary to popular belief, setting boundaries doesn’t mean closing yourself off from experience. Setting boundaries means recognizing how you feel and committing to doing the things that you truly want to do (and saying no to the things you don’t).
Organizing my home was a way of taking care of my needs. It was my way of saying “yes” to the things that mattered to me. I set boundaries in my home so I could take better care of myself and my family.
Once I made that shift, that commitment, I could see the things I loved more clearly. Implementing the lessons I learned from a difficult period made me appreciate the transformation of my home even more.
Always Learning
I am still growing and learning, still on this journey of uncovering my true self and learning what I love and what brings me to life. I’d love to hear what you’re discovering about yourself, too. If you’re in need of a reboot or an extra pair of eyes to help you envision a home environment that inspires you instead of overwhelms you, contact me on my website to chat.
I’ve made a free printable worksheet that I would have found so helpful when I was first starting my gratitude journey. It’s a simple worksheet that will gently guide you through practicing gratitude mentally and in your home. Click here to get it sent to your preferred email address.
Follow me on Instagram @morespace_organizing for encouragement, tips, and more because you deserve to have the healthiest relationship with your home (and with yourself!).
