Why Expressing Your Personal Story Matters at Home
These are surreal times. Our priorities have shifted overnight. We have been forced to take life one day at a time as even our best laid plans have to change on the fly. There is not one person we talk to, family, friends, and strangers alike, who are not experiencing the same sense of distraction, dis-ease, and uncertainty.
Suddenly we find ourselves placed directly in the middle of scenarios straight out of the old “back when” stories told to us by our parents and grandparents. And it occurs to us that we will one day be telling our own stories and staking our own claim on a moment in history.
Whether we realize it or not, these past and present experiences shape our lives. We carry the memories of others and blend them with our own interpretations and understanding of what’s important in life. And these stories help us remember who we are and where we came from.
When we are in major life upheavals we gravitate towards comfort and familiarity. As we spend more days in our home, sheltering in place and away from the outside world, it is only natural to want to be in a space that offers these things.
What is your personal story?
So now is the time to look at your personal story.
How do you define it?
What are the parts of it that provide reassurance and strength to get through trying times?
How do you take snapshots of moments in your life and use them to bring back normalcy and balance?
How can you express your personal story in your home?
There are three steps to expressing your personal story in your home…
Step 1
Start by acknowledging that your story is important. It’s filled with anecdotes and wisdom that you can use to ground you and keep moving you forward. Let your mind fill with memories that feel important, meaningful and have contributed to who you are.
Step 2
Second, tell your story. Tell your kids, tell your friends. Write it down. Record it. Share it to anyone willing to listen. Your story is not boring. It’s fascinating. It’s loaded with details vibrant with life and experience. No one can tell your story better than you can.
Step 3
Lastly, take those vivid, positive experiences and place them around you today. Snippets of colors and textures, photographs and artwork, mood lighting and scents are all tangible things you can take from your personal history. Fill your home with visual reminders of strength and triumph. Use your story to create your literal comfort zone.
For example, during my home redesign I filled my living room with all the design elements that inspire my best memories, feel like reflections of me, and make me feel at home: lamps that have me reminiscing about my grandmother’s porch, a combination of French provincial and English country that remind me of my ancestors, a deep blue that makes me feel safe and cozy.
What design elements will feel most personal to you? Which will tell your story? It’s time to find out.
If you need help, I have an online workshop that walks you step by step through this process. Or, if you prefer one-on-one guidance, I’m here to help. Schedule an appointment for your first of three sessions in my Holistic Design Package. This month, refer a friend and get $100 off this package, and they also get $100 off when they register!
I also welcome you to join my Facebook page: Enlightened Homes for Stressful Times for additional support.
Wherever you are and whatever you may be going through right now, you are not alone. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!