Living in a home that gives my heart joy is my daily mission. My home has not always provided me the joy I desired; but please allow me to share with you how I came to understand my passion of a joyful, loving home.
The day I realized my kids were affected by my habitual clutter creation was the day I decided to STOP THE INSANITY and take control of my home for me and my children’s sake. What happened was this; they walked into our living room filled with clothes, books, toys, furniture, people (okay they can’t get rid of us yet), and dust! Oh boy will their drooping faces be imbedded in my mind forever.
My 3-year-old daughter said, “mommy, this room is messy and I don’t like messy!” How is that for a wake up call? Boy, did I need to make a change – and make a change QUICK! Of course I took those words as a key to family pick-up fun!
Ladies, you ARE the CEO’s of your household and it is my hope you all are taking advantage of this reality. This means you are leading the vision of the home as well as the clear and purposeful expectations of each member. Once you have mastered your home-life leadership, you will begin to receive other great opportunities as well.
In order to receive great rewards for your new leadership role, you must first start by clearing the distractions within the home. And here I am! Living in my happiness by bring joy to your home.
My coaches and mentors have told me, “What brings you the most joy is what you are meant to share with the world.” So world, enjoy what makes me most happy! The pure joy of helping clients clear their emotionally heavy environment is enough to make me do a cheer. . . and don’t think I haven’t done that before. I mean just a little Aretha: I say a little prayer
Forever, forever, you’ll stay in my heart
and I will love you
Forever, forever, we never will part
Oh, how I’ll love you
Together, together, that’s how it must be
To live without you
Would only be heartbreak for me.
So, to my clients, I thank you for opening your home and hearts to me! Do you remember the first few topics we covered during our work together? The best tips I have given to you, I am now sharing with others. I hope you don’t mind me giving out the secrets.
What areas of your home need a pick-me-up and what areas of your home work for you and your family? How do each of the areas of the home make you FEEL? Do any of those areas create anxiety in you prior to arriving in that area?
No more anxiety ladies! Below are the TOP 3 home-life basics I look for the first time I walk into your home.
How does the family relate to one another? This is a BIG DEAL! If communication does not flow when a family member walks into the home or a room, there is a problem. This problem will escalate until you have a full-blown communication war. Many parents ask, “How did it get this bad and how can I fix it?” The quick answer is, “when you continue to poke a stick at a stuffed animal, it will eventually rip!” Fixing it will take a few changes. The changes include clearing emotional and physical clutter to allow for open-communication. Have you ever walked into a cluttered room and noticed that all your creative energy drains right out of your brain? Similarly, have you ever walked into a room of people and noticed someone who you do not get along with? What happens to you then? The relationship
between each member of your household adds to the home-life environment. What area of the home is most lived in? Why is this important? The area in the home the family spends most of their time is the area in the home that should be the most organized. Think about the entry to your home. What do your guests see first? If you have a home with a few bedrooms and a living room, your guests will enter into the space the entire family congregates most of the time. What type of order is that living space in? Your children will become more successful at keeping their rooms clean if they are required to keep the living area clean as well. The first item of business for my clients is to:
- Figure out what the focus and use of the room is for the family, and
- Make the area FUNCTION that way. The family will then arrange their daily living habits, and possibly a success chart or two, around keeping the area clear of stressors.
Look into your garage or basement or storage unit. Most people start to de-clutter their home by moving items into the garage (or storage area). Items will consist of: give-away, donate, will use-someday, and needs fixing. If the family does not plan for a time to take care of the items just placed into the garage, these items will become the bottom of the piles in 5 years time. My suggestion is to clear out the garage and design the function of the garage. I helped one client make a mudroom, in the garage, at the entrance into the house. This helped her sort out all sport equipment into one location without it being spread all over the house. She took a big breathe and thanked me for that vision. Now you are ready to move items from the home into the storage area.
Let’s make a plan to clear our in-home distractions to secure the out-of-the-home successes to each member of your family. We can start first with a few questions you will need to answer in order to get you on your way to a JOYFUL HOME.
Guest Writer – Lori Ketkar
Lori is a Home-Life Designer and Family Dynamics Coach, has been supporting clients in their quest for clarity and focus. Her pinpoint communication helps families rebuild passion and purpose in the home making it a great environment to for the children. Visit her website at www.helpmytweensucceed.com.