I Asked, You Shared. Revealing the Top Two Most Common Space Challenges

 

The survey results are in! Two weeks ago, I sent a simple little email to our community (to join us put your name in email in the box to the right..it’s free!) asking one question: what is your biggest struggle when it comes to creating a home you love?

The response. Was. Huge.

Within hours, I had hundreds of responses. And, yes: I responded personally to every single one! It’s been so fun to connect directly with so many of you, and to get an inside look at what’s “up” for you! Your responses have illuminated even more layers to this work, and given me a fabulous sense of where you’re at and how I can help. Thank you! Thank you!

After some sorting, sifting, and analyzing, a clear pattern has emerged. The vast majority of your struggles fit into two main themes:

Theme #1: You feel stuck, uninspired, or limited in your space — and you don’t know how to change it due to a lack of money, time, or inspiration.

What it sounds like:

• “How do I design my space on a budget?”
• “What colors/textures/lighting should I bring in?”
• “I want more peace/vibrancy/creative inspiration in my space but don’t know how to create it!”
• “How do I refresh and edit my space seasonally without buying all new things?”
• “I don’t know what my authentic style is?” or, “How do I figure out what’s beautiful to me?”
• “How can I create a beautiful home in a space I know it’s only temporary or transitional?”

Familiarity can blind us. When you feel stuck in your home or heart, it’s time to invite a fresh perspective.

– Click to Tweet

What I suggest:

• Pay attention to what makes you happy! When you are out and about, start paying attention to things you are drawn to…. atmospheres, colors, lighting, textures, people, music, energies. What things light you up? Make you smile? Make you feel…joyful, relaxed, inspired, alive, grounded, grateful or…(insert desired feeling.) What do you find incredible beautiful? Small or grand!
• Get creative. How might you incorporate some of the elements you identified above into your home?  Do candles help you feel grounded and present? Does color bring aliveness and inspiration to your day? Can the smell of lavender transport you straight to France and evoke the experience of luxury? Play with this! You can create the space you want and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Think outside the box. Get crafty. Be creative!h this! You can create the space you want and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Think outside the box. Get crafty. Be creative!
• Collaborate! Sometimes, we spend so much time in our space, we can’t truly see it. We pass by the same things everyday and get complacent and stuck. So, get an outside perspective! Invite a friend to look at your space with fresh eyes, ask you questions about it, and help you get clear on what you truly want. This can help re-light your spark and help get you motivated to create the change you are after.
• Do a Discovery Session with me. Want a laser-focused brainstorming session with a pro? I’m all yours. Bring me onto your team, and we’ll identify the core issues, brainstorm about how to make it better — and make a can-do action plan that will get you unstuck and motivated again! Learn more here.

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Theme #2: Your space is mirroring some emotional truths back to you, and you’re  not sure how to navigate them on your own.

What it sounds like:

• “Clutter and disorganization are wreaking havoc on my personal/professional life, and I feel overwhelmed and paralyzed.”
• “I have a deep fear of scarcity and can’t bring myself to let go of things. What if I need it in the future?”
• “Buying new or beautiful things makes me feel guilty — I’m stuck in the ‘it’s good enough’ mind set.”
• “My partner and I have completely different tastes and don’t agree. How do we create a home that feels good to both of us?”
• “I feel burdened by family hand-me-downs but don’t want to offend anyone or seem ungrateful for not taking them.”
• I just can’t bring myself to go through my mother’s things since she passed. The grief it brings up is just too painful.
• “I feel light years away from the home I want — where can I begin? Is there even a point?”

If any of these sound familiar to you, it may be time to roll up your sleeves and do some deeper inner work.  Most likely, it’s not just your space that’s the problem: there is something in you aching to create a truly beautiful life, from the inside, out.

If your home mirrors things you don’t like back to you, it’s time to go deep-soul-diving and make changes from the inside, out.

– Click to Tweet

What I suggest

• Follow the thread of your intuition. Awareness is the first step towards making change (in our space and in ourselves.) Be curious about what you are noticing and ask yourself if you are willing to take a deeper look.
• Recognize your feelings as a valuable source of information. There are parts of you aching to express themselves and it is important to pay attention. Find your best way to slow down and listen to your emotional voice. Follow your instincts and give yourself what you need.
• Take breaks if you need it. Looking at your space in this new way can stir up some  intense and overwhelming feelings. You do NOT need to power through them! Give yourself the time and space you need to process. Breathe. It might be too intense to be in your space as you work through your emotions — try going for a walk, sitting by a body of water, or petting something furry.  Allow yourself to calm down and get clear before returning to your space as starting again.
• Consider Interior Coaching with me. This is where the unique blend of my work truly shines. With a masters in counseling psychology and training as a grief counselor and coach, I’m very familiar with the process of releasing old patterns, beliefs, and priorities. I love coaching people to stand more firmly in who they truly are and live from this place. This work that goes far beyond “decorating” and “organizing.” It’s a tremendous path for evolving into the people we want to be and creating the lives we want to live. Learn more here.

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Your fabulous responses to my impromptu survey have illuminated just how needed — and unique! — this work truly is.

So many of us recognize the emotional connections we have to our food, our money, our relationships, our life purpose … but we often turn a blind eye to the intimate relationship we have with our space.

Working on your relationship to your space brings powerful, clear-as-daylight insight, straight to the areas of your life that need loving attention.

Remember: be gentle with yourself as you dance with these questions and please ask for help if you need it.

In the comments below, I’d love to know… Does YOUR biggest challenge fit within one of these two themes? What’s one small action step you can take towards making the change you want in your home today?

Sending Love,

Rebecca