Many busy people find that their home becomes somewhere they sleep, change their clothes and occasionally eat. Teenagers are notorious for treating their place like a hotel, turning up when they want something or have nowhere else to go. But it is important for all of us to have a home where we can go to relax and maintain as a central haven in our lives.
Let's look at some ways to make our place feel special to us and a real home.
- Time needs to be committed initially. Finding the best place to live, where we will feel comfortable, be convenient for work, children, family and friends is crucial to finding a home. If it is inaccessible, living there can become a source of stress and resentment. Subsequently, time then needs to be spent in getting the place how we want it, organizing rooms, deciding on any alterations that may be needed in order to fit our specifications.
- Creativity can bring our personality into the mix. Choosing colours, fabrics, decor can be both a scary and an exciting experience. Discovering what works and what doesn't work can be fun. Some people enjoy doing the work themselves. They enjoy the sense of satisfaction that comes from having made the effort and created their home. Other people prefer to instruct professionals and avoid the mess, enjoying seeing how it turns out at the finish.
- Attention is important. We feel more committed to something that we give our attention to and our home benefits from being maintained, looked after, utilised. Keeping our home clean and fresh, updating the look by occasionally buying new things, fresh flowers, pretty cushions, a new picture demonstrates that we care and feel that it is important to us.
- Company makes a difference. Having people round for drinks, a bite of supper, a game of cards, a girly pamper night, can mean that we keep our place tidy and also that we feel proud to share it with others. Opening our door to company means that we are letting people get to know us better. We are letting them into our personal space.
- Fun matters. Children playing and being able to have their friends round makes a place feel more homely. New mothers can sometimes feel isolated, especially if they have taken a break from their career and don't know their neighbours or the local mothers. Having other mothers round for coffee and a chat enables fun to be introduced into the home as well as the potential for new friends. When a home is inviting for people to call and feel welcome it establishes a warm, friendly atmosphere and makes the place feel more comfortable.
Our place becomes a home when we realise that we are happy to return there. We feel safe and can relax when we are there. We've put our personal touches into it and enjoy having time on our own or with others. It is our special place, the place we feel comfortable and secure.
Establishing a home for ourselves is important. We need to have somewhere to put our possessions, return to after a tough day and relax. A true home provides a place to be ourselves, let go of our cares for a time and de-stress. Susan Leigh is a Counsellor and Hypnotherapist who works with clients to help them resolve their problems and stresses. They then become more confident at being better able to cope with difficult times in life.
Further help, advice and articles are available.
For more information see http://www.lifestyletherapy.net/