Wisdom for the Home

“While spring is the traditional season for bringing order to our homes, it is also the perfect opportunity for seeking order within.”*

I often discuss how our surroundings shape us and how, in turn, we shape our surroundings. Just as the universe tends towards chaos, our homes (mine at least) tend towards clutter. That’s why, during spring cleaning, it’s best to err on the side of order. There will always be time and opportunity to add clutter!

“Drudgery can be transformed, through a willing and open heart, into a labor of love…Let “chores” become “tasks.” Stop calling your daily round “housework” and begin to call it “homecaring.” And after all, caring—for yourself, your loved ones, your pets, and your homeis truly what you are doing when you dust, change the kitty litter, sort the laundry, drive the car pool, prepare the meals and work in the garden.”

Changing the way we think about housework and cleaning can really open us up to a more joyful way of living. Doing the dishes can be a meditation; sweeping the deck can be a prayer. We develop a very different, more organic relationship with our homes when we cultivate this awareness.

“There is an ancient metaphysical law that says if we desire more abundance in our lives we must create a vacuum to allow ourselves to receive the good we seek.”

Here’s another truth that works on multiple levels. By cleaning off that shelf, you can make room for something new. By the same token, if you want to spend more time doing yoga, for instance, you may need to clear out your schedule. Spring cleaning can be easier when you think that you’re clearing out space for the abundance to come.

*All quotes from Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach