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“Your home can be one of the easiest and most powerful tools in your journey toward a new way of living.” —Rebecca West, author of Happy Starts at Home: Change Your Space, Transform Your Life
The foundation for any goal we wish to achieve must be clarified in our mind and rooted in truth that is intrinsic to our true self and the life we desire to live in order to make it our reality.
As author, interior designer and in many ways a life/home coach, Rebecca West shares in her new book (shown above) how a goal such as changing your home, similarly to losing weight, must have an honest answer as to why you want to make the change, and it must not be to impress the masses, or any entity outside of yourself. Rather, your reason for changing your home must be connected to how it will serve your life for the better, to bring you more fulfillment, and thus enable you to be your best self and share that “you” with the world. Why? Because the world needs what only you can uniquely give.
“Consider your final destination. How do you want your life to be different after you invest your time and money in your home? Will it pay off in an emotional and a supportive way . . . by letting your goals guide every action and every choice, you’ll connect your home to the bigger picture of how you want to live.”
As the customization series of TSLL home continues today, I wanted to share with you Rebecca West’s book as I whipped through it with great interest over this past weekend, and am confident that you, if you too are in the middle of or considering changing, updating, customizing or improving the aesthetic appearance and function of your home, will find this book to be a book to own as a savvy resource.
Throughout Happy Starts at Home, West uses three guiding questions which are the foundation for each chapter: Who does your home need to support? What activities does the home need to support? How would you know if the work/changes/updates were successful?
As I was reading through these three questions, having clarity about the life I enjoyed living and the life I wanted to live but felt I was not fully able to helped me to be precise in my responses.
As I shared last week in the Mudroom reveal, I needed functionality and organization, as well as a warm welcome that made me feel instanteously happy upon seeing the decor. Reflecting on how I lived, and more importantly, enjoy living, I wanted the functionality to enable me to easily go to the market or the grocery store, and keep my handbags clean and easy to find each morning. I wanted a place to immediately get off of my feet upon returning home and just sit for a moment to catch my breath, as well as place to welcome my love of England and France.
Some or all of these details may sound unnecessary or trivial, but remember, once you answer the first question: who does your house need to support?, you are letting go of what others think and focusing on who calls the space home and what brings them comfort and rejuvenation.
Answering these three question helps to solidify what you need in your home and removes the guilt you may have felt for wanting a dishwasher that works extremely well or a stove that functions in such a way as to let you explore your culinary curiosities (just two details that have been dancing about in my mind – can you tell which room is my focus at the moment? ?). Whatever your answers are, honor them as best as you can, have patience as they come into fruition and don’t forget that the home we give ourselves can be “one of the easiest and most powerful tools in your journey toward a new way of living”.
I will be sharing more of how Rebecca West’s new book inspired me in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, this book would certainly be worth your time if you are ready to see your life change in ways you have been longing for but didn’t quite know how to attain. From an improved social life, strong intimate relationships, a healthier lifestyle and physique, a more contented being, each of these and more indeed can be fostered in a thoughtfully designed and decorated home. A simple solution within your control to cultivate that can truly be immensely enjoyable during the process and most definitely a delight to behold and experience upon reaching the final destination.
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Thank you for the recommendation, Shannon! I am in the process of redesigning my house for myself and my children after a divorce. This sounds like the perfect book to encourage the process of letting go of what was and welcoming what may be. ?
I think you will find this book to be a helpful workbook so to speak as she has chapters to guide you if you share your home others as well as how changing your decor after such a significant life change truly can make a positive difference in your life. Wishing you and your family a strong start into your next chapter. ??
Two years ago we purchased a complete “do-er upper” and your interior design posts have been such an inspiration in our renovations! I’ve been meaning to tell you for a while now how you’ve introduced me to so many great ideas and today’s post was the perfect opportunity! Thanks to you Shannon there’s a Lacanche in my beautiful new kitchen, a round dining table (so much better for entertaining!) and I just ordered an Albion tub. Just wanted to say a big thank you for expanding my interior design consciousness and helping to make my home my sanctuary! Lindsay xxx
Lindsay, So happy to hear!! You home sounds lovely and a welcoming place to enjoy company as well as relax. Thank you for sharing. 🙂