Peace at Home

“…the house shelters day-dreaming, the house protects the dreamer, the house allows one to dream in peace.” ~ Gaston Bachelard

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But what happens when your home is not your sanctuary and you don’t feel safe, even after you lock the doors and windows?

To not feel safe is to live in a state of heightened fear and anxiety. You never relax. You never let your guard down. You never feel peace. For five years I lived like this. During this time I was stalked, had my house repeatedly broken into, and lived in constant fight or flight mode.

It wasn’t until a friend asked me if I felt safe in my house did I even think about this idea. I was surprised when I responded with a quick, “No”. But it made sense and helped me understand what my ongoing restlessness and anxiety were rooted in. Home is supposed to be a place where you can rest and recharge. I hadn’t experienced that in years.

It didn’t happen all at once. My sense of peace and security were slowly eroded with each negative occurrence. It got so bad that upon pulling into my driveway I would linger in my truck for long periods of time, resistant to go in the front door of my own house.

When we say we “feel at home” it is more than just being in a physical space. It is also a state of being where a sense of inner peace and calm exist. Home is a place where we can breathe deep and just…let go, and be ourselves.  To have a place to rest and renew our spirits, a place to feel safe, is a basic need for all of us. And when you don’t have that you are unable to be all who you can be, because instead of shining your light onto the world, you live in fear and darkness.

When you transform your home, your life starts to transform.   Reducing clutter, letting go of things that no longer serve us, restoring a room, are just a few ways that we can make our home a beautiful and nourishing space. For my daughter and I, although we loved our island home, we choose to move to a new city to find serenity. We are now in a new space creating a home where we feel safe, where we can rest our spirits, and dream all our dreams.

We’d love to hear what you have done to make your home your sanctuary. Please share your ideas below.

With light and love,

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