As you read this, imagine that it is your first time in whatever room of your home you are in. Look around with fresh new eyes. Does anything look out of place? Does anything look like it belongs in another room? Are there things that need to be thrown away? Would surfaces benefit from dusting, sweeping, scrubbing?
Imagine that all of life and all that we perceive is a gift for the senses to learn the art of discernment. How do we treat gifts when we receive them? We typically treasure them, and our home deserves that same level of respect. And so do we. We respect ourselves in part by respecting our environment, giving it all that it needs so we feel satisfied and gratified to be a part of it. If we have family, it is gratifying to know that they are comfortable at home too.
Furthermore, we aim to see our home as a reflection of our highest standards. It’s a measure of self-respect to leave nothing to critical judgment. We make our own assessments with self-compassion, understanding on a deep level the cause of all that falls short of cleanliness and order. Sometimes we lack energy, sometimes we are busy and scattered too thinly, sometimes we are dwelling in past ruminations or future worries instead of the present moment. Pinpointing the reason is the first step toward a beneficial shift in our environment.
Look around with the eyes of love. Love your environment and be sure that you love what you see. Then light a candle or a stick of incense and welcome the holiness of cleanliness and order to settle in and become a regular part of your life, a radiant reflection of your ideal self.
Leave a comment