You are how you live

My most recent good read is: The Emotional House by Kathryn Robyn and Dawn Ritchie. Their book is a step-by-step workbook on how to relook your home to change your life.

So what exactly is an Emotional House? It is "a home that functions practically, is organized, inviting and is a great place to just settle in and be".

Everyone is unique and this book helps you define your style and being in your home. The book is divided into 3 sections. The first, Your Blueprint is filled with interactive exercises on how to examine and define your existing home, tangibly and emotionally. Where are you most comfortable in your home? What is most disorganized? Are their changes you foresee such as the arrival of a baby or a child moving out? And so on. They also delve into our emotional state and how that is reflected in our homes on a daily basis. An unclean kitchen could reveal you don't feel supported, since the kitchen is the heart of the support structure. Don't worry, in section 3 they explain how to correct this.

In part 2, Your Foundation, the authors establish a 12 point system to follow on how to create your Emotional House. This section deals directly with organizing and decorating to your tastes and needs, both in function and emotion to find true balance and harmony.

In the final section, they get down to the logistics of how to transform projects and ideas into reality. Again through the use of interactive exercises, you establish goals and then make a plan to achieve them while taking into consideration the time, budget and complexity of your plans. The last part of section 3 breaks down individual rooms and spaces in the home and explains their practical and emotional function. They even offer a list of tips and reminders for each room to help you keep your Emotional House in check. For instance, the living room where the emotional function is equalizing, they suggest that camaraderie and fellowship (which is what primarily is exchanged in this room) means no one gets to hog the remote, among other things.

Overall a very motivating and concrete way of relooking your home to support you, your family and your life style.