Decorate Your Life

Feature photo by Tea Photography

It’s that time of year again when we bring out the boxes of holiday décor and carefully place each piece to adorn the season.  An amazing transformation takes place as lights twinkle and the ornaments of holiday’s past speak to our hearts anew.  I love how the holidays make everything more special and cheery and how the extra decorations make even sparse rooms seem complete.

I thought about how our lives can get lackluster and boring if we don’t express our true selves.  What if we could just “decorate” our lives like we do our homes for the holidays?  I believe it’s possible.  The key is discovering your unique style of self-expression.  Yes, it is a creative process but also one of letting go and allowing yourself to be who you are.  I know I can get bogged down by chores and stress, family needs, money concerns, and even things I enjoy doing.  Time can be a huge roadblock when attempting to add colorful, fun activity to life.

Make a Plan

The most important thing about decorating anything is having a plan.  You can’t create a beautiful room, holiday display, or life without knowing what it is you’re aiming for.  The easiest way to start is to use a form of expression you relate to.  I use lists, writing, and sketching when I get new ideas that I want to implement.  In the case of decorating your life, you need to be very specific about what area(s) you want to add a little sparkle to.

Example:

I want to be more creative.  I love painting and gardening.

I commit to painting one picture this month.  I commit to planting a tray of seeds this month.

Things I need: canvas, paints, brushes, seeds, soil, and seedling tray

Painting time: 3:30 PM, Mondays and Wednesdays

Gardening time: 12:00 PM Tuesdays and Fridays

Goal date to complete: Dec. 31, 2013

Action Time

Now, the only thing left to do is to act on your idea and goal.  This may be easier said than done.  Whenever we add new things to our day, it can seem awkward and overwhelming.  The thing that helps with this is making sure to do things you enjoy and make you feel good about yourself.  Sharing your plans with someone else is also a great way to ensure action, even more so when he or she agrees to do the activity with you.  Of course, there are things you would want to do alone but also many that would be more fulfilling with a partner.

Worst case scenario: The plan you made does not work out for circumstances that are out of your control.  It’s OK.  Just make a new plan and execute as things ease up.  It’s important to not let life get in the way of living.  After all, this is how we get to dullsville in the first place.  Try to recognize self-sabotage patterns and purposely do something different.  Changing the smallest thing can change everything.  It’s like how a single simple holiday wreath brings cheer and warmth to your home.  Passerbyers feel holiday joy that you shared your creativity and spirit with them.  Decorating your life isn’t about having the most or being the most.  It’s just about being you and loving yourself for that.

Life Decorating Ideas

Makeover your look

Shopping trip

Art class

Karate class

Book club

Write a book

Paint a picture

Speak your mind

Go on a date

Go on vacation

Cook something new

Give advice

Get advice

Mentor someone

Volunteer

Stop worrying what others think about you