How To Love Your Imperfect Home
Use these 4 practical tips to help you love and accept your imperfect home. Includes ways to combat comparison and be happy with what you’ve got.
This is a post I have wanted to write for a long time, but for whatever reason, it never happened. I recently gathered my thoughts, and decided to just go for it. Loving your imperfect home may seem impossible at times, but I want to assure you, it’s not. Read on for some tips to make it easier.
Stop Drowning in the Sea of Comparison
Believe me, I’ve been treading water in the Sea of Comparison my whole life. So far, I’ve been able to avoid actually drowning! Nothing can mess with your mental health or self-esteem more than comparing what you have to what others have. Here is a quote by Angel Chernoff that puts it all in perspective:
“If the grass looks greener on the other side…stop staring. Stop comparing. Stop complaining. Start watering the grass you’re standing on.”
Social media doesn’t help with this issue. All you have to do is scroll through Instagram and you will find the most incredible homes, and they all appear to be perfect. I’m here to tell you that they’re not! Nothing is perfect, and when social media leads us astray, we have to pull back and think logically. Just close those apps and move on.
The Bottom Line
It all boils down to this…someone is ALWAYS going to have a better home than you. There is always going to be someone with a bigger garage, or newer windows, or that awesome kitchen island you’ve always wanted. Put what everyone else has out of your mind…and concentrate on your own home. I think of it as putting on blinders. I’m not always successful, but when I am, I feel more at peace and much happier.
Don’t Dwell on What’s Wrong
In other words, consider the glass half full, instead of half empty.
Sometimes I look around our house and all I see is everything that’s old, or all the things that need fixed. (These are the things I never show on the blog!) It’s utterly overwhelming and can definitely be depressing. At these times I remind myself (or try to) that our home is filled with things I love…things that have special meaning to my family. It doesn’t matter that the caulk is peeling off the stairway, or the porch railing needs painted.
What matters is the memories that have been made in these rooms. We’ve lived here for almost 30 years, so a lot has happened. But even if you’ve moved around, and lived in several different homes, it’s the memories that count, not where they were made. It doesn’t matter if you live in a mansion, a modest fixer-upper, or a tiny apartment. Memories are made by people, not places. So focus on everything that’s good, because all that other stuff just doesn’t matter.
Make a Practical List
Letting go of the imperfection will help immensely, but that doesn’t mean that improvements can’t be made. I encourage you to make a list of things about your house that bother you…but remember to be practical and sensible. Think about what you can actually accomplish, and take into consideration the time involved and the budget. Don’t make a “wish list.” The sky is definitely not the limit, so make sure your list is attainable. The last thing you want to do is set yourself up for failure…no one needs that!
Also, remember that this isn’t a race, and that there’s no finish line. Do what you can, and be happy with what you’ve accomplished…because every accomplishment deserves to be celebrated.
Do One Good Thing
This is where the challenge begins. Take that practical list, and cross off one thing. Don’t look at the big picture, but take things one step at a time. Sometimes, the first step is the hardest, and if you get it over with, the rest becomes much easier.
I hope this helps you look at your home with fresh eyes, and love what you see. If there are things you want to change, I encourage you approach them clearly and sensibly. Until next time…
