Do you ever feel like life is just "happening" to you?  Like you're on a spinning wheel and can't seem to get off? 

The truth is, you're right.  A lot of life does happen to us, we aren't in control, and we can't always shape our circumstances.  If you love to have all your ducks in a row as much as I do, it's a big bummer to realize there are always a few floating away.

But the good news is that there are parts of your life that you do get to design, rather than default to.  Sometimes it just takes remembering that you DO have a say in creating a life in line with your values and desires.  One way to do that is by taking a look at your home environment.

Home environment is one of the 12 primary foods of Integrative Nutrition, because it has a huge ripple effect into the rest of our lives.  Here’s why...

On an emotional and primal level, you internalize what you experience. 

What you see, hear, touch, taste, and smell enter in through your senses, then into your brain, and then quickly create responses within you entire body.  

Imagine getting home at the end of the day with a ton of things swirling through your head.  Chaos.  Your eyes see laundry, the house is a little too warm, you smell the pancake batter stuck on the morning dishes.  In that split second, without even knowing it’s happening, your brain has just gone through a long list of “should do’s.”  The result: more chaos.  Your stress hormones spike, affecting everything from detoxification to digestion, your heart rate increases a little, and you wonder why it suddenly feels impossible to figure out what to make for dinner (or if you're like me, you have the urge to just start spontaneously crying).  See how it’s all connected?  

Experience of the senses—>  Experience of the mental and emotional body —> Experience of the physical body = The way you experience life

But just like your environment can impact you negatively, it can also be a catalyst for propelling your into the life you desire if you take time to align it with your core values.  You get to be a creator, not a victim.  You can create an environment that encourages your life to move in the direction you desire by following 3 steps:

1. Own your role as the creator of your environment, not the victim of it. 
2. Take time to define what you value most in life.
3. Design your environment to mirror and encourage your values (in whatever big or small ways are reasonable for your current situation)

Think about what you need and value most in life right now.  
Joy
Community
Order
Peace
Physical healing
Self-care
Productivity
Etc.

Now take a look around your home, your car, your office, or wherever you spend the majority of your time and ask if that space mirrors the values you chose. 

Are there elements of your space that make you smile?
Is there comfy furniture for friends and family?
Is there room for you to be productive?
Are there smells, sounds, and sights that evoke peace?
Is there space for movement and ingredients for nourishment?
Are there magazines, book, and movies that empower you rather than evoke negative self-talk and comparison?

The shifts can be as big as a move, or as small as lighting a candle!  Use these steps to allow for your space to be a catalyst that supports your values, allows you to breathe easier, find delight, and feel more capable of chasing after your passions and purpose.  You are SO worth it and your world benefits so much as you live in alignment with your values and desires.

I'd love to hear how you design your environment to incorporate your core values!  Share in the comments below!