cul·ti·vate:to break up (soil) in preparation for sowing or planting.
I don’t believe you can choose to be joyful as if you can command yourself to feel feelings. Rather emotions, like joy, are the result of intentional choices and little decisions made throughout our everyday lives that build upon one another to create an environment that is rich and nurturing.
Cultivating Joy at Home
I love connecting the definition of the word cultivate in relation to our homes. It recognizes that cultivating something requires work (you break up, you dig, you till) in order to prepare for (make an environment ripe for) growth (planting, sowing).
Home is a refuge we get to return to each day; we’re able to shut the door, exhale and cease striving. It’s a place to replenish our resources – physical, mental and emotional – and get the rest we need to grow so that we are renewed to face the world and be present for the people we love.
You have the power to create this thriving environment for you and your family. It’s possible to have a beautiful home that reflects you and is functional for your needs and lifestyle. Let it be your heart to create a retreat for your family, a place they feel well cared for and loved. In fact, having a place to call home is a gift we should hold with gratitude and be intentional to steward. Yes, it will require work and thoughtfulness, but with the right plan, vision and a little guidance, you will have the space you and your family deserve to rest and connect — and it will be worth it.
Living in a space that brings refreshing and being invited to create that space for others is something that makes my soul come alive. I hope your time here stirs up a similar feeling and desire to cultivate your own joyful home.