Clean your room. So says the psychologist Jordan Peterson. This simple act directs our attention to our personal environment, which over time becomes a projection and reflection of the mind and inner self.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a neat freak. I think Einstein must have been chided for having a cluttered desk because he once said, “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” Point taken Albert.
What sucks is when we associate negative emotions with caring for our personal space. Mary Poppins, the Julie Andrews’s version, offered “making a game of it” as the solution. Maybe for kids this can work in a movie. Maybe. Avoiding the feeling of dread, or resistance, or of “not giving a crap” (so to speak) is what I am seeking to avoid here. For me, seeing my space in the light of gratitude is a big help. Creating a space I enjoy and can cherish manifests the kind of head space and emotion I’m after.
A good start is arranging your space well, and removing things that don’t bring joy. I can’t stand foam pillows, they bum me out, I can’t sleep well with a foam pillow for some reason. I also like thin dense blankets, preferably not made of synthetics; and I like thick white cotton sheets. These small investments make going to bed, something I must so daily, much more enjoyable for me.
Peterson advises us to make your personal space beautiful, to design it and make it comfortable and useful as if you are creating a space for the best version of yourself. I think this is a cool idea because as we enter that space we are more likely to be reminded of and live up to the best version of ourselves.
The world out there is big and bad. It can be overwhelming and really is beyond our control. However, our rooms, or the personal space where we keep our stuff, is a place we can control; a place where order and safety can exist. It’s a place to recharge and prepare to take on the challenge of each new day.
So, if you are not already enjoying the benefits of a clean and beautiful room, consider it. Weave it into your 365 Commitment somehow. I also think it’s a good step towards taking care of and cherishing our inner selves. But that is a blog topic for another day.
All this writing about down pillows and soft sheets and layers of thin dense blankets has me anticipating some good sleep! Oh, and consider turning off the Wi-Fi for the night too, and cover any blue or green lights.
Wishing you peace and restoration this night.
Ben Wagner (35)
Member 365 Commitment
