A couple of months ago, one of my fav lifestyle influencers announced via Insta that she was moving again after only three years. She shared her belief that a house was simply four sheets of drywall. A belief she admitted was created by her nomadic childhood, where her family was always moving. She could never grow roots and open her heart to her home.

Another blogger I follow described his home as the “ultimate ball and chain”.

Whoa! What’s going on here?

Recognizing the great love I have for my home, hearing these sentiments make me sad. Allowing myself to fully commit to my home brings me a great sense of connection, belonging and pride that carries over into many areas of my life.

I understand people need to move because of jobs, family responsibilities or for financial reasons. In these cases, moving is a necessity.

However, I have noticed that many of us struggle with a lack of attachment to our homes. Feelings of dissatisfaction and restlessness can push us to want the next best thing, and we have HGTV to thank for the monetizing of houses for the sake of getting rich quick. You renovate, sell and move on to the next. Lather, rinse, repeat.

I believe the true meaning of a home can be lost. Maybe a symptom of our disconnected, disposable and transient world?

What is your belief? How do you feel about your home? Is it simply a place to lay your head at night or does it represent something deeper?

Connecting to a home’s spiritual nature

For me, committing to my home and connecting to its spiritual nature is in my DNA. Perhaps it’s because I slept in the same bedroom until I was 23, or maybe it’s my sentimentality. In my books, a home is a great source of nurturing energy that can open you up to be inspired by everyday tasks and experiences. It helps us become mindful and appreciate the special moments of our lives...to make them magical.

Your home is a vessel for everything your family holds dear. A place where you regroup after a busy day. A place to relax, rest and rejuvenate. A place to create. A place to spend time with loved ones.

It represents the foundation of family life.

Think about 2020 when the pandemic hit. Most of us stayed put and invested a record amount of time and money on organization projects, renovations and cleaning. We all were busy “feathering our nests”. At no other time in history was the importance of a home so paramount. Our homes became beacons of safety – sheltering us from tremendous uncertainty and stress.

Your home is a reflection of you

When we allow ourselves to feel a sense of belonging and gratitude towards our homes, that energy flows into other areas of our lives and gives us grounding and a sense of purpose. But I get it – when we’re not sure what the future holds and another move may be just around the corner, it’s sometimes easier to protect yourself and stay unattached.

But I say, go all in.

Take the leap and find the courage and space to fully commit to your home, no matter for how long. Fill it with love, beauty and gratitude – these feelings have no expiration date.

Home is a place we all must find. It’s not just a place where you eat or sleep. Home is knowing. Knowing your mind. Knowing your heart. Knowing your courage. If we know ourselves, we’re always home, anywhere.

Glinda, the Good Witch of the North from the film The Wizard of Oz.

Whether you live in an apartment, condo or house, you want your home to radiate respect, love and positivity into the world. Be mindful of the cost of disconnection. “You will express yourself through your home, whether you want to or not,” says Elsie De Wolf, author of The House in Good Taste.

Start the conversation with your family. Perfect way to do this is to ask, “how do you feel when I say our home is a member of the family?” You’ve probably never heard this concept before, but it can be the gateway to incredible conversations. Explore how it feels to fully commit to your home…to its physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.

That’s the HomeHearted way.