Have you ever looked at a photo and felt a warm swell of delight or experienced a gut-clenching sensation of disgust or pain? Images have a powerful ability to affect us because they bring up memories of events, people, or places, along with the emotions associated with those memories. We can utilize this fact to intentionally fill our homes and work environments with décor that inspires us toward positive thoughts and attitudes.
Whether we are aware or not, the images and objects we see as we move through our day impact us. And that impact may be positive or negative, depending on what story or belief our subconscious associates with thing.
You may be doubting this claim. Our culture wants us to believe that what we see, watch, and listen to doesn’t make any difference. But, as Dallas Willard points out,
“Businesses still pay millions of dollars to show us something for thirty seconds on television. They do that because they know that what we repeatedly see and hear affects what we do.”
from Renovation of the Heart
You and I repeatedly see the pictures and objects in our homes. They affect our attitudes, thoughts, mindsets, and moods. Therefore, the more aware and intentional we are about the messages we absorb daily, the more we can positively affect our mental, emotional, and spiritual and wellbeing.
Fortunately, we are not at the mercy of the objects in our home environment. We can choose what items are displayed, and we can reinvent what messages they represent.
The obvious way to boost positive thoughts—put an inspirational saying on your wall
There’s a reason inspirational artwork is popular, from the “Bless this house” cross-stitch of yesteryear to modern décor like the items below. The words we display in our homes sink into our minds, reinforcing our beliefs, even when we aren’t conscious of reading or pondering these messages.
But if you’re like me, inspirational artwork isn’t your style of décor. And that’s the real point of this post. You don’t need actual printed words to reinforce positive messages and scriptural truths. You can intentionally imbue any object in your home with meaning.
My simple idea to boost positive thoughts (without redecorating)
Consider the pictures and other decorative item already filling your house or work space. What memories do they invoke? Perhaps they bring to mind a vacation or a loved one. Perhaps they represent an achievement or a bucket list moment.
Starting with the memory or meaning the object already has, consider how you can connect it to something positive. For instance, a special memory that brings joy, a scripture verse, or an inspirational quote.
Some examples: I have a photo of a tree over my desk. It’s nothing special, just a tree from my parent’s backyard, taken by my father. When I look at it, I think of my parents and how much they loved me. Similarly, a watercolor of a covered bridge reminds me of my grandmother, who painted it. She encouraged the joy of creativity in my life.
A painting of ducks represents the scripture phrase from Psalm 91, “under his wings you will find refuge.” And a painting of a pond reminds me to “be still and know that I am God.”
As I have done, you can find pictures, photos, or knick-knacks in your house that can reinforce good memories or positive messages.
An alternate approach
Instead of beginning with the objects in your environment and assigning them a more specific positive message, you can start from the other direction. Perhaps you want to reinforce particular attitudes, scripture verses, or inspiration to help you overcome negative messages or limiting beliefs that you are struggling with right now.
Look for pictures or objects that lend themselves to those messages you want to reinforce. Perhaps they are already in your house, or perhaps you will need to be creative and make or purchase something. Once you’ve identified an item that represents the important truth you want to remember, put it somewhere you will see it often.
Now comes the intentional part
The stories or messages we associate with these objects won’t stick immediately. We need to practice them daily. Set an intention to pause when you notice the object, and consciously bring to mind the meaning or memory you want to think about.
The more often you intentionally reinforce the association between an object and the message you’ve assigned it, the more it becomes wired into your brain. Eventually, like any habit, the object will trigger the message you’ve given it without effort on your part.
Will this practice magically conquer all your negative thought problems? No. But it’s one simple tool that assists you on your journey to a more flourishing, joy-filled life.
Your turn to create a a home or work environment that boosts positive thoughts
I challenge you to start small. Choose one object in your house and assign it a deeper meaning. Practice associating the object and the meaning as often as you can. Give yourself a long-term goal of assigning a positive message to at least one object in every room where you regularly spend time.
