Foster serenity by decluttering your house, mind and soul

Stacy LaMorte, NOLA CATHOLIC PARENTING

Does serenity seem unattainable in your life? 

I get it. Life is “abundant,” as I like to say. We can find ways to achieve overall inner peace and serenity, though, if we work at it.

“What is the use of trying to achieve serenity, Stacy?” you may ask.

Well, our family is our domestic church and, as Catholic parents, it is our responsibility to impart these values to our children, and it all
starts in our individual hearts.

Finding time daily to settle your mind and spend some time with the Lord, not even necessarily “praying,” but just listening or being quiet, is one way to start our domestic church off on the right foot.

If we can find serenity within ourselves, many times we can radiate it to our families and those we encounter throughout the day. I notice a huge difference in my demeanor when I have made the time, even two or three minutes, to start my day off in prayer as opposed to when I haven’t. I simply ask the Lord to order my steps and pray that I will be compliant with his will instead of my own.

Another way is through having peaceful domiciles. God wants our dwellings to be peaceful places for our domestic church. So, what does a Catholic church look like? It is usually serene, even though it is full of life; it has everything we need to worship, yet it is uncluttered; it has images and icons that remind us of “whose” we are.

So how do we achieve that serenity, cleanliness and holiness in our homes? First off, everyone’s definition of “cleanliness” and “organization” is different, so be sure that you and your spouse are on the same page about your individual expectations, even if you think you know. When we have our systems in place and the family is
on board to implement them, we are establishing a place of peace or at least not chaos.

May I suggest beginning with decluttering? I was fascinated watching “The Chosen” series by how simple and serene the homes in Jesus’ time were. Everything had a purpose and a place in a home. We can get so caught up “keeping up with the Joneses” that we buy things we don’t even need or necessarily enjoy to impress people.

With a few more days before the kids get back to school, why not take time to get some systems in place that will foster peace and tranquility in your home? Have the kids help you do a healthy purge and let them be a part of donating those unnecessary items to a family in need or to a local charity.

If you can’t get motivated to do it, consider getting an accountability
partner, hiring a coach or professional organizer or listening to an audiobook from the library on decluttering while you do it! There are
myriad books on decluttering and its effects on overall happiness and how it impacts physical, mental, spiritual and emotional well being. Coincidentally, many people who go through a decluttering process also shed several extra pounds in the process, which could be another goal of yours.

I pray that these tips will foster serenity in your home so that you can focus on what truly matters – being the best version of yourself that you can be and giving all gratitude and glory to God for your beautiful domestic church.

Stacy Glynn LaMorte is a wife and mother of three teenagers. She is a personal trainer and enjoys being an ADHD and Life Coach to adolescents and adults. She feels that coaching is a culmination of her passions: faith, family, education and fostering change. She enjoys her family, writing, traveling, reading and exercising.