Inside And Outside – What Your Home Says About You

Can we define someone by looking beyond their personal space, such as how they tend to the exterior of their home and garden? Well, I fully believe this can be accomplished by eyeing a few simple details.

I recently had a visit from a lady that I have known for a very long time. She comes from a large family and has had some difficulties over the years with particular family members. Her younger sister has always been a source of contention with her. Recently, she felt it was time to sit down and have a serious chat with this sister, to see if they could come to terms with the rift between them.

After they had their talk, it seemed to her that all of the past differences had finally been resolved, and they now could proceed into the future with a more gentle and sincere approach towards one another. But soon she was shocked to find her sister pulling an unwarranted and mean-spirited stunt.

She was quite mystified after this spiteful event. It left her feeling hurt and confused. She then asked me if we could examine the situation, to see if we could find a just cause for the younger sister’s unacceptable behavior.

As it happened, I had recently paid a visit to the younger sister’s home. I had not been to see her for a very long time and held no preconceived ideas as to what condition she, or her home, would be in.

The younger sister has been married for a very long time, to a man who is not a bad guy by the world’s standards, but certainly can be defined as a ‘wet blanket.’ I know she had found it a bit trying at times to be in a relationship such as this one, but she did what a lot of people do under the circumstances – they pretend everything is okay in order to keep up appearances. This I could understand to some extent, although I could not conceive how difficult it would be to live under those circumstances for a very long time.

What happens inside always appears outside ~ Earl Nightingale

What did take me by surprise, when I visited her house, was the condition of her yard, which I believe reflects the inner self. The grass was quite unkept, the back step was in a precarious condition, and the overall appearance of the place was one of extreme neglect.

The inner look of the home was not much better. The kitchen counter was sagging, the floors had not been adequately taken care of in decades. The walls had the original, old paneling and she had been trying to convince her husband to replace a backdoor that was on its ‘last legs.’

Bear in mind, although they are not wealthy by any means, this couple is not living in poverty to my knowledge. However, judging by the overall state of their property, one would certainly question their financial means.

After assessing the general inner and outer persona of the home and yard, it was quite easy to see the younger sister was still living a life feeling totally neglected. It was apparent to me that this was being reflected by her living conditions. And if a person has not dealt with severe emotions of neglect, emanating from her past, she will undoubtedly feel compelled to act out her feelings of pain by punishing a chosen target close to her. In this case, it was her older sister.

Because we were able to recognize where these feelings were originating form, the older sister was then able to release her own feelings of hurt and confusion about the most recent incident.

Our outward appearance is a reflection of what we are on the inside. Our lives reflect that for which we seek ~ Margaret D. Nadauld

If ever you want to understand where you are in life, and how you appear to others, look at the exterior of your home and garden. This is an accurate reflection of how you relate to the rest of the world.

If on the other hand you want to understand your own sense of self-worth, just look around the interior of your home. How have you decorated? Is it simple and uncluttered? Does it have a feeling of peace and harmony? Can you find your way easily from one room to another? Do some areas in your home vibrate differently from the rest?

It is easy and enlightening to examine both the inner and outer appearances of your home and I am certain you will see a direct correlation as to how you feel and see yourself.