They say we create based on what we believe. This premise is fundamental in the therapeutic processes I lead, where I often work with visualizations and images to open your mind to seeing something more, to seeing the infinite possibilities that are within your reach.
Before moving to Norway, I participated in an exercise with a group of people where we all meditated, visualized, and put on paper what we wanted to manifest in our lives. I remember drawing a lake surrounded by a forest, where I was practicing SUP Paddle (stand-up paddle). It was a clear and comforting vision of what I wanted to experience in my new environment.
A year later, while living in Lillestrøm, my now-husband surprised me with an inflatable paddle, knowing that I wanted one to take everywhere. He suggested we go to Jessheim, a place with a beach on a lake, to try it out. While I was using my new paddle, he took a photo of me from afar. When I saw the picture, I was struck by how similar it was to the drawing I had made a year earlier: I was exactly as I had visualized, alone on the water, surrounded by pines that bordered the lake. Was this the law of attraction in action? Or the result of working deeply within my subconscious?
These experiences have led me to believe that our minds are powerful tools that, when worked with intention, can help us materialize our dreams and desires. Meditations, art, and visualizations are just some of the instruments we can use to reprogram our subconscious, allowing new beliefs and possibilities to take root within us.
Your Space, Your Refuge
Now, I want to invite you to explore this tool to create a familiar and welcoming environment in your home, especially if you are in a foreign country and still don’t feel that your house is truly yours.
Take a few moments in a quiet place and do the following exercise:
- Close your eyes and visualize your ideal home. Imagine every detail: the rooms, the light coming through the windows, the type of décor and furniture. Mentally walk through your home, starting with the kitchen, then the dining room and living room, and finally the bedrooms and balcony or terrace. What elements make it special? What colors predominate? What kind of neighborhood is it? Are there plants? Where would you spend most of your time?
- Open your eyes and write down everything you saw, without skimping on details. Now, think of a song that you associate with that visualization. Find that song on Spotify or your favorite streaming service and listen to it at least once a day for three weeks. This practice will help your mind associate that melody with your dream home, transforming what was once a distant wish into a closer and more tangible possibility.
From Visualization to Reality.
It’s time to take action. Take the elements that inspired you most from your visualization and find a corner in your home where you can recreate something similar. You don’t need a big budget, just creativity and love for what you’re creating. It could be a corner in your bedroom, a home office, or even a reading nook in your living room.
For example, I created a small oasis in my living room for reading, as I love physical books (I still haven’t gotten used to reading on tablets or laptops). With very little investment, I turned a 1m² space into my personal paradise. We bought a rocking chair at IKEA, two shelves, and a plant with a tropical vibe, common in Norway. I added my favorite books, a photo, and a Buddha figure. Every time I see it, it gives me a sense of relaxation and peace, the perfect spot to read and unwind.
Your Home, Your Story.
I hope this reading and these exercises inspire you to create your own oasis at home, transforming your space into a true home you always want to return to, no matter where in the world you are.
I would love to hear your story and how you have managed to create a familiar environment in your home away from home. What elements are essential for you? What changes have you made to feel more at home?
I invite you to share your experiences in the comments. Let’s make this space a place of inspiration and mutual support!
Thank you for reading.
A big hug,
Dari
When I moved from Peru to Norway to start a new life and family, I needed to create spaces that were familiar and warm to me, because I felt like I was leaving behind, among many other things, the Pacific Sea, the sandy beach, the summers south of Lima, the walks by the sea, the colourful bougainvilleas and my home …