Transform your inner world

I’ve become a real House Rules fan. For the uninitiated, this is an Australian reality TV show currently showing on TV3, where couples compete for the chance to have their mortgage paid by undertaking mammoth house redecorating projects.

The first few weeks involved remodelling each other’s homes, which were in various stages of disrepair. One couple even had an extension added to house the seven children in their new blended family. Quite an achievement in just seven days!

Of course, being reality TV, there are the requisite ‘manufactured’ elements where people are painted in a particular light for dramatic interest. Let’s face it, you’d have to be pretty keen on DIY to get excited by four hours a week of demolitions, painting, plastering and rewiring alone!

So we meet the couple that loves to bicker, the couple that seems to rub everyone else up the wrong way, and the bloke who’s prone to storming off . There are the requisite practical jokes to lighten the mood, and the drawn out ‘reveal’ episodes with all their laughter and tears. Of course, following the show’s screening in Australia, there were revelations most of these couples were not as hard up as the ‘story’ of the show suggested. Shock, horror! And perhaps the somewhat style-challenged Tasmanians that were the first to exit may have been the most deserving of mortgage relief after all? But that’s reality TV for you!

So … back to my own reality. I am not a home decorator by any stretch of the imagination. My interior decorating style might be better described as ‘pile and clutter’—and it’s not even ‘chic clutter’. I admire beauty in a home; I just don’t know how to pull it off myself. For a while, I attempted to blame my DNA, but a few weeks back I visited my sister’s exceptionally tidy and impeccably decorated place in Christchurch. Of course, there is only one of her, and we are a household of four. But even so … in all honesty, I could see that I couldn’t blame my ‘décor de clutter’ (aka ‘mess’) on upbringing any longer.

When I considered how much these amazing House Rules competitors could accomplish in transforming an entire house from disaster to design in seven days, I was left with an undeniable challenge: surely I could clean up a few trouble areas in my own place? So I did. (Thank you, House Rules, for the unexpected encouragement.)

Every day we make choices about how to tackle the uglier aspects of our lives. And perhaps one of the biggest areas to overcome is that of negative attitudes. We all face disappointments, health and fi nancial challenges, along with issues with our partner, our kids and our work colleagues at times. And we could understandably respond by adopting attitudes like resentment, martyrdom, self-pity and apathy. But this doesn’t bring beauty to either our inner or outer world, does it?

In the Bible, Paul (an early Christian leader), has some tips for introducing more beauty into any life. He writes, ‘… whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things’ (Philippians 4:8). When we continually dwell on the negative, our outlook becomes coloured by dark and pessimistic thinking. But when we make it our habit to focus on the positive things in life (and in others), we fi nd our spirits lifted and our outlook turning to bright optimism.

If you’re frustrated by an ugly exterior world and suspect it may be influenced by some messy thinking on your part, give Jesus permission to take up residence and have greater influence in your life. Cooperate with him on an inner redesign and you’ll see the ugliness of negativity transformed by the beauty of joy.

Real change doesn’t happen in seven days—that’s only in the realm of TV—but it can last for a lifetime.

By Christina Tyson