How to Make Decisions
Last weekend I needed antihistamine tablets and and excuse to leave the house, because it’s April. April is my favorite month in Philadelphia; it’s warm enough to sit outside, and the mosquitoes haven’t hatched yet.
So I headed to the pharmacy, only to discover that the allergy pills were locked behind glass, and there were no staff within a 100 yard radius or a fifteen minute wait to unlock it. I left the pharmacy in exasperation, and headed to Thunderbird Salvage, because thrift stores always cheer me up.
There was a street fair in front of Thunderbird, with an artist selling charming prints, in thrifted frames, for reasonable prices. Decades ago I made a vow that whenever I fell in love with a piece of art in my price range, I would buy it. Because I’m an artist, artists need patrons, and if I’m not living my values, who the hell am I?
“Ten of Peas, by Rachel Sinnott
At Thunderbird, I found some planters that were so perfect, I had to bring them home, even though I have more containers in my garden than can reasonably fit in their allotted space. I fit them in anyway.
Making aesthetic decisions is easy for me, because I have a lot of practice. I’ve got settled preferences (swirls! Organic forms! Preferably blue!) a finite budget (low to mid two figures!) and priorities that are aligned with my values (buy secondhand, or direct from artist).
But what if you DON’T have a lot of practice making certain kinds of decisions? How do you get better at it?
“Four of Strawberries,” by Rachel Sinnott
Answer: Your body will tell you.
It may take awhile at first. When you’re contemplating the pros and cons of any decision, ask yourself: How does my heart feel when I am sitting with this thing? How does my gut feel? How does my head feel?
PHYSICALLY, what am I feeling? Clenching or relaxation? Heaviness or lightness? Pain or excitement?
When I work with clients, I have you sit with your feelings about colors, art, furniture, layouts and alterations for as long as it takes for your body to render a verdict. It may happen immediately, or it may take weeks. It’s worth taking the time, because whatever the decision, it must be something you can LIVE WITH.
And your life is the most important thing you have.
Who could resist this? It virtually screams ‘heirloom from French country estate.’
Stephanie Lee Jackson is the owner and founder of Practical Sanctuary, Sensory Interior Design. Practical Sanctuary uses trauma-informed neuroscience to create spaces that help you focus, heal, emotionally regulate, and build community. Clients call it ‘space therapy.’ As a professional fine artist, Stephanie founded art spaces in New York and San Francisco, exhibiting her paintings internationally. As a massage therapist, she founded Practical Bodywork in Philadelphia, and taught Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, and Advanced Massage Technique at Community College of Philadelphia. Her book, The Eccentric Genius Habitat Intervention: Interior Design For Highly Sensitive People is both a manifesto on the need for sensory accessible, sustainable design, and a how-to manual for creating spaces that are tailored to your unique sensory needs.
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The Eccentric Genius Habitat Intervention
Your space, your nervous system.
Most of us were never taught how our bodies actually experience a room–the light, the sound, the layout, the smell–and what happens when those things work against us instead of for us.
This free seven-day course is a gentle introduction to sensory design. Each day brings one exercise–noticing what you feel, photographing what you’ve been editing out, dreaming about what you actually want. The exercises are all optional, and you can go as deep as you like.
By the end, you’ll understand more about why certain rooms drain you, what your body knows about your home, and how to start shifting without stressing out.
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Practical Sanctuary, sensory interior design, specializes in interior design for highly sensitive people.
We help you create spaces which are:
