Have you ever walked into a rundown, neglected home and saw, despite all its flaws, the magic and beauty behind it all?

And have you ever recognized the untapped potential in an incredible human being, who’s not living the life he or she deserves, a life they love?

I can…transformation is my gift!

For 20 years my husband and I had the dream of buying a home in Southern Italy. A place to relax and dive deep into the “dolce far niente.” The Italian philosophy of embracing the beauty of idleness and savoring the simple pleasures of life…

Yes, the indulgent, blissful feeling of giving yourself permission to slow down, breathe deeply, and savor the beauty of the present moment. Letting go of stress and embracing the joy of simply being alive.

During the first year of Covid, while feeling claustrophobic locked inside the home, the Italian dream resurfaced. With our daughters financially independent, this could be the right time to turn this dream into a reality…

So, we contacted a couple of real estate agents in the Italian region of “Salento” and off we went! We knew the area pretty well and for 2 weeks, we saw all kinds of houses. Some in the heart of beautiful ancient towns, others surrounded by a sea of olive trees. But none of them felt like home, there was something missing.

Until one hot afternoon, when we were waken up from our “siesta” by our realtor, Gina. She remembered she had a property very close to where we were staying. “It’s destroyed and needs a lot of work, but you may like it,” she said.

And the rest is history!

After climbing a set of endless stone stairs, we walked into a completely rundown house. But as I turned around, my eyes filled up with tears! The view was breathtaking, the old enchanted town at our feet, and the blue Ionic Sea completing the most beautiful view we had ever seen. The bells of the local church started ringing, as if confirming our choice. I looked at my husband and we knew it, we had found our Italian paradise!

We knew making this our home would take lots of time and energy, but we could do it! After all, transformation is my superpower!

You see?

It’s easy to see an old house and only see the flaws – the chipped paint, the outdated fixtures, the overgrown yard. But what if we shifted our mindset and looked at these spaces with fresh eyes, as opportunities for transformation and growth?

As it turns out, the process of transforming people and transforming homes is more similar than you might think.

And for me, there is nothing more inspiring, powerful and beautiful than helping transform a rundown house into a home, an uneventful life into a vibrant one, and an uninspired person into someone in love with life!

So, where do I start, you might be asking yourself?

1. Changing your mindset…

When it comes to personal growth, the first step is often shifting our mindset from a fixed perspective to a growth mindset. Instead of seeing ourselves as static beings with limited potential, we recognize that we have the ability to learn, grow, and change over time.

Similarly, transforming a space requires a shift in mindset from seeing only the limitations to seeing the potential. A neglected home is not a lost cause – it’s a blank canvas waiting for someone to breathe new life into it.

2. Seeing possibilities…

In personal growth, this might mean identifying areas where we want to improve, setting goals, and taking action towards those goals.

When it comes to transforming a home, it means looking past the flaws and seeing the potential for what the space could become. Maybe that outdated bathroom could be transformed into a spa-like oasis, or that overgrown yard could be turned into a lush garden retreat.

3. Creativity, resilience, and a willingness to try new things.

Personal growth often involves stepping outside of our comfort zones, taking risks, and trying new approaches.

Similarly, transforming a home might require some creative problem-solving – perhaps you need to figure out how to work with an unusual floor-plan or find a way to bring in more natural light. It might also require resilience in the face of setbacks or unexpected challenges – just like personal growth requires us to persevere through obstacles and setbacks.

At the end of the day, both transforming people and transforming homes are about growth and possibility. It’s about recognizing that we are not static beings or spaces, but instead are constantly evolving and changing. And when we approach these transformations with a mindset of optimism, creativity, and a willingness to see the possibilities, we can create something truly beautiful and inspiring.

So, the next time you walk into an old, neglected home, try to see it with fresh eyes. Instead of seeing the flaws, see the potential for transformation. And who knows – you might just inspire a little transformation in yourself along the way!

If you don’t where to start, or even what you want your life to look and feel like, don’t worry. I got you!

Check out my course Empty-Nest, Now whaat?

See you inside!