We all need a place where we can escape from the cares and stresses of the day. Here 8 tips for how to create YOUR place.

How you are today?

Are you “just fine,” “pretty good,” or are you doing F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S?

Really, in your heart and soul, how are you?

Is life driving you instead of you driving life. Have life’s stressors hijacked your physical and emotional well-being? Are you feeling zapped of energy, focus and hope?

Have you settled for “good” and “fine,” but are craving fabulous?

Melissa Venable is here to help.

The Guidebook for Finding FabYOUlous

If you’re ready, she’s ready to help you off the dizzying carnival ride that’s sucking your dreams and distracting you from finding your fabYOUlous. Her new book Finding FabYOUlous: A Self-Help with Sass Guide to Finding, Celebrating and Capitalizing on the FabYOUlousness that Makes You, YOU hits the shelves of Amazon this month.

The Journey to FabYOUlous

Become Heavily Meditated, Decrapify the Temple, Sleep Your Way to the Top and Do Boundaries Make Me a B!tch? are just a few of the sassy chapters filled with practical tips and advice in this 315-page book.

In Finding FabYOUlous, Melissa takes you on a journey to discover all of the unique and FabYOUlous gifts that make you, you and then guides you as you learn to cultivate, celebrate and capitalize on those gifts to you create the life of your dreams.

I recently sat down for coffee with Melissa to talk about her book. She opened up (as she does in the book) about how at one point in life she felt trapped in a rotten marriage (that wasn’t working) to an emotionally unhealthy man (who wasn’t working) while trying desperately to raise two little boys, battle a vicious eating disorder and keep everything afloat. It wasn’t until she received some much needed counseling that she realized that her situation was the way it was (awful!) because she was allowing it to be that way. It finally dawned on her that no one was going to swoop in and save her and her boys from that sad, scary situation—so if things were going to change, she was going to have to be the one to change them.

Melissa admitted that finding her FabYOUlousness and getting her life back on track was not quick, easy or painless, but she could ABSOLUTELY say that it was worth it.

A life coach, author, speaker, trainer and the Executive Director for the Northern Colorado Chapter of the American Red Cross, Melissa empowers women everywhere to embrace their FabYOUlousness and make their lives the best that they can be.

Create Your Place

Essential to becoming FabYOUlous is learning to manage stress. A tip Melissa shares in the chapter Find Your Place is to create a physical space in your home just for you—a space where you can retreat to each day to find your center.

“We all need a place that we can call our own—a place where we can escape from the cares and stresses of the day and let our souls unwind and find delight,” says Melissa.

Ideally our entire home would be this space, but most of us share our home with others. In Melissa’s case it’s with a husband and two college-aged sons.

“I adore them, and the love and laughter that fills our home thrills me, but at times there is a serious overdose of testosterone under our roof and that’s when I escape to my sacred space—the upstairs guest bedroom.”

The only hard and fast rule about creating Your Place is that it must be somewhere that you can be alone. Other than that, what Your Place looks like is totally up to you. You get to decide how to make it special. Melissa shares the following suggestions in her book.

How to Create Your Place

1. Privacy Screen

If Your Place is a part of a larger living area used by others, a decorative privacy screen will help separate and define your space.

2. Natural Sunlight

Select a room or a spot in your home that is offers natural light so that you won’t have to squint while reading, knitting or journaling.

3. Items With Sacred Value

Don’t allow your space to become cluttered with knick-knacks. Rather choose a few things with sacred value. A treasured sea shell, painting or picture that inspires you or refocuses you on your hopes and dreams.

4. Coziness and Comfort

A good chair, a cozy blanket, a candle—whatever makes you feel comfortable and supported should be included in Your Place.

5. Soothing Sounds

If music is soothing to you, have that easily accessible. Get great lyric-free soothing music using the free app. Or maybe a trickling fountain is more your thing. Absolute silence if fine, too.

6. A Touch of Nature

A potted plant or little cluster of fresh flowers will bring a touch of joy to Your Place.

7. Use of Color

If you plan to use your space for quiet contemplation, a neutral palette may be one to consider. If your space is for more lively pursuits, pick brighter colors that inspire and energize. Color is easily added with throw pillows, artwork or an area rug.

8. Notebook and Pen

Because our sanctuary spaces are places where we are able to relax and let go of the stresses of the day, they are also places where creativity is uninhibited and therefore free to run wild. Make sure that you are prepared to capture the thoughts and ideas that come to you during your sanctuary time by having a notebook and pen available.

By creating your sanctuary, your way, you will design a space that calls to you and draws you in. Spend some time over the next week creating your sacred space and remember—it doesn’t have to be fancy to be FabYOUlous.

Get your copy of Finding FabYoulous on Amazon. More tips and inspiration for living a FabYOUlous visit www.fabyoulouslife.com.