A 2000-year-old line to live by, and a freebie!
Did you know that everything you see of Ivory and Deene is guided by a line from a book that’s more than 2000 years old? It goes like this:
Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.
Wisdom from the ages! The poetic sentence is actually from the Bible (Philippians 4:8), nestled in a section that explores how to find peace despite the rollercoaster of circumstances that are an inevitable part of life. Peace in the midst of chaos. Peace as a constant state residing deep within us.
We’ve certainly felt the undulations of our time lately: Covid-19, world sorrows, the need in our community, and division on so many levels. It weighs heavily.
And then we remember this verse.
Whatever is True. Noble. Right. Pure. Lovely. Admirable. Excellent. Praiseworthy.
The heart lifts a little.
Our eyes are turned from the troubling, ugly, distasteful, unsatisfying, clamouring things that are taking up precious headspace. We are reminded that beauty is everywhere, all the time. Yes, even in hardship.
A test for personal peace and wellbeing
The tech age we occupy has swung open the proverbial floodgates so that you can literally have it all. Look. Consume. Try. All the marketing entices you to have your fill. Yet, it’s not always good for us, and almost never quite as satisfying as we expected.
We love the way this short little passage acts like a filter for health and wellbeing. We can hold everything up to its light and consider whether it is good for our mind, body and soul.
“Is it true?” we ask. When an opportunity presents itself, “Is it noble, right, pure?” When we consider what to expose ourselves to, “Is it lovely?” A new relationship, “Is it admirable?” Words spoken, content shared, “Is it excellent, praiseworthy?”
Surround yourself with “lovely”
This dainty verse has a holistic application. It’s about taking control of our environment, as much as taking control of our thoughts, our relationships and our viewing.
We hope that’s the way you consider our collection at Ivory & Deene: a gallery of loveliness to adorn your home, to create an oasis of calm. Sometimes it’s the little things that help us exhale and let go of the tensions of the day.
Sinking into a cosy beanbag.
Running a hand across velvet bedding.
Tucking a rug beneath our knees.
Do your spaces do that for you? Does your office, your bedroom, your lounge room and your kitchen welcome you with a hug that says, “peace, dearest, rest here a while.”
The colours, textures, lighting and organisation of our environment have been shown to impact on mental health. There’s a whole psychology of colour and light, and the way they interact with our moods (read about that here), and there are studies confirming the stress that a cluttered house can induce.
Design psychologist Toby Israel, Ph.D., is the author of Some Place Like Home and an expert on creating environments that enhance positive thinking. She writes:
Our surroundings affect our mood, emotions, and behaviour, often in ways that are below our level of awareness. The decor of spaces sends us messages—and we want those messages to be uplifting.
Yes, we agree!
Here’s a gift, to help you
We want to give you a printable pdf of Philippians 4:8. It’s always good to have little prompts in our lives that remind us to focus on the positive. It would look beautiful in a frame, on your fridge door or propped at your desk. Please enjoy this little something from us to you.