This Orange Wall Made Me Question Everything About Being "Professional"

Six months ago, my office was beige and boring. Then I realized I was hiding the parts of myself that brought me the most happiness...

Aug 05, 2025

Two years ago, my office was beige. Practical. Professional. Boring.

I told myself it was "neutral" and "calming," but the truth was, I was afraid my joy might be too much. Too bright. Too unprofessional for a therapist's office.

Then I realized something: I was hiding the parts of myself that brought me the most happiness.

When professional means personality-free

I'd been operating under this unspoken rule that professional spaces should be generic. Safe. Inoffensive to everyone who might enter them.

But one day, a client said something that stopped me cold: "I can't imagine what makes you happy outside of helping people like me."

She wasn't trying to be hurtful. But her words made me realize I'd been so careful to be "appropriate" that I'd erased myself from my own workspace.

The wall that changed everything

The next week, I painted an accent wall bright orange—a newly realized favorite color of mine. I shelved up my favorite books where I could see them. I added a Disney painting because, honestly, looking at it makes me smile every single day.

This is the Renewal phase of the Life Upgrade Method—breaking up with old patterns that keep you small. I was breaking up with the belief that professional meant hiding my personality.

I'd been operating from what I now recognize as people-pleasing patterns—hiding parts of myself to make others comfortable.

What happened when I stopped hiding

Here's what I didn't expect: When I created a space that reflected my actual personality instead of who I thought I should be, my work got better.

Clients started opening up faster. They'd comment on the colors, ask about the books on my shelf, and suddenly we weren't just therapist and client—we were two humans connecting over the things that bring us joy.

One client said, "If you can have Disney things in your office, maybe I can hang my art degree on my wall instead of hiding it in the closet."

Another started wearing bright colors to our sessions instead of her usual neutrals and pastels. "Your office makes me feel like it's okay to be happy," she said.

Your space tells your story

This is what the Reflection phase of the Life Upgrade Method teaches us—taking an honest look at how your environment reflects (or doesn't reflect) who you really are.

Your workspace, your home, your car—they're all telling a story about what you think you deserve. About whether you believe your joy matters.

If someone walked into your space, would they know what brings you happiness? Or would they see a carefully curated version of who you think you should be?

This connects to what I wrote about breaking the rules to ignite creativity—your workspace should reflect who you really are, not who you think you should be.

The permission you don't need to ask for

In the sweltering Arizona heat where everything feels beige and brown, I created a space that's bright and alive. Where Disney characters can coexist with mental health credentials. Where professional and playful aren't opposites.

Because here's what I've learned: You don't need anyone's permission to surround yourself with things that make you happy.

Your joy deserves space. Literal, physical space.

What I'm wondering

What would you put in your space if you knew no one would judge you for it? What colors, images, or objects make you smile that you've been keeping hidden?

Your environment should energize you, not drain you. It should remind you of who you are, not who you think you should be.

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