JOURNEY in HARMONY

Have you made your New Year’s Resolutions yet? You know the usual ones, lose weight, get a better job, exercise more, improve whatever!!! Or have you already forgotten them? Each year we mostly feel we try, try, try and then give up …. usually before January’s end.

I’ve been thinking about the feelings of futility many of us have with this custom and have decided to try something new this year. And, I’m hoping you will try it too. My resolutions/goals this year are to focus on appreciating my life: what I am grateful for, what I do well and what I like about the person I am. Then, I will set my goals for 2010 to begin in February. I know I will be clear, focused and confident I am on the right path for me in 2010.

So, the list begins like this:

3 things I am grateful for:

3 things I do well:

3 things I like about myself:

It may take only a few minutes for you to make this list or it may take days. I suggest you carry the list with you, post it where you can see it daily, make copies…ask your family or friends what they think of it if you like. Read it every morning, evening & before you retire.

Take the rest of the month to feel really good about yourself. See where this attitude takes you. Make notes on how you feel. Try and do a few new things in January… or not. It’s up to you. Just relax and really enjoy the beginning of this fabulous new year 2010.

Next month let’s compare notes on how you feel. See how well you keep this resolution to be positive about yourself and your life. Will it last longer than New Year’s Resolutions from years past?

I’m waiting to hear from you.

Care for yourself, your life with Feng Shui

Has the current economy negatively affected you? Are you feeling anxious,
stressed and stuck? Do you feel your life is totally out of control? Has
your home become a source of more financial strain and pressure? I have
good news for you. You have more control than you think. One HUGE source of
control has to do with one common, BIG underlying problem – CLUTTER.

Perhaps you haven’t paid attention to the clutter around you. Clutter is
not just an issue of organization; it goes much deeper than that having
effects on your mental, emotional and financial aspects of life.

Clutter is an over abundance of ‘things’ in any area of your home or
office. These ‘things’ all have their own energy and this excess energy
creates stress and feelings of being stuck and overwhelmed. And, I
mentioned finances…well, all of this stuff cost you money to acquire,
right? So, clutter is also expensive.

Clutter is:

- the unwanted gifts you haven’t yet passed on
- the clothes you haven’t worn in years
- the magazines you’ll read – one day
- the overflow of files in your ‘in-box’

REMOVING clutter allows you to:

- create new opportunities in your life – new job, partner, new ‘look’
- experience better productivity – get more done in less time
- feel in control of your life
- focus on what’s important – clarify your values

Cathy Davis, St. Louis, MO www.DavisCreative.com

Identify one – just one – small area of your home that’s a mess and causes
you to feel stressed just thinking about it. Is it a drawer in your
kitchen, that has become a catch all for everything? Is it under your sink
in the bathroom that’s a mess? Well, take 15 minutes and organize just that
small space.

Ask yourself three questions when dealing with every item:

• - Is it something I use frequently? If yes – keep it, if no – toss it!
• - Does it belong in this space? – if yes organize it in the space – if not – re-assign it someplace else, or  – toss it out!
• - Do I have too many of these? – how many pens, utensils, boxes, etc. do you really need and use?

With just 15 minutes a day you’ll start:

• - gaining control of some of your space & life – you’re just getting started
• - easing the congestion in your space and allowing you to find what you need in a hurry
• - reducing stress – a cleaner space is easier to use and feel relaxed in – I know this is just one small area…but imagine when you do this for an entire room…how GREAT you will feel.
• - controlling unnecessary spending for items you already have but cannot find and impulse buying for items you have no room for.

“Clutter has been an issue I have run from almost my entire life. As I began to clear things out,
it was amazing how clear my mind became. I will never look at clutter the same way
again. It’s amazing the difference I feel when I put things in order.”
� Jackie Trottmann, Kirkwood, MO

Are you one of the millions of women working from home? Is the dining room table your desk? Or perhaps the extra bedroom is your ’sort of’ office. Do you have trouble making the transition from ‘at home’ to ‘at work’? Are you having trouble getting the word out about your products & services? Do your friends and family promote your business?

Often when we’re just getting started working from home we tend to think that wherever we plop ourselves down with our work stuff is just fine. We’re lucky to have a place to get started. You may even be lucky enough to have a spare bedroom or space in the basement to set up shop. So we put that desk or table against the wall and pull up a chair, find a book case, some lighting, maybe a table to lay out our work, plug in the computer and we’re in business.

Well, I’d like you to know that no matter where you set up shop (except your bedroom….that room is for other activities) if you follow certain simple principles of good Feng Shui design, you will be enabling and inviting all the success you desire to find you…..even in the back bedroom or your basement office.

3 quick & easy tips to set yourself up for success.

First – desk placement: Arrange your desk as far from the door as you can so it allows you to see as much of the room as possible. Do not place the desk in a direct line with the door. When seated it’s best to have a wall behind your chair and you should be able to see the door easily without twisting or turning. This advantageous position allows you to see anyone coming in the room and helps you feel in control of your space, your business and your goals. Just think of another arrangement where you are facing a wall or a corner and have to turn around anytime someone comes into the room. How does that make you feel….awkward, uncomfortable, ‘up against a wall’, frustrated? Try this new arrangement and experience the change. If a corner desk is your only option, hang a mirror so that you can see what’s going on behind you.

Second – Clutter – on your desk and around your room. Keep your files organized, not in piles. Clutter makes it harder to find things and adds to your stress. Find ways to organize your materials and files.  Clear off your desk at the end of each day and return to a clean, organized, welcoming office space each morning. Just think how you feel walking into an office that is cluttered and a mess. Does it make you want to work and grow your business….not likely! You probably would rather turn around and go shopping.

Third – Increase the positive energy in your office:

• Plants…use real plants if you have natural light as they reduce the effects of EMF’s (electromagnetic fields from computers etc.)
• Hands free phone…trying to prop the phone up with your shoulder against your ear will cause LOTS of muscle and stress problems you don’t need. The stress of holding this position often changes the tone of your voice, it’s distracting to you because you’re wondering when it’s going to fall, and sometimes your caller can sense this too. Make your life easier and focus on the call not on how you are holding the phone. You can also use a head set plugged into the phone.
• Lighting – use full spectrum lighting. This light most closely resembles natural daylight. It is more energizing for you and if you work with colors it is a huge help. You can find these bulbs every where and they are well worth the slightly increased price of ordinary bulbs. Full spectrum tubes are also made for fluorescent light units. If the overhead lighting is not bright enough or creates shadows, add a desk lamp that makes your work area comfortable and well lit.

The results are:

• you feel in control of your space, thinking, planning and business direction
• you have created a positive work environment, distinctly separate from your home atmosphere, that energizes you each day to stay the course.
• your office reflects your professional work and positive outlook that supports you in achieving your business goals.

With all this positive energy surrounding you … success is yours!

Helpful Crystals
I need to hang this beautiful crystal where? why?

Feng Shui is all about “chi” or energy, in all aspects of your day-to-day life. Chi is the unseen energy that we can often feel such as the energy of a brightly lit room, or the breeze on a balmy day. Energy is everywhere, in everything and is also a part of us. On days when we feel sluggish…our chi is low. Other times we are full of life and feeling vibrant – our chi is normal or energized. Optimally chi should travel slowly throughout your home and office to keep your life balanced, happy and healthy.

We can control the chi, or energy, in our homes and our life in many ways. One easy thing to do everyday is to open your front door and allow fresh energy to enter your home. So often we enter and leave by our garage door and we almost never use our front door. This front entrance is the ‘mouth of chi’ to our home and it allows fresh chi to enter your home each day. Think of it as a breath of fresh air, or a drink of water each day…what would you do without it? Windows also bring in fresh chi every day, so open your blinds and windows daily.

Crystals are another way to keep the energy flowing in your home. A Crystal is a multifaceted prism that circulates the energy throughout the space where it is hung. Imagine how beams of light, when hitting a prism, bounce off in many directions. Similarly, these crystals help direct and re-direct the energy in all areas of your home to keep energy flowing and avoid having negative or stagnant energy accumulate. Some spaces in your rooms can have clogged energy because of clutter; and some areas can have no energy movement, which is undesirable and should be corrected. Crystals keep a room from developing that stagnant feeling and thus help refresh your personal energy. You can hang your crystal in the center of the room, or in a corner that may need some fresh energy.

Are there areas of your life that need energizing? Let me know how crystals have helped you.

What would you say if someone asked you what the most important room is in your home? Some might say the family room or kitchen, because those are the rooms where friends and family gather together to bond, relax, and share that all important past-time, eating! According to the principles of Feng Shui, however, the master bedroom holds the most significance for creating a more content and happy you.

Unfortunately, this is often times the last room in the house slated for decorating or a face lift.

When you think of your master bedroom (and Feng Shui), you should think of the Three R’s—Rest, Renewal, and Relationships. Your master bedroom needs to be the place where you can escape and find peace, a place where you can go to re-charge your batteries in a calm, loving setting. The goal is to make YOU feel good!

The first thing to do to improve the Feng Shui in your master bedroom is remove electronic equipment (this means no computers, TVs, radios, etc.). To be really “pure” about it, you shouldn’t even have a clock or clock radio. This could make waking up a bit challenging, so just do what you can.

Secondly, remove photos of your kids or other members of your family and replace them (or keep, if they’re already there) pictures of you and your partner. If you don’t have a partner, then have photos or pictures of things in pairs (if your desire is to attract a partner). This is a whole topic in and of itself for a later time, but this will get you on your way.

For the third improvement step, paint the room a restful color that you love and de-clutter the room in the process. Clutter is energy…and not good energy! You don’t want this energy vibration in your master bedroom when you’re trying to attract a feeling of renewal and relaxation.

Using the principles of Feng Shui in your master bedroom shows respect and love for self. When you lay on your bed, look around and take in the “energy” there, how does it feel? Which one of these three basic improvements will you find most challenging and why?

Feng Shui Tip on Love and Clutter

Perhaps in Feng Shui terms these two words, “love and clutter” don’t seem a likely pair…but I believe I’ve found how they directly relate to each other. Feng Shui is about providing good energy and balance in life. Love is certainly good life force energy. Clutter is having too many items in a space. These items can be physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. Clutter creates stagnant or stuck energy. So why are these two words a good pair? I believe its love that can clear out the clutter.

In talking with friends and clients lately I realize a theme has been recurring around discussions of clutter in our offices, basements, bedrooms and our lives. We look at our clutter and say “boy, I really need to do something about this”. Yet months, maybe years go by and the clutter remains. I’m wondering why we let this clutter stagnate in our lives.

Want to save time? Have more time? Sure we all do. Time is the number one priority we women want more of in our lives! De-cluttering can be time consuming, difficult, emotional, confusing and boring too. But the rewards in clearing your clutter and getting control of your space and your life are absolutely transformational. You get in touch with yourself, your priorities, your family/friends, your goals and your happiness in life. You feel less stress, have more time for fun and experience greater self esteem. That’s the love I’m talking about. Love for yourself and your life! Now that’s great energy!

Recently I began sorting items in our storage room. We kept things for the larger home we were going to buy but decided we love where we are so it’s time to downsize our clutter. Clearing my own things brought some new clarity to the “clutter transformation” process I teach. For my clients and myself, I attribute success in clearing the clutter to “love”, self esteem, respect, admiration, self-confidence and all the words that describe how we feel when we love someone. And in our de-clutter process that love must be for our self.

When we clear and re-organize our spaces…bedroom, basement, office and thus our lives we are literally taking the time to care for and honor ourselves. We are taking the time to live in the here and now…to be present in our lives. Too often, especially as women, we care for others and leave our needs until later… and later never seems to come and when and if the time does come, we’re exhausted. This creates a big imbalance in our life. Taking time to clear our clutter means we are taking time to show love and respect for ourselves, our life. Good energy will flow and everyone will feel it.

When we show ourselves love every day we don’t have clutter. And if our spaces get cluttered, we know it’s time to take a break and show ourselves some love. Then we’ll be ready to clear out the clutter and get back to our fun life.

I’d love to hear about your experiences with love & clutter…