Feng Shui & Clutter - Part Two
Many people think that Feng Shui is simply about moving your stuff, putting a few cures into place and then just waiting for the prosperity or relationship to come. In fact the practice of Feng Shui is much more complex. It is about change, responsibility, reorganization, decision-making and taking control of different aspects of our lives, in order to create balance and harmony. The study of Feng Shui teaches us that our surroundings affect us and that we are actually a reflection of those surroundings. Everything is alive, connected and always changing.
In fact we cannot separate ourselves from our surroundings. It is important to clear the physical and mental clutter that clogs our lives and affects our well-being. When you work on your environment you are actually creating space in which to heal and become balanced as well as room for your life to move forward. This is what makes the process so powerful; it is also what can make it so difficult. It is tough to give up old patterns and ways of doing things.
When your space is blocked, you are blocked. Clutter can lead to confusion, disorganization, and procrastination. It can influence your finances; keep your mind in the past, cause depression, weight problems as well as other health problems. It is difficult to be creative and productive in cluttered surroundings. If you really honour and respect yourself it will be difficult for you to live in disorder.
If clutter is an issue, look for the underlying cause(s). A lack of trust in the future, an inability to say “No”, and a belief that more is better are among the more common causes. Overcrowded and cluttered spaces can be a way to suppress the emotions, blocking the awareness, as well as the feeling of true emotions. A lack of clear boundaries can easily lead to mental clutter, lack of time and a failure to respect yourself which often translates into a cluttered space. Sometimes our identity is so tied up with the memorabilia of the past that we fear losing it if we eliminate these things. If you are hanging on to the past there is no room for the present.
People create cluttered spaces for a reason. When the need for clutter is acknowledged and released, the clutter clearing process can begin. If you are holding onto old magazines, clothes that don’t fit, unfinished projects, objects you don’t like, and other clutter ask yourself why you are holding onto these things. If you are not sure, pay attention to the feelings that come up when you think about letting them go. What are you really afraid of? That is the clue to determining the underlying cause of your clutter.
If you have major clutter issues, proceed slowly to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Make the job manageable. The first step is to break it down into smaller tasks. Start with one drawer, box or shelf. Congratulate yourself when that is done. Then move on to another one. You may only have time for one small project a day. The important thing is to set realistic goals. If you wait for enough time to do it all at once, it will never happen.
As you shed clutter on all levels do so with conscious intention and visualize what you want in your life. As you clear the clutter in your life you will start to feel positive changes. You will be creating space for new things to come into your life. By improving the energy flow in your surroundings, you have begun the Feng Shui process and are on the way to creating a space that brings you balance and harmony -- a space that truly supports you