Is staying focused or getting motivated a lost cause in your home or office? Do you feel like you have lost the war even before the first shot is fired?
In the world of Feng Shui this lack of motivation, inspiration and focus is a sign of blockage or stagnation in your physical environment. For example, a very bright young freelance journalist named Peter was missing his deadlines and struggling to write his stories. Even once he began he had trouble staying focused and finishing his projects.
After careful evaluation of his home office it turned out most of his blockage was right on the wall he faced. Above the two guest chairs and a small table across from his desk he hung additional pictures earlier in the year. They added to an already overcrowded wall of artwork, quotes and family photos.
Each of the items on the wall had special meaning, was inspiring or held fond memories. But, when he added more pictures to the grouping it threw the energy in the room -- and Peter -- out of balance and into overwhelm. There was no blank wall space for his eyes to wander to, rest and refocus. The wall he faced became the enemy, draining every ounce of his focus and motivation. The myriad of pictures shapes and thoughts became constant distractions to his mind and his spirit.
Are Your Rooms on Overwhelm
This type of energy drainage, focus distractor and motivation killer can be found in any room of the house and can cause a variety of setbacks. If a bedroom is on overwhelm due to clutter on the furniture, boxes on the floor, too many pictures or a poor selection of paint color on the walls, the result could be restlessness such as not getting enough sleep. In a kitchen it can cause eating disorders, family feuds and digestive disorders.
Is Your Thinking on Overwhelm?
The loss of a loved one, an unexpected argument with a friend or your boss, a family member struggling with a serious illness or worrying about how you are going to pay your bills is a major distraction and motivation killer. The same Feng Shui principle applies to your negative loop thinking and allowing your thoughts to distract and disengage you. The more you focus on the negative the more overwhelmed you become – the result: distraction, lack of focus and no motivation.
The Feng Shui Solution
You deserve better. Take control of your surroundings and thinking so you can accomplish what you need and want to do efficiently and effectively.
Design your rooms and office with the ultimate reward of focus, motivation and inspiration in mind. Get rid of stagnant blocked energy by eliminating clutter, whether it is boxes of stuff on the floors or stacks of paperwork on desks and tables. Remember to keep chairs empty – they are to be used for sitting not storing.
Discover the difference when you hang only enjoyable and meaningful pictures on your walls. Do not overcrowd the wall space. For maximum comfort there should be at least twice as much wall space as there are decorative things hanging on it. The ratio should be no more than 2:1. On the other hand, do not place one medium-sized picture on a huge blank wall with high ceilings. This leaves you feeling empty and always wanting. Balance is the operative measure for placement of artwork.
Go beneath the surface. Observe your internal thoughts to see if they are also distracting your focus and discouraging you. While you cannot see them as you would too many pictures on a wall, you can hear them if you listen. If you are dealing with sadness and loss, financial pressure or family issues, take time to write all these negative thoughts on a tablet and shred them. If they try to return, post a mental “no trespassing” sign and tell them they are no longer welcome. Then drink a glass of water or take a quick walk to re-focus.
Don’t compromise and make room to place or hang something new on a wall or in a room, thinking it won’t matter. It does matter. When things are out of balance or overcrowded it affects your calm, clear thinking motivation. As parents of young children, don’t be tempted to hang all of their newly-created artwork everywhere on refrigerators and walls. This causes chaos and distraction – instead hang one or two of the newest ones or best ones and then cycle them, removing the old and hanging the new.
When Peter removed one-third of the items hanging on the wall in his office he was amazed to find that his focus returned, his concentration improved and his efficiency dramatically increased. Now he is able to respond quickly, assess objectively and meet deadlines.
Change your life for the better. Evaluate your walls, furniture, chairs and even closets to see where your focus, motivation and inspiration are blocked. Clear and eliminate the blockages and stagnant energy to get more done and get more out of life.
© Pat Heydlauff, all rights reserved 2012
Pat Heydlauff speaks from experience. She designs personal and office environments that promote work/life balance and increase prosperity. She is the author of Feng Shui, So Easy a Child Can Do It, and Selling Your Home with a Competitive Edge. She can be reached at 561-799-3443 or www.energy-by-design.com. Also visit her strictly business site www.engagetolead.com.