Feng Shui Today

Focus Fogged in Clutter

Dear Sylvia and Connie,

Lately I have been feeling anxious and overwhelmed. I am experiencing problems on my job and feel like I need change in my life. The problem is that I can't seem to focus, making it difficult to consider a new direction for myself. What can you suggest to help me through this? Please help.

Marianne J.
Delaware, OH

Dear Marianne,

The Tao Te Ching, one of China's greatest philosophical classics, suggests that one devotes time for regular reflection; only in this way can you quiet your mind to hear the lessons you are to learn.

It is difficult to quiet your mind if your environment is preventing you from enjoying that much-needed down time. The famous English novelist William Thackeray once said that the world is a looking glass; it reflects back to us what we hold in our own minds. Without looking at your physical living space, we'll venture to guess that a lot of clutter and disorganization exists in your home and, therefore, is reflecting disorganization in your thoughts and emotions.

You need to get focused so you can do some deep reflection to search for a new direction in your life.

Let's start with getting rid of objects that no longer serve a purpose or inspire you. Clear all unnecessary clutter from your home. Containerize, label, sort and file your paperwork so that your paper mess does not continuously busy your mind.

Simplify! Simplify! Simplify! Once this is done, your home should begin to feel a lot lighter, airier and less overwhelming. The physical change in your environment will also reflect in your emotional state of mind.

Now we can make suggestions to help you be more reflective.

1. Bring the water element into your space. This can be accomplished in many ways. If you have a window that overlooks a yard, add a bird bath, some purple or lilac flowers to attract butterflies, and soft greenery. Place a chair by this window and sit in it daily to connect with nature and your thoughts. Have a journal beside you to write down those thoughts for future reference.
2. Place a small water fountain that reverberates soft sounds of water trickling or flowing. The sound of water flowing causes us to relax and reflect on less stressful things in life. It renews us and regenerates our creativity.
3. Soften straight lines in your environment such as corner edges of tables and walls by adding tall plants by walls and vining plants over table or bookshelf edges, or hanging soft sheer fabric over them.
4. Surround yourself with books and writings from others who have reflected upon their own lives and written about it.
5. Bring the metal element into your environment to promote focus. Any small metal object such as a brass planter or a metal framed picture will work.
6. Follow the path of the moon for a month. This will bring you outside at night where it is more quiet and dark; both of these qualities will help still your mind. It will also remind you of the many cycles of nature and help you realize that life is about change. Be like nature and go with the flow; resistance to change is never the answer.

Sylvia and Connie

Sylvia Watson, FSII and Connie Spruill, MA, FSII are owners of Healing Environments with Feng Shui, Inc. They are also members of the faculty of the Feng Shui Institute of America. As professional feng shui consultants, they provide consultations for your home or business. The Upper Arlington Lifelong Learning Center and Dublin Center are two locations where you can attend their classes. They also give corporate feng shui seminars and have recently completed a book, Feng Shui With What You Have, to be released in 2004. They look forward to receiving your questions or issues you would like addressed in this regular column. Please e-mail your inquiries to healenvir@aol.com or call at 614-258-3299.