HELPFUL MUSINGS

Feng Shui Part 3: Why it benefits you to learn and practice Feng Shui

Many people are fascinated with Feng Shui and with good reason. Some believe that it is just some oriental superstitious set of paradigms on interior design (but that is just a part of the extensive definition for Feng Shui). Feng Shui is actually comprised of various schools of learning and incorporates the different cultures under which it is housed.

There are so many advantages that Feng Shui can bring if you can actually open up your mind to try it. The good thing about the different options pertaining to Feng Shui is that even the layman can understand and apply it immediately in their homes without having to spend too much.

Benefit 1:  It brings balance into your life

Clutter can unnecessarily stress you out of your wits. You're probably suffering from a visual imbalance of some sort in your surroundings. Now, the best way to introduce some sense of balance is by incorporating elements that provide you with a sense of control in the outer balance of things, even in things as menial as your furniture.

Benefit 2:  It helps you focus on details

Focusing on the little things can actually be a good thing. Many tend to be heavily focused on the big things of life that even the minor details like home arrangement and office ergonomics don't even get noticed. Ignoring these “minor” aspects of life continue to take a backseat, they tend to accumulate and produce a very stressful environment which can add up to other problems and worries of life.

Benefit 3:  More chances of meeting new people

Meeting new people is another bonus of being a Feng Shui enthusiast. As you apply Feng Shui, you will be able to find another person within your social network who likes the same stuff and can even help you expand your knowledge on Feng Shui, no matter how limited it is to begin with. Before you know it you can start creating a group or start giving lectures on the topic to other interested people.

Benefit 4:  You begin to see Life with new eyes

This positive perspective can invite changes for the better. A new way of looking at home arrangement, for example, may actually serve to benefit you in the long run. The fresh perspective brought about by Feng Shui can actually bring about an enrichment of one’s mind. You begin to see your friends, relatives and people in general in a new light.

Benefit 5:  It opens the gates to prosperity and success

The main objective of Feng Shui is to invite all the good things to one’s life. Prosperity and success can be more easily within reach and a positive disposition may be expected if Feng Shui is practiced well.

Benefit 6:  It has aesthetic appeal and attracts beauty

On top of all the enumerated benefits of Feng Shui, the best would probably be its beauty. The physical appeal of a well-decorated home, interspersed with good Feng Shui techniques, is actually something that you can call a personal heritage that can transcend generations and promote beauty in all aspects, including design of the home and the office.

Feng Shui Part 2: How to be a ‘Clutter Buster’

One of the major principles of Feng Shui is to live in a clutter-free home. Clutter stagnates the ‘Chi’ which needs to flow throughout your space.

Chi is the ‘universal life force’. It flows in everything we consider living and not living. It even flows throughout furniture, floors, windows, animals, people and more. It is very important to help the flow of Chi continue it’s mission of spreading positive energy.

When there is clutter, the Chi becomes ‘Sha’ which is negative energy. This energy not only affects the positive flow of Chi in general, it also causes negative feelings and emotions in people and animals.

So, do you come home and have to climb over stacks of papers and magazines? Have they been temporarily placed around the rooms and now it has become their permanent spots? Here are some ways that you can cut down on that clutter.

Consider ‘paperless’ services such as online banking, coupons, receipts, and statements. Many creditors offer online statements in lieu of having them mailed to you. You can sign up for this service at their websites.

Conquer ‘junk mail’ by signing up at www.dmachoice.org which will remove you from many mailing lists. You don’t have to be at the mercy of junk mail’.

Do you receive a lot of catalogs in the mail? Do you even look at all of the catalogs you receive? They contribute to clutter and also may cause you to spend money that you really hadn't planned. Visit www.catalogchoice.org to tell specific companies that you no longer wish to receive their catalogs.

Organize your home and create a designated place to put any mail or papers entering your house. Suggestion: When you opening your mail, have a wastebasket and a shredder convenient so you can dispose of what you don't need immediately.

If you have children you know that school papers can multiply rapidly. Save only your child's best work instead of feeling like you must keep every single drawing or story. Idea: If you are keeping graded papers in case of disputes over grades, store them in one place. Then, when the last report card of the year arrives and you no longer need the papers, you can throw them all out at once.

Lightbulb moments: You don't need to keep paperwork forever. For example, receipts for all but major purchases can be thrown away as soon as you reconcile the bank statement for the period.

Consult your tax advisor for how long tax returns need to be kept.

You will find lists online that give guidelines for storing various types of documents. If you thin out your files yearly, you won't have to keep buying file cabinets or face growing piles of paper.

You can also scan your documents into your computer instead of filing them. Just remember to backup your computer regularly so the information doesn’t get lost.

These are just some ideas you can use to de-clutter your home. Follow the tips, discover some new ones along the way and you will become a bona-fide ‘Clutter Buster’.

Hey, you never know…you might be able to turn your new skill into a home  business idea and help others bust through their clutter too.