Your home should be a place that restores your whole being: your body, your mind and your heart. But unfortunately, sometimes, it instead becomes a headache, a burden, and a stress trigger. If that is the case, it’s time for change.
First thing to ask is, what is causing the stress and problems. Many times it’s the mess. We naturally tend to own too much stuff and live in a space too small for all this “stuff” to fit. Yet, even when we move to a bigger home, somehow it gets filled just as easily. Why is that? Somewhere in our mind we believe that every space needs to be filled. But in reality, we forget that actually, empty space allows for many things.
In feng shui, empty space is also a form of energy. In a floor plan empty space creates flow, and allows energy to connect one space to another. Empty space also allows our minds to wander and feeds our creativity. It’s just like when you look up and see lots of sky, it’s freeing. We feel we can truly open up.
So, start clearing your spaces. First, walk around your home. Check to see if all your passage ways are clear of clutter. Are there any boxes that hinder the path? Is a piece of furniture sticking out too far that you always have to walk around it? Do you have clutter on the floor? Clear the paths so they are no obstacles. This will allow your energy to flow better too.
Next, work on your clutter. Start slowly. If you plan to give things away to a particular friend, make sure they want it. If not, donate it to a local charity, who can resell the items. For things that are difficult to part with, take a photo for sentimental purposes, and be brave and move on. In Asian philosophy, hanging on to unnecessary items can hinder growth. Learning to let go can be liberating!
Empty a single corner of a room and see how you feel. Enjoy the feeling. Once you know how good it feels, it becomes an incentive to work on the other spaces.
