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Feng Shui Your New Year’s Resolutions
2015 is upon us! Were you eager to ring in the New Year?
I’m curious – did you write any New Year’s resolutions last year? If you did, how did you do?
According to Forbes, just 8% of people achieve their resolutions.
I personally don’t like to make resolutions.
As exciting as it can be to ring in the New Year at midnight separating December 31st and January 1st, I feel like every day should feel like you are ringing in the New Year.
Ring in the New Day!
Ring in a new day every day! After all, even January 1st is a new day, right?
A new day! How exciting is that? We get a new start every 24 hours!
Habits Die Hard… Resolutions Die Easy
When people make big resolutions for the New Year, they might stick with them for a couple of weeks… if they’re lucky.
But we tend to forget about our resolutions – we get lost in our old routine.
Life happens. Old habits die hard.
Just 8%, remember?
So why not take it one day at a time?
Keep It Simple
We all know what we want, but it is much simpler than we sometimes think.
I would argue that 99% of what we want is to be happy and healthy. It almost all boils down to these two things.
Want to lose weight? Healthy.
Want to get a better job? Happy.
Want to quit smoking? Healthy.
Want to manage debt? Happy.
Want to drink less? Healthy.
Want to take a vacation? Happy.
So, let’s break this down into manageable and achievable daily tasks instead of lofty goals that 92% of us will never achieve.
Make a short list of three to six things you would like to accomplish each day to be just a little happier and healthier than you were yesterday. Keep them simple and specific (call Mom, eat 2 servings of vegetables, write a letter to my best friend, organize my desk, walk one mile on the beach, smile during 50% of phone calls, read a chapter from real estate investment book, research Caribbean resorts, etc.).
Every night or morning, go over the previous list. Physically write “done” or “not done” next to each task. Next, write the small, achievable goals for the next day of activities.
Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
Goals Grow Naturally
You’ll feel good about your accomplishments and will build your confidence in the process. You will naturally begin to challenge yourself.
With time, you will notice that the small and seemingly unimportant tasks sometimes become previously “unachievable” and life-altering tasks (volunteer 2 hours at a homeless shelter, run a marathon, write a guest article for my trade magazine, put in an offer on an investment property, book trip to Grand Cayman, etc.).
Feng Shui Resolutions
So for 2015, don’t overwhelm yourself with a long list of resolutions that you are unsure you can accomplish.
Instead, set a daily goal for yourself to start changing your life a little at a time. This is exactly what I tell my clients – don’t try to change everything at once because it gets overwhelming and you may give up.
Improve one Feng Shui Bagua area at a time – declutter the Career Area around your front door, for instance.
Then, move around the Bagua one area per day in a clockwise direction.
Next Steps
Start the New Year by letting go of some “baggage.”
With either physical clutter or energetic clutter, you don’t have room for positive new energy or items unless you clear out the old ones first.
Seriously, eliminate unwanted gifts you have received over the holidays. Just because someone gave it to you, doesn’t mean you have to keep it. Donate it, sell it or throw it out!
Just as you can declutter physical objects in your home, you can declutter bad energy with a Feng Shui Space Clearing.
Are you looking for a Feng Shui consultant you can trust? I am a 3rd generation Feng Shui expert and have helped thousands of people add harmony and balance to their homes and offices the Feng Shui way. Contact me today!
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2015 Year of the Wooden Sheep & Goat
What will my year be like? What is my fortune for 2015? Will I find love, wealth and a better job in 2015?
2015 is the Year of the Wooden Sheep or Goat in the Chinese Zodiac, or Lunar Calendar. The sheep is seen as a symbol of peace, balance, harmony and calmness. 2015 is also an “8” year in Feng Shui, which means there’s a lot of wealth to be made this year for most in both their personal and professional lives.
The Chinese New Year doesn’t officially begin until February 19th this year, but that shouldn’t keep us from getting prepared right now!
2015, like any other year, will not be the same for everyone. Just look at your friends and family. Some had a great 2014, while it may have been awful for others. We need to break it down by when you were born – the more precise, the more descriptive the fortune.
Here is general snapshot of 2015 for each of the Chinese Zodiac signs. Please note that I can provide more detail if you give me your accurate birth date and time. If you are interested, please learn more about a Birth Date Numerology Analysis. You will get a month-by-month breakdown of your year specific to you.
These Chinese Zodiac forecasts are good little guidelines to see how you should be presenting yourself in 2015 and how you should arrange your home to make sure you are boosting the energy you need and protecting the areas that needs protecting, like the Health Area of your home.
Don’t know your zodiac sign? No problem. Just click here to find out your Chinese Zodiac Sign.
- Year of the Rat: You should watch out for anything you will regret or be blamed for. Ensure you are doing everything right in your Fame & Reputation Area.
- Year of the Ox: You should be cautious of any confrontations. The Year of the Sheep and Year of the Ox naturally have jealous energy towards each other, so this year may seem a little confrontational to you. Boost your Helpful People Corner.
- Year of the Tiger: You should really keep a close eye on your health and finances. Make sure you don’t have any plumbing leaks and check on your Health Area and Prosperity Corner.
- Year of the Rabbit: This is a great year for you! It is the perfect time to make job changes and begin business ventures you have always dreamed of. Just make sure you do what you need to do in your Career Area. Before making any significant moves, find out which months are best for you with a Birth Date Numerology Analysis.
- Year of the Dragon: You should take extra care in decisions you would like to make this year. Make sure that all the T’s are crossed and I’s are dotted. Use the appropriate areas of the Feng Shui Bagua to maximize your goals.
- Year of the Snake: You should be able to overcome all obstacles you confront and become very successful. Travel is in the forecast this year. You need to keep a close eye on your finances so they don’t get out of control. Make sure that your Helpful People & Travel Area of your house is in good order. Also make sure you quickly resolve any plumbing leaks.
- Year of the Horse: You can make your dreams come true this year, especially in love and in your career. You will get the recognition you deserve. Make sure that your Fame & Reputation Area is in good order. It wouldn’t hurt to look at your Love Corner and Career Area, while you’re at it.
- Year of the Sheep: This is your year, but you should keep a close watch on your health. Use your mind more than being physically active to solve problems. Boost that Health Area of your home.
- Year of the Monkey: You should have positive outcome in nearly all aspects in life: career promotions, love and stable finances. To really get the most out of your year, make sure everything is in order in your Career Area, Love Corner, and Money Area.
- Year of the Rooster: You need to keep singular focus on the goal you want to reach. You can get a bit distracted this year with a lot of changes coming your way. Just remember to keep focus on what you really want. Use the appropriate area of the Feng Shui Bagua to maximize your goal.
- Year of the Dog: You will be driven by your family’s and loved ones’ happiness more than your career. Take a look at your Family Area for some tips on how to maximize your efforts.
- Year of the Pig: You will have a happy and stable year. Go ahead with your business or life plans you have been planning, but make sure to double-check your health. Ground yourself by making improvements to your Career Area and Health Area first. Before making any significant moves, find out which months are best for you with a Birth Date Numerology Analysis.
Use these Chinese Zodiac forecasts as a guideline to make sure that your home has good Feng Shui to support the energy it needs to boost your energy or protect your energy.
Next Steps
Again, if you want a month-by-month detailed analysis of 2015 based on your birth date and time, please learn more about a Birth Date Numerology Analysis. This is especially important if you are looking to make big changes this year.
Contact me right now to inquire about a Feng Shui Consultation so I can help you add harmony and balance to your life. It will be the best investment you ever make. I am a 3rd generation Feng Shui expert that has helped thousands of people improve their lives through Feng Shui.
Do you know someone that could use a little Feng Shui advice? Share this analysis with them on Facebook!
Be sure to register for my email newsletter or like me on Facebook to stay up-to-date with my latest posts.
How to Feng Shui Your Desk
Last week, I told you that within days of upgrading my desk, a reporter I didn’t previously know asked to highlight it in an upcoming article in Coast Magazine.
Why Feng Shui Your Desk?
Your desk is the domain of your career, which is the gateway to your life path.
Proper Feng Shui should help energy called Chi (or “Qi”) power up your desk as you would have it energize your home. This energy can amplify your business success, as well as improve various aspects of your life.
Desk Feng Shui
The secret to adding Feng Shui to your desk is all in the Bagua. The Bagua is the center of the Black Hat Feng Shui universe and understanding it is crucial to making sure your desk serves your career goals and life path.
Simply layout your desk as if a Bagua were drawn on top, with the Career Area against the side where your chair sits. If it helps, you can think of your desk broken up like a tic-tac-toe board.
This means that as you sit at your chair, your left hand will touch the Knowledge, Family, and Prosperity/Wealth areas as you reach across your desk.
Likewise, your right hand will touch the Helpful People/Travel, Creativity/Children, and Love areas as it reaches across your desk.
The middle of your desk will be your Health Area and across your desk directly in front of you should be the Reputation/Fame area.
The five elements of water, wood, fire, earth and metal in their creative cycle.
The colors and elements (water, wood, fire, earth, & metal) you use should be consistent with those of the respective areas of the Bagua that you would use in your home. Be sure to read up on the Feng Shui Bagua for more information on this.
Symbolism you might use, however, could be relatively unique to you and your profession.
The Bagua Sections of the Desk
Career: This area is right in front of you — the bottom center square of your tic-tac-toe board. The primary element is water and the color is black. Ensure this space is clear for new work to flow in. If you have a desk with a glass top, you can insert a picture of a stream of water flowing in. Without a glass top, you can simply tape that picture underneath your desk. You don’t need to see the item for it to help you.
Knowledge: The bottom-left box of your tic-tac-toe board is for knowledge. Blue is the primary color here. You could have books related to your profession in the drawers under or a small bookshelf on this corner of the table. Having something blue here will help you concentrate and make better decisions.
Family: This area can be found in the middle-left box of your tic-tac-toe board. The primary element here is wood and the ideal color is green. Portraits of your family, friends, or colleagues in a wooden frame would be ideal in this side of the desk. Adding green here will help you feel more at ease with your family and coworkers.
Prosperity & Wealth: The upper-left corner of your desk is for prosperity and wealth. Gold, purple, and green are prosperous colors. You should also have elements here that remind you of wealth. A money plant, a picture of a dream home, or some golden trinkets would do the job in this corner.
Reputation & Fame: The top-middle square of your tic-tac-toe board is here. Fire is its dominant element, which is also represented by the color red. Candles and lights are ideal here. Company awards or even your nameplate would also be well-placed here. You should place your business cards in this area.
Love & Relationships: This area can be found in the upper-right corner of your tic-tac-toe board. Pink and love symbols represent this area well. Items in pairs represent love, as well. A photo of your spouse or a hidden description of your ideal mate fits well in this corner. I added a pair of small turtles to signify me and my husband.
Creativity & Children: The middle-right area is where creativity flows. It is represented by metal and black & white items. This is another great spot for pictures of your kids. If you are looking for an infusion of creative energy, add a metal pendulum or a picture of something creative that inspires you, such as the Sydney Opera House for an architect.
Helpful People & Travel: The lower-right corner of your desk is where you call upon the help of others, which we can always use. This is best represented by silver or grey objects. Recent business cards that you have collected or your Rolodex can work well here. Create a handwritten note detailing how someone will help you achieve your goals and hide it in your desk drawer in this corner. Swap it out periodically. You could also place a small globe or pictures of your vacation goal here.
Health: This area falls in the center square in the tic-tac-toe board. Earth is the element here and it is represented by earth tones, especially yellow. You could tape a big round yellow circle under your desk here or have objects signifying the earth, such as a jar of decorative stones. Otherwise, ensure that the center of your desk is clutter-free.
Feng Shui Desk Shapes
- Rectangle: This shape is ideal for most offices where you want to accomplish individual work. A rectangular desk helps you concentrate.
- Circle: Circular desks are good for brainstorming and creativity. Thus, they are ideal for group meetings.
- Curved: If you have trouble concentrating because people are frequently disturbing you, it may be wise to change to a curved desk. If you are inside of the curve, in the concave area, you will concentrate better. The convex area where it curves out will keep others from approaching too often.
Feng Shui Desk Material
- Wood: Desks made of wood are sturdy, solid, supportive, reliable, and long-lasting. This is my first recommendation for most job functions.
- Metal: Desks made of metal are sharp and penetrating. They provide lots of mental energy and concentration, but they can be draining to the body.
- Glass: A desk made of glass can be very revealing, meaning that you have nothing to hide. However, energy passes through a glass desk very quickly. Be sure to slow the energy with wooden accessories or plants. Glass desks may be ideal for those in sales who want to show customers that they can be open with them.
- Laminate: Desks made of laminate materials are the vanilla of desks. They do not provide much positive or negative energy.
Feng Shui Desk Colors
- Black: A black desk will attract energy inward, which encourages introspection and creates opportunity.
- Brown: A brown desk stabilizes and strengthens the body, but does not energize the mind.
- White: A white desk activates the mind, but drains the body of energy.
- Gray or Metallic: A gray desk gives you more focus, but drains your physical body.
- Green: A green desk is a good balance of body and mind. It is especially good if you have drawn-out projects.
- Earth Tones: Lighter earth tones will increase your mental focus, and will drain your physical body of energy less than gray.
- Bright Colors: Bright colors such as yellow, orange and pink will draw a lot of attention but make the body and mind restless. I suggest bright desks in rare circumstances, such as for reception areas.
- Wooden Colors: Medium-toned wood colors provide stability and strength to the body. Using lighter tones will help energize the mind. Pine, ash, oak and birch colors should be a good balance while providing just the right amount of contrast with white paper to alleviate visual strain.
Additional Feng Shui Desk Tips
Proportions: Ensure that the size of your desk is proportional to the amount of and space of work you need to do. For instance, if the extent of your work is data entry, you likely wouldn’t need as big of a desk as someone who is an architect with drawings that need to be spread across the desk. Ensure that you can reach everything without allowing your desk to look cluttered.
Strong Foundation: Desks should have strong legs that are built of strong materials. The legs are the foundation of your desk, and thus the foundation of your career and life path.
Modesty Panel: I usually recommend a modesty panel that prevents someone from seeing your legs from in front of the desk. This provides greater security and establishes boundaries. A desk with an open front might feel more intimate, however, and will allow others to feel more comfortable approaching you. Unless you are in human resources or a pure leadership role, I recommend a modesty panel.
Face Toward the Door: If your desk faces a wall, window, or partition, you need to try to move it. Though employers love to be able to look over your shoulder, it adds stress if your back is to the door. If possible, turn your desk to face the doorway, but do not have it in line with the doorway. In other words, if someone were shining a light straight into your doorway, it would not line up with your desk, but you would be able to see the light coming in.
Windows: Try not to have your back toward windows, as you can be overwhelmed with energy. This may be unavoidable in some circumstances. There are cures to help minimize the effect of windows.
Power Position: Your desk should be in an area of your office where you can see as much of the room as possible.
Keep It Positive: On your desk and in your office should be objects that are uplifting and empowering.
Add harmony and balance to your desk with this handy Bagua mouse pad. Complete with a description, element and color for each Gua, this mouse pad will help you achieve more health, wealth and luck.
Feng Shui Mouse Pad: For a boost of positive Chi and a reminder of how the Bagua should be laid out on your desk, look into getting a Feng Shui mouse pad.
Clutter: There is simply no room in Feng Shui for clutter, especially on or in your desk.
Home Office or Workplace: Be sure to Feng Shui the desk in your home office, as well as the one at your workplace. They both represent your career and your life path in general.
Next Steps
Looking for a Feng Shui consultant you can trust? Learn a little more about me and how I can help you add harmony and balance to your home or office the Feng Shui way. Contact me today!
Do you know someone that could use a little Feng Shui advice? Share this post with them on Facebook!
Be sure to register for my email newsletter or like me on Facebook to stay up-to-date with my latest posts.
Photo Credits
Jade plant photo courtesy of Steven Severinghaus via Creative Commons license. Swans photo courtesy of Fredrik Alpstedt via Creative Commons license.
Feng Shui Colors
Colors can be as important as elements in Feng Shui.
Colors can excite, enhance, or even disturb the energy around you. And they can represent emotions as well as goals.
Here are some common colors and what they mean in Feng Shui:
- Black: Career
- Blue: Knowledge
- Green: Family
- Purple: Prosperity & Wealth
- Red: Reputation & Fame
- Pink: Love
- White: Creativity & Children
- Grey: Helpful People & Travel
- Yellow: Health
As an example, if you are looking to get noticed for your accomplishments, throw on a red blouse or shirt. Ready to advertise that you are looking for love? Try on a pink hat or tie.
When it comes to adding the above colors to your home to make changes with Feng Shui, there is no need to overwhelm your space with a color by painting an entire room.
Rather, test it out first with some fresh-cut flowers or throw pillows with the colors you are looking to add. Then, you can paint picture frames, change curtains or add some artwork if you like the results.
Most importantly, in your home or office, be sure to add colors to the appropriate area of your home, as represented by the Feng Shui Bagua.
Don’t be afraid to use color!
Next Steps
To learn more about how colors play a part in Feng Shui, I suggest you read through my free information on the Feng Shui Bagua.
Feng Shui is all about harmony and balance. Make sure that as you make changes to one area of your Bagua, balance it out with changes to other areas, as well.
Have fun adding some color to your life!
Looking for a Feng Shui consultant you can trust? Learn a little more about me and how I can help you add harmony and balance to your life the Feng Shui way. Contact me today!
Do you know someone that could use a little Feng Shui advice? Share this post with them on Facebook!
Be sure to register for my email newsletter or like me on Facebook to stay up-to-date with my latest posts.
Feng Shui Desk in the Spotlight
Feng Shui even amazes me sometimes.
If you follow me on social media, you may remember that I recently upgraded my desk. So get this…
The Old Desk
I had a 20-year-old IKEA table with legs (“Gerton,” as they call it). It came complete with nothing… not even a modesty panel to prevent someone from seeing my legs. Gertie, as it came to be known, was the very first piece of furniture that I got on my own. It had served me very well for 20 years.
Emotions aside, it was time to follow the advice that I give my clients and get myself a solid and stable executive desk that will support my growing career.
On the hunt, I saw such a desk at a big office supply retailer. I ordered the desk on Thursday morning and immediately posted my old desk to Facebook saying that it needed a new loving home.
Within five minutes, a friend offered me $40 for the old desk for her son. She had just been looking for one on IKEA’s web site.
The New Desk
My new desk arrived Friday afternoon. My boys stayed up until midnight putting it together for me. I gave it a good wipe down with citrus essential oil and started to Feng Shui my desk top.
Come Tuesday morning, my phone rings. It’s a writer for a local magazine who wants to interview me for their issue that focuses of health and green living. Guess what her column is called. Seriously… just guess!
“ON THE DESK!!!”
Literally, she writes articles on what is on people’s desks! From CEOs to designers to actors, this writer wants to understand what is on someone’s desk and why. Within a week of getting my new desk, my desk is already getting the spotlight!
I just wanted to share because I grew up with Feng Shui and it still never fails to amaze me. Sometimes, you might not see immediate results, but just know that it’s working…
It’s true, though… even a Feng Shui consultant needs validation every now and then!
Next Steps
Keep your eyes open for an upcoming blog post on how to Feng Shui your own desk. I will also make sure to let you know when the article hits Coast Magazine in January.
Looking for a Feng Shui consultant you can trust? Learn a little more about me and how I can help you add harmony and balance to your life the Feng Shui way. Contact me today!
Do you know someone that could use a little Feng Shui advice? Share this post with them on Facebook!
Be sure to register for my email newsletter or like me on Facebook to stay up-to-date with my latest posts.
Notes: Some essential oils should not be used around small children, certain pets, and anyone with allergies. I’m careful to link to products that I use myself and recommend to my clients, when those products are necessary. I earn a small commission if you purchase through these links, which enables me to produce and publish free content for you to learn from.
Free Feng Shui Consultations
I broke a major Feng Shui rule the other day. Yes, me. And I’m a Feng Shui consultant!
Gratitude and Value
We should always exchange gratitude in advance of getting something, whether it be from a person or the life-giving energy of Feng Shui called Chi.
We also exchange value for services or goods provided, regardless of our need for what we receive. We can pay for those goods or services with money, return of other services, other goods, etc. But, nothing of value in life comes for free. The same is true with Feng Shui.
Along with a sad story, an acquaintance recently asked me to take a look at their home and provide Feng Shui advice for free. And I reluctantly agreed.
I get these sad stories and requests all of the time. After all, rarely do people seek out Feng Shui advice when everything in life is perfect. Many people seeking a Feng Shui consultant’s advice are having difficulty with money and have relationship or career challenges. These are the aspects of their lives that they want to change.
From my experience, those who don’t pay consulting fees don’t truly value the consultant’s experience and expertise in Feng Shui. They tend to second-guess their consultant’s advice, which often makes things worse. It happens every time.
But, when people truly follow good Feng Shui advice, they seriously end up with more wealth, improved health, stronger relationships, etc.
Road Map to Success
As it pertains to your personal life, think of professional Feng Shui advice as a road map. If you were at your hotel and received directions from the concierge on how to drive to the local 5-star restaurant, you don’t stop following the directions after the first or second turn.
Rather, you need to follow the directions until you reach your desired destination. Otherwise, you may end up someplace else entirely… and potentially in a very unsafe neighborhood!
Feng Shui is like a road map with directions to get from where you are to where you want to be. Just as with Google Maps, there are multiple ways to get to your destination.
If you go to three different Feng Shui consultants, you may very well get three different schools of advice on how to change your life, just as you may get differing directions from three different hotel employees to get to that 5-star restaurant.
Does that mean that any of those consultants or hotel employees are wrong? Absolutely not!
Should you, however, take only part of any one set of advice or even take parts of everyone’s advice? Probably not. You may end up much worse than you started.
Your Next Steps
If you are looking to make real positive change in your life:
1) Find someone you trust, whether it is a Feng Shui consultant, a life coach or a potential mentor.
2) Offer them something of value to help you, whether it is their consulting or coaching fee, a few nice lunches, or a service like painting their garage.
3) When they accept to help you, take their advice seriously. Take notes, ask questions, and make sure you completely understand all of the steps necessary to make the changes you need to take.
4) Implement their advice — step-by-step. Do not skip anything.
5) Be patient and double-check to make sure you followed all of the steps correctly.
6) If you have questions, just go back and ask.
Looking for a Feng Shui consultant you can trust? Learn a little more about me and how I can help you add harmony and balance to your life the Feng Shui way. Contact me today!
Do you know someone that could use a little Feng Shui advice? Share this post with them on Facebook!
Be sure to register for my email newsletter or like me on Facebook to stay up-to-date with my latest posts.
