So now with Step 1, home maintenance, and Step 2, clutter
clearing (starting small), under our belts, it’s time to focus on Step 3 of how
to start the year off right. In truth, I often tell people to start with this step but I also
have found that this is the one people can have the hardest time with defining.
It’s about your intention. In my school of feng shui, Instinctive
Feng Shui™, we have a mantra shared with us by our teacher and school founder Denise Linn. (My school is Interior Alignment®, which includes studies
in feng shui and space clearing.) The mantra goes like this: “where intention
goes, energy flows.” Simple enough, but you may be asking yourself, what does
that mean?
It means that as we focus on the things we want in our
lives, we will build energy toward achieving those goals, and in fact attract
more energy to achieving those goals. From a psychological perspective, it
makes perfect sense. If we stay focused on our wants and desires, all while
taking action toward them, we will be better able to achieve those goals.
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| In Feng Shui, energy in your home should flow like a meandering river (image courtesy of www.123rf.com) |
In Feng Shui, we think of it on an energetic level because
we know that by working with the energy or chi in our homes, we can better support
achieving those goals or intentions in our lives. In the simplest terms, we support
this by making sure there is a good flow of energy in the home (consider how
easy it is to walk through your home and walk into every room) and make sure
that everything in our home makes us feel good (creating positive, supportive energy).
OK, so let’s think about intention. Start by asking yourself
what you want out of this New Year. Are you striving for a new job? Or maybe
just more money? Perhaps this is the year to find the love of your life? Do you
want to start a family? Travel to exotic places? Maybe you’re just looking for
life to settle down a bit for you?
There is no wrong intention. The most important thing is to
just be honest about what it is you would like – no judgment, just accept it.
Once you have this, you need to take it one step deeper. Consider not just what
you want, but what it will feel like to actually achieve. This is critical. You
need to be able to truly get a sense for this feeling. Take a moment to imagine
yourself having reached your goal. What is it like? Are you excited? Filled
with joy? Satisfied? Confident? Secure? Loved? That feeling is where the “magic”
is. THAT is what makes all the difference. Feel it, own it, and hold on to that
feeling more than anything else. Now let go of any expectations for HOW you
will achieve it.
It’s not as easy as it sounds. We often throw up road blocks
of doubt and insecurity. But if you use your intention, and more importantly the
feeling behind it, as a regular reminder for your own happiness, you can knock
those self-imposed blockades out of the way.
So with your intention in hand, now you can create your own
Feng Shui enhancement in your space to help you stay focused on your intention.
For instance, if you want to travel because it makes you feel alive and free, you
can focus on the travel space in your home (every home has one, as does every
room), and put up pictures of where you want to go or, even better, a
representation of how it would make you feel (e.g., simply hanging the word
freedom in the room).
You also can use this intention as you focus on Steps 1 and
2. Changing a light bulb? As you replace it, be thinking about attracting more “ideas”
around achieving your intention. Clearing out a junk drawer? As you create
order, know that it is allowing you to get more organized and prepared for making
your intention a reality. Since Steps 1 and 2 are ongoing efforts throughout
the year, you are creating opportunities all the time to reinforce your
intention.
There you have it. Three simple steps for starting your year
off right – and such good timing – not only have you just gotten through the
first month of the Western calendar year but the Chinese New Year just kicked
off on Friday, Jan. 31st.
And as always, if you have questions, feel free to reach out
to me.
