Is your environment constricting you, making you unhappy or uncomfortable?
We’re organic creatures, yet we spend most of our time in uninspiring, constricting environments. We become surprised when we don’t feel well, and shocked when our modern interventions like medications do nothing to ease discomfort.
Harmonizing with Feng Shui is about bringing the organic balance of the natural world back into our modern environments.
Simple steps such as bringing flowers or a plant into your space can make you feel more connected, joyful, and free.
Read on to discover simple ways to harmonize with Feng Shui from my conversation with George Grombacher on the Lifeblood Podcast.
Identity
The art of harmonizing your life begins with your identity.
When you think about your personal identity and how you express yourself visually, it’s important to maintain sustainability in all facets of your being. What are the pieces of yourself that will stand the test of time and become a part of your transcendence? You are constantly growing and changing, but the true essence of who you are shines through your personal transformations as your life’s purpose becomes more clear over time.
Finding that essence and learning how to honor it and carry it through everything that you do is the first step to cultivating a more harmonious life.
As a graphic designer and brand strategist, I begin each project by determining what it is that my client wants to attract, and how to magnetize that through their identity.
Here’s a brand identity example:
Lifestyle
Once you have established the essence of your personal identity, the next step is to determine how your living environment is nurturing or hindering that essence and purpose.
It all starts with the most basic things:
- Is your chair stable or crooked?
- Are you happy at your desk?
- Is your space big enough that you feel comfortable in it?
- Is it too cluttered?
- Is it too distracting?
Sometimes you don’t even see the clutter or disorientation because you’re so used to having it around. But when you really think about it, these things have a negative impact on your ability to do what you are meant to do.
The closest things around you are what impact you the most.
Harmonizing with Feng Shui encompasses every aspect of your life, including career, family, relationships, knowledge, helpful people, and overall health. Everything ties into the center of your overall wellbeing, which is why it’s essential to ensure that all facets of your life are in harmony with one another. This can include making small changes such as adjusting the placement of furniture or bringing nature into your space.
Look for resistance in things that don’t work.
For example, in an office space, your back is facing the door while you’re sitting at your desk. You’re used to it if you have been in that position for a very long time, but this greatly affects the psyche. You’re constantly having to look behind you if somebody’s coming in the door. You’re constantly being bothered, as this is a typical distraction. Over time, this can cause a buildup of stress and nervousness.
Good Shui Tip: Shift the desk to a place where you’re facing the door to feel more in control of what’s happening in your environment. When it comes to making small changes in life, we must be present and ready for what life is bringing.
In the kitchen, it’s the same thing. The stove is tied to the element of Fire, which in Feng Shui represents money and finances. If you’re standing at the stove and have your back to the front door, it’s like you’re guarding something that you really shouldn’t be. You should be open to receive the goodness that life brings.
If you’re cooking and your back faces the main entrance of the kitchen, hang a nine inch round convex mirror on the stove wall so you can see who’s coming.
Harmonizing with Feng Shui is about accommodating balance, simplicity, and flow in your life. It’s easier to shift an office or desk than a stove but there are ways to shift the energy of a space so that you feel better while you’re doing what you need to do; in this case preparing really great meals and enjoying that process of nurturing yourself.
Rest
We tend to spend a lot more time at the office than in our beds. That’s something that we really need to balance out because if we’re really going to take it to the next level, we will need to nurture our bodies more and more.
Resting is a big deal. I tend not to sleep as much because my “creative time” wakes up after dinner hours when is quiet, and when I sleep, I’m dream a lot. I had to make a few adjustments to my bedroom as well as build better sleeping habits to get a good night’s sleep. I leave my cel phone in the bathroom.
Eliminate distractions in the bedroom, such as digital devices, TVs, or anything that takes away your energy. The bedroom is a place to just be at rest and calm the mind. This is very important if you are physically active, because you need that time to repose, regenerate, and recharge.
Communing with Nature
If you take the time to really look at your space, even if it’s five minutes, and just observe your current environment, you will begin to make connections between the physical objects and the way you tend to feel in that space.
In our modern world, it’s becoming more crucial to be intentional about our communion with nature. I noticed this rising issue with my youngest son, as his school began limiting outdoor breaks due to the weather or COVID at one point. With everyone living in confined environments, they rarely even see the sunlight outside of a window. As we spend less time outdoors, our environments are becoming more impactful to our emotional wellbeing.
If you’re constantly feeling like you are contained, especially in an office area or places where you have little control over the environment, think of ways to bring in a sense of flow, freedom, and fresh air.
Bringing nature into your space is a great way to start. Make it a ritual to bring fresh flowers on to your desk, or bring something that conveys life to you. It could be a picture of a beautiful place that you want to visit, or a painting that gives you a sense of spaciousness.
Harmonizing with Biophilic Design
Biophilia is the love of nature, and Biophilic design allows us to honor that love by surrounding ourselves with organic and natural elements. By connecting with nature, you can improve your overall wellbeing and live a more thriving, healthy life.
A simple way to incorporate nature in your environment is to work with the 5 Elements.
Fire creates an intimate ambiance. Instead of placing candles on the fireplace mantle, place wooden decor, or potted flowers and plants (no picture frames). Use diffused lighting around the room for a cozy feel.
Wood helps us feel grounded. Think picture frames, plants, green and turquoise decor.
Water helps you feel calm and fluid. Artwork and photography depicting a calm beach scene or flowing river are fun ways to augment the energy in the space.
Earth represents prospect and refuge. Stoneware, clay, ceramics, and area rugs in sandy or yellow colors are ideal to connect with is element.
Metal resonates with order and balance. Work with round or oval shapes, whites, grays, and metallics. Artwork depicting the sun, stars is also great.
Bringing balance into your life doesn’t have to stop with your physical space.
What are you taking in as a source of nourishment?
What do you wear?
Being mindful even in the little things allows us the opportunity to find what feels natural for us, and to really treat ourselves!
Ultimately, harmonizing with Feng Shui is about accommodating the physical and emotional needs of yourself and others that share the space.
By taking small steps to balance your environment and connect with nature, you can enjoy a healthier and balanced life.
Listen to Our Conversation on the Lifeblood Podcast:
Connect with George and Lifeblood on Instagram @lifeblood.live or LinkedIn.
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Patsy’s photo credit: Blue Treasure Photography