Dear Mrs. Chi,
I hear that you are the positive energy I want in my home and office. I read that when you are present everything feels balanced and harmonious.
The Holidays are here and
I don't feel very balanced or harmonious. What can I do to enjoy the holidays with
less stress and more Spirit? --Seriously Stressed in Centennial
Dear Seriously Stressed,
You are right. I do bring positive energy to your space to help you feel more balance and harmony. The first thing you can do to create positive Chi and Happier Holidays is to
get rid of clutter!
Clutter comes in all shapes, sizes and forms. Clutter is anything you do not love, use or need -- physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. One thing you can do to de-clutter your holidays is to
give intangibles instead of tangibles. By giving and receiving
experiences (intangibles) instead of
stuff (tangibles) that you and your friends and family will not use or need, you clutter-clear your holidays. Give
'consume-ables' this year!
Food: salsas, coffees, wines, restaurant certificates
Entertainment: Movie, theatre, museum tickets
Products: lotions, oils, creams, massage, pedicure
Classes: scrapbooking, computer tech, dance, foreign language, cooking, golf
Support: child care, personal errands, painting, cleaning
Especially Experiences! Create a personal gift certificate for your family member or friend. The special part of this gift is that you'll participate and have the gift of each other's company throughout the year. How about a trip or cruise, climbing a Fourteener together, participating in a monthly book club, volunteering for a common interest, fund raising for a charity of choice.
Next, you can use December as your clutter clearing month, like I do. Not only does it help keep me in check by not buying and spending on things I (and others) won't use or need, it helps me get ready for the New Year. Remember that clutter is 'old stuff' that keeps us stuck in the past. Clearing clutter opens space for wonderful new things to come into our lives: possibilities, clients, money, relationships, opportunities.
These are the areas I clutter clear every December.
Clothes closet - stuff that doesn't fit goes to CWEE Boutique (see
www.cwee.org to donate your business clothes)
Files - making room for new clients
Holiday decorations - too many, tired, tattered
Receipts - getting organized for tax filing
Rolodex - when I update my Christmas card list
Spices - while I'm baking and cooking (they do have a shelf life)
When you clutter clear the Feng Shui way, remember...
You can Feng Shui your holidays with two key principles:Balance and Nature
Balanced food intake
Balanced gift giving
Balanced time for YOU with time for others
Get outside! Enjoying a sleigh ride, skiing, hiking, sledding, walking in the fresh air, building a snowman (if you can find some snow) are all good Feng Shui!
Relax and enjoy your holidays this year! Make memories not work for yourself and others. Simplify! Less is More!
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!
Mrs. Chi
P.S. Stay tuned for answers and advice on the principles of Feng Shui, the Six Habits for De-Clutter Success, resources and web sites to help you clutter clear in 2007.