Do you know how to create flow and reduce stress in your home?
Think of a time when you felt like you were in “the flow.” It might have been like this:
- Your days moved quickly from one activity to the next.
- You felt peaceful.
- Making decisions was easy.
- You were positive, believing anything was possible
- Being happy and uplifted was natural
Stress is the opposite of flow. Think of a time when you were not in “the flow.” Life may have looked like this:
- Your days were a struggle trying to get things done
- Everything seemed to go wrong
- Your ideas and activities got stalled
- Making decisions was difficult
- You were overwhelmed, confused, or angry, often
Over half of the people in the United States suffer from headaches, muscle tension, and fatigue. Stress is the #1 cause of chronic health problems. Stress affects your biology—how your systems function, your body's physical impact on your biology, and the beliefs you process your thoughts.
The Law of Flow to the Rescue
The energy in your living space is unique to you and how you have arranged your environment. Everything you have in your space either boosts flow or drains flow. You can influence flow using Feng Shui principles and the Law of Flow. The goal of Feng Shui is to create flow around and through your space with ease and harmony, creating a supportive and stress-free environment for you.
In his recent article Motivation is Overvalued. Environment Often Matters More, James Clear states, over time, your characteristics: motivation, talent, and effort tend to get overpowered by your environment.
To minimize your stress, you need to live in an environment that boosts flow rather than drains it.
The Fabulous Four of Flow
You have identified what flow is and how flow feels.. We will apply the Law of Flow and the fabulous four to your environment.
Beauty – Beauty keeps the energy circulating in your space. The energy enters your space through the entrance and is attracted to beauty. Beautiful items keep the flow moving through the space from one beautiful article to the next. Beauty has many forms. It could be color, art, photographs, plants, or furniture. An absolute must is that it uplifts you to be around it. Look around. What do you think brings beauty to your home?
Law of Flow Tip #1
To improve the beauty of your home, add some color that you love, rearrange or create new art, and bring in some life with plants or fresh flowers. Place something beautiful in each room, causing flow throughout your space.
Too Much Stuff—Energy flows need a clear path to follow. Too much stuff in any area slows or stops the flow. One sign of slow or stagnant flow is feelings of confusion, overwhelm, and stress.
What areas of your home have too much stuff? Is it your kitchen counters filled with appliances or other clutter, closets with clothes you don’t wear, the garage packed full of items you don’t use, or your bedroom with clothes, laundry, or paperwork scattered about? It is time to evaluate what stuff you have in your space.
If there is too much stuff, you are robbed of your joy and peace of mind. Clutter adds to feelings of stress. Think of too much stuff like big rocks in a river; the water (flow) must go around them.
A good question is, “Does this item bring me joy, or is it just taking up space?” Something taking up space could be slowing or stopping the flow in your life, adding to your stress.
Clutter slows the flow of your money, health, and your relationships. You may have money but not be able to hold onto it, or you may have enough money but not feel abundant. It is time to eliminate an item that does not bring you joy.
Law of Flow Tip #2
Start in an area with too much stuff. Pick up an item and ask yourself, “Do I love this, and does this bring me joy?” if your answer is no, then it is time to get rid of it. Create a bag or box of things to donate and take them to the donation center.
Broken and Non-working Items—Burned–out light bulbs, leaky faucets, squeaky doors, a broken toaster, and frayed cords on a lamp are examples of broken items you live with, thinking you will fix them someday.
Broken items create slow flow or stagnation. Everything in your space needs to be in good operating order. The broken item or burned-out light bulb drains you of valuable energy that could be used to create the life you desire.
What broken and non-working items do you have in your environment?
Be honest about fixing a broken item. Are you going to fix it NOW? If not it is time to get rid of it.
Law of Flow Tip #3
Furniture Placement—where and how you arrange your furniture impacts the flow of your space and your life.
Remember, furniture is like rocks in the river, directing the water around it. Is there room to move around in your space?
Does the size of your furniture fit the size of your room? Is it too big or too small? Does your furniture block or limit entry into the room?
Your furniture placement either helps the energy flow smoothly through your space or causes pockets of stagnation. Places of stagnation drain your energy, leaving you tired, anxious, and stressed.
When energy flows smoothly through your space, you feel uplifted, happy, and at peace.
Law of Flow Tip #4
Place furniture so you do not have your back at the room's entrance. The best placement is to see the entrance from the sofa or bed, allowing flow into the room.
Take a risk and rearrange furniture to see how it opens up the flow in your space. If your room feels crowded, consider eliminating furniture to create more space.
Observing the flow in your space gives you clues and insights into what is influencing your peace of mind and well-being. When you change one thing in your space, it can change everything.
This book may be helpful if you want to read more about The Magic of Tidying Up Your Home.
You may also benefit from reading my articles What is Feng Shui? and How Does Feng Shui Work?
Nancy Dadami is an Intentional Creativity Guide, Feng Shui Specialist, and cheerleader for your dreams. Her passion is to empower seekers, conscious creators, and entrepreneurs called to growth, learning, service, and freedom. This results in living the best version of themselves, creating a life of abundance, self-awareness, purpose, and inner peace. Linktr.ee/nancydadami