An elementary school principal had insomnia, ate on the run and did not have a self-care routine. She worked late into the evenings, ignoring her needs, to get things done. She was stressed and exhausted. She knew she could not keep up this pace and be the leader she needed to be for her teachers, staff and students. That is when I got the call. In my years as a teacher and principal I saw how a few Feng Shui changes could make a big difference for everyone at the school.
Your home and work surroundings tell a story about you. Every person and place emits an energy field. Your surroundings are continuously influencing your energy field and inner world, sometimes subtly, other times obviously . What story is your space telling about you? This aspect of Feng Shui is based on the Law of Reflection. The contents of your home and workplace reflect who you are. Your surroundings act like a mirror reflecting your thoughts, feelings, passions, beliefs, inner magnificence and much more. Your home and workspace gives clues about flow in your outer and inner world.
Back to the principal, her office was telling a story about her life as a principal, loud and clear. Here are a few clues that tell her story:
- Clue #1 – The first thing I saw was one wall with floor to ceiling shelves with cabinets underneath. A great tool for organizing books, binders and displaying beauty. In this case the shelves were chaotic. Folders stuck in with books, mail, art projects from students, training manuals randomly stuffed into the shelves. I could not relax; those objects were calling out for attention like a flashing neon sign. Where there is clutter there is no flow. Clutter drains your personal energy and kills productivity, confidence and well-being. The energy field of her clutter was interacting with her personal energy field, draining her and adding to her stress, overwhelm and exhaustion.
- Feng Shui Action Step: Begin tidying up, just beginning sets change in motion. Commit to as little as 10 minutes at a time, gradually lengthen the time spent until order is restored. A small shift in your energy field spurs you on to do more and your efforts are cumulative.
- Clue #2 – The desk is the heart of an office. It was scattered with papers, folders, a dead plant, phone messages, notes from teachers and snacks. Another area of clutter that was draining her energy field and adding to her stress.
- Feng Shui Action Step: Often people keep everything on their desk so they remember what they should do or to keep it from getting lost. First scan the desk and throw away anything that looks like trash. Second began to organize what remains. Messages and teacher notes in one area, papers and folders in the file, dead plant and snacks off the desk. Bring in some fresh flowers to put on the desk, adding uplifting energy to the space.
- Clue #3 – Her desk was facing the wall with the door in direct line with her back. I asked her if she felt like she was sitting on a freeway. It had the energy of cars sneaking up and whizzing by at high speed creating the need to be on hyper alert. She was amazed when I asked that question because that is exactly how she felt at her desk. When you are in direct line with the door of your space and/or you have your back to the door you are vulnerable. Stress, overwhelm and hyper alert are lurking in that space. It is impossible to give your full attention to a task when strong forces are at your back.
- Feng Shui Action Step: Move the desk into a position where you are facing the door but not in direct line with it. This desk placement eliminates the whizzing of the freeway energy. This is known as the command position and puts you into a position of power.
This principal was motivated to make the Feng Shui changes in her space that would support her leadership. She knew her state of mind and example was rippling out into the school as confusion and chaos. She wanted more for herself and her school community. As she made changes her uplifted energy field rippled out to her school community and everyone benefited.
Joseph Campbell referred to your space as a place of creative incubation in this quote:
“A sacred space is a place where you simply experience and bring forth what you are and what you might be. This is the place of creative incubation. Your Sacred space is where you find yourself again and again.”
You can intentionally create a sacred space at home and in your workplace, that supports your energy field, allowing you to be your best self.
If you would like to read more about the magic of tidying up decluttering and organizing your environment this book will be helpful
You might benefit from reading Got Stress? 4 Tips To Create Flow And Reduce Your Stress
Leave a comment or question below and share this article with someone you think would benefit from it.
Nancy Dadami is a Feng Shui Specialist, Creativity Strategist and Speaker. She teaches open-minded people to align their space with their Soul, unlock their potential and tap into their Inner Magnificence to live a life of purpose and meaning.
