Tag Archives: self

June 18, 2012 · 6:05 am

WHEN YOUR CREATIVITY BANK IS EMPTY

Take one tired employee (you), add one cluttered atmosphere (your work space), mix in working too many hours and no time for relaxation. What do you have? A recipe for burn out, low productivity, and no fun at work.

Here are some feng shui steps to bring you back your focus and drive.

1) TAKE INVENTORY  The nine areas of your life according to feng shui principles are: Career, Wisdom & Knowledge, Family & Health, Wealth, Fame & Reputation, Love & Relationship, Creativity & Future Projects (this covers children, too), Travel & Helpful People, and, Tai Ch’I (which is your core being). Ask yourself what areas of your life are working for you and where do you feel blocked? Make a list. You’ll be able to see clearly where you need to give yourself some extra attention.

2) BABY STEPS  Decide to address one of those blocked areas at a time. Most likely you won’t be blocked in every single area of your life…focus on the positive things going on first. Express gratitude for all the blessings you do have. Where there are problems, ask yourself what steps need to be taken to remove the obstacles to your success. If your health is suffering and that is on your list, you can implement the following solutions:get a physical, take vitamins, begin exercising and, if you’ve got time built up, take a much needed vacation so you can begin work again with a fresh attitude.

3) ME TIME Look at your busy calendar and set aside a little “me time”.  IE, if you feel blocked creatively, take a break and put some ideas into your “creativity bank”. That may mean scheduling visits to museums, window shopping for fun, going to the movies, or even to an amusement park. Perhaps you’ve lost touch with mentors and colleagues? Taking time to make a few phone calls to reconnect you to those Helpful People might give you a mental boost as well as put you on to some hot leads. All of which can stimulate your Career ch’I (energy) and get your groove back on.

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August 13, 2009 · 9:03 pm

BE LIKE EINSTEIN: SLOW DOWN & TAKE A NAP!

Photo from Wiki.

Photo from Wiki.

Einsteinwas famous for taking naps and the solution to his Theory of Relativity came to him while he was dreaming. We may not all be geniuses, but, we just might discover the solution to our own problems while we are focused on taking a hike instead. Slowing down and making yourself a priority is not being lazy: it’s a step towards being a successful, grounded, and productive professional. Learning how to set healthy boundaries is key.

SETTING HEALTHY BOUNDARIES

1) Put yourself at the top of your own to-do list. If you are constantly expending energy and not adding any fuel to your tank, sooner or later you’ll run out of gas. You’ll have nothing to give to your significant other or your children and you’ll certainly have nothing to give to your career. Taking care of YOU is your top priority!

2) Saying “no” to others is saying “yes” to yourself. What does saying no mean? Don’t always be available to take on the tough assignments or work overtime on the holidays. Don’t automatically reach for the doughnuts just because someone brought them in to work and you don’t want to hurt their feelings. Don’t come into work when you have a contagious cold that others will catch. Caring for yourself, you will have more to give to others.

3) Protect your ch’i (energy). Don’t take on other people’s negativity. People tend to dump their problems and vent their worries on others who allow them to do it. We end up feeling drained while they walk away feeling lighter for unburdening their load on us. Spreading harmful gossip is another energy zapper. Focus on work and taking care of yourself and avoid all energy vampires.

4) Turn on your answering machine. There, I said it. I give you permission to not answer your phone. Whether at work or at home, you have the power to slow down your responses. You might want to let people know–or not–that during the hours of this and that you are not available. Think of how much easier to get your work done if you have a solid chunk of uninterrupted time? You’ll sleep better at home if you stop accepting phone calls from friends or colleagues at least two hours before your bedtime.

4) Leave work at work. It’s a good idea to decompress from the stress at work before you begin interacting with your family and friends. Develop some little routine that becomes your own individual “ritual” to help you make the transition from work life to personal life. Your ritual will be your own. The most important thing is to allow yourself at least 20 to 30 minutes at the end of work to let go of the corporate dramas and get your mind back in touch with your life and what’s important to you. After all, you’re not only a professional. You’re a member of a family,and, you have other interests besides what you do for a living.
Don’t you??!

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July 30, 2009 · 9:53 am

YOU’RE GROUNDED!

Photo courtesy Scott Morgan

Photo courtesy Scott Morgan

Sometimes I feel like I’m upside down and not at all connected to the earthly plane. Do you ever get that feeling—do friends and family say to you “Hey! Where’d you go?” when you are with them but seem miles away? You might be a dreamer and as a child you had a rich fantasy life that seemed as real as waking life.

When I feel like this I now realize the need for grounding. Both feet need to be firmly planted on this earth if I’m going to be fully present and successful in the world we live in. Here are some tools to help you ground yourself, too:

* Smudge yourself with sage or incense. You do this by lighting the smudger and wafting the smoke all around yourself (or have someone else do it for you as you stand still). Envision yourself being cleansed of all negative vibes and starting with a blank slate.

* Do some deep breathing. Sit comfortably, yoga style, with back straight but body relaxed (you don’t want to be holding tension anywhere). Take in a breath deeply thinking “I AM HERE”. Let the breath out completely thinking “I AM NOW”. Repeat this process in rounds of 3 until you feel completely grounded.

* Before going into the dream state at bedtime, be very conscious and state your intentions to always return to your body no matter where your dreaming takes your astral body. Say out loud before you go to sleep, “I remember that I am here and I am now and I will always return to my physical body before I wake up.”

* Eat root vegetables such as carrots, beets, potatoes when you are feeling too ethereal. Root veggies come from the ground and will help remind you to connect to earth energy.

*Take time each day for yourself. Even if it is only ten minutes. Practice being mindful of who you are and where you are and recommit to being your authentic self.

Any other tips? Please comment!

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March 12, 2009 · 5:01 pm

WINDOW TREATMENT

"Blue Hill Bay, Remembered" (c) Katy Allgeyer

"Blue Hill Bay, Remembered" (c) Katy Allgeyer

“Friends are like windows through which you see out into the world
and back into yourself… If you don’t have friends you see much
less than you otherwise might.” ~ Merle Shain

WINDOWS ON THE WORLD
Windows are such an integral part of all architecture that sometimes we hardly notice them
unless our space doesn’t have any at all. When we don’t have any windows, we notice
their absence immediately. We may feel closed in without windows to provide a connection
to the outside world.

* Windows let in light to dark places.

* Windows provide us with a view to other spaces, generally outside, but not always.

* If they open, windows give us a means to circulate fresh air into our space.

* Well designed windows add a focal point to any room.

* Windows can create moods and uplift our ch’i (energy).

In feng shui terms, windows are generally a good thing for all of the functional
reasons mentioned above. There are instances where too much of a good thing can
be harmful and needs to be balanced with some feng shui cures.

POISON ARROWS
Do an inspection of your home. If you have windows lined up at the front of your home
that allow you to see clear through your home to the backyard, you have a situation known
as a “poison arrow”. Being able to see through the entire home leaves you vulnerable and
feeling unprotected. Anyone passing by from the street (especially at night when your interior
is lit) can see right through your home and capture a glimpse of your backyard.
Best to keep the windows at the front of the house covered for privacy.
You can do that a variety of ways. It could be done with outdoor landscaping or interior
window treatments (as simple as roller blinds) or a combination of both.

GLASS WALLS
Windows are made of glass and glass is equivalent to the element of Water. Many contemporary
buildings have floor to ceiling walls made of glass. While this can be great at home when you
want to enjoy the view from your dining area, at work you will want a solid wall behind you
as you are seated at your desk. If it’s too late and you already work in an office where there is
a glass wall directly behind you, you must take steps to counterbalance the “fishbowl” effect.
Through use of window coverings, frosted glass, screen systems, or creative use of plants, you
can modify the wall of glass to strengthen your position and make working a lot easier.

FAUX WINDOWS
If we leave windowless walls barren of any decoration, the feng shui can feel very stagnant.
Sometimes we need to add the look and feel of a window where there is none. Mirrors
are good substitutes. In fact, I’ve even seen some mirrors that are designed to look like
paned glass windows. Mirrors can bounce the light back from an existing window, or, they might
reflect a scene from an existing window to make a room look double the size.

Another illusion of a window can be created through placement of art. Whether the art
is painted to actually appear to be an outdoor scene or not, sometimes a well chosen piece
will make us feel that we have a portal to another world. So, look at your rooms and see
where you have too many windows, or, not enough. Work on bringing balance and beauty
to your home or office. And remember, keep those windows clean! 🙂

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