A Few Words about Clutter

I could write a long article on this one topic alone (and in future installments I will!) Clutter is damaging because it blocks energy flow, drains mental focus and creates an unpleasant work environment. The first step in any feng shui clearing process involves removing all clutter.

Where do you start? First notice the parts of your office where you hoard clutter. Usually there will be corresponding stuck energy and challenges in that part of your life. (See the diagram of the Ba Gua to determine the life areas that correspond with each part of the room). Clutter often signifies a lack of focus and looming obstacles in particular parts of your life, as you'll see when you consider the diagram.

It doesn't take Sigmund Freud to see that accumulating clutter can indicate an inability to let go of the old and welcome in the new. Holding grimly onto the past can result in missing exciting new opportunities so don't delay in dealing with your clutter.

But wait! There's good news, too! You don't have to deal with every corner of your room at once. Start with a few small steps for your first effort. Choose the most visible area of your room, such as the top of your desk or the area under your largest lamp. Pick twelve inches and clear everything you see, stacking papers neatly inside a rattan box and throwing away anything that has no more relevance for you. Let go of whatever does not support your positive energy, creativity and joy. It's your office, after all. Make every corner comfortable and bright.

Even starting slowly, this process may seem hard at first. Trust me, after your first cleaning session, you'll feel hugely energized and empowered! That will lead you to tackle even more clutter. After your first session, sit back and feel the subtle changes that begin to take place in previously stuck areas of your life.

Once again, don't feel that you have to deal with every inch of space at once. Easy does it! And gird yourself: there may be some emotional resistance as you dig through mounds of old papers and pictures that stir up old, buried areas of concern in your life. Stay focused. Tune in to your emotions. You may even learn about ways in which disorganization masks a fear of success.

The good news? You can overcome both the disorganization and the fear. As soon as you recognize these challenges, they will quickly drop away, allowing you to make huge strides in whatever projects are before you.

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