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Clearing Out Clutter Using a Feng Shui Broom
by Carole Hyder ©
If the Home and Garden television network is any indication, it seems a lot of people are trying to get organized and are trying to come to grips with all the stuff they own. Program after program provides the viewer with a chance to see someone sort out the tangled mess of jewelry, or clean out the garage, or corral all the kids' toys into one area. We have a voyeuristic obsession with seeing someone bring order out of chaos. And there's a satisfied relief when, at the end of the program, the afflicted people stand around admiring the work they've done, thrilled with the outcome, and positive they can manage things from here.
In my work as a Feng Shui consultant, I see almost daily people struggling with their clutter. Some of us have expendable income, more opportunities for travel, more opportunities to buy what we consider important and life-changing items. We're getting more mail, more e-mail, more phone calls. We're learning to multi-task while on the phone, in the car and at the office.
As a result of all this input, it's easy to lose sight of the big picture. Our vision gets hampered by all that we own and all that we have to do. That pet project keeps getting lost in the shuffle. I can see this scenario playing out simply by looking at a person's house. The philosophy of Feng Shui is that your space reflects your life, so I look to see what and how much is stacked in strategic places. Once you lose the ability to see the top of your desk or the top of a table or a counter, your ability to hold onto your vision is also lost. Clutter becomes no longer just an annoyance, but a serious detriment to moving forward.
As a Feng Shui consultant, I have seen remarkable circumstances and situations unfold as a person incorporates the belief that the condition of your life is mirrored by the condition of your space. Following is a real-life example of the impact of clutter, and how a client made some changes simply by managing the stuff in her office.
Anne hired me to come to her office, one of many offices in the large publishing company where she worked. She called me because she felt stuck and bored with her job. When I showed up at her office, there were stacks of paper, files, magazines, proposals, etc., everywhere. Her desk, credenza, extra chairs, tops of file cabinets and the floor were all filled, leaving only a small path to her office chair. It goes without saying she was overwhelmed. I knew that instructing Anne to spend her next free weekend cleaning up her office would have met resistance. I suggested instead she spend the last ten minutes of her day, every day, doing something to clean off her desk. It didn't matter if one piece of paper got moved, or a whole stack. The important part of this exercise was for her to start a new habit of keeping her space under control.
Initially, Anne admitted she couldn't imagine how doing such a small thing would make any difference. She was looking for a life vision; she was looking to ignite some long-lost creativity. Moving these little pieces of paper seemed so insignificant. Yet, within a few days of taking some small steps, Anne began to notice differences. It hit her about the fifth day when she made her publisher's deadline, for the first time ever. She explained to me it was as though she had more time in her day. A week later, she proposed a new management idea to her boss who not only found it workable, but, when putting it into place, re-routed some of the mundane and downright annoying parts of her job to someone else. It was then that Anne decided to pay attention to the Feng Shui she was doing. The more physical space she uncovered in her office, the more changes she saw relating to her job. After she had finished clearing the desk, she slowly but steadily dealt with all the loose ends around the office. Recently when I returned to see her, there was a place for me to sit, room to comfortably walk around, some additional storage, and her desk was cleared off, ready for new, expansive ideas.
Clutter can impact more than your job. In the story below, you will see how a client who dealt with her clutter ended up giving her husband an unexpected gift.
I received a call from an retired gentleman I had consulted with a couple years back. Since my last visit, he had become a widower and was moving to a condominium near one of his daughters. When I had originally met with Lee and his late wife, he hadn't seemed too interested in Feng Shui. But now I see I was wrong.
Since Lee couldn't get into the condo for another month, I went to the house he had shared with his wife. Lee had obviously cleared out a considerable amount of clutter after his wife's death. I hardly recognized the place. I remembered only too well her requests for help with all the stuff she had acquired. They were both feeling stuck in their lives but didn't know how or where to make some changes. Ellie was a collector and a pack-rat; she kept everything and their home showed it. She realized things were out of control and she hoped Feng Shui could help.
As the afternoon progressed and my comfort level with Lee settled in, I shared with him my surprise and delight that he had actually called me. Lee told me how things had changed after my first visit when Ellie began implementing some Feng Shui into their lives.
Lee reminded me that I had encouraged her to start de-cluttering in their bedroom. She took this advice to heart. Lee recounted how she began in small ways----taking out a few books, selling a useless sewing machine, cleaning out a few dresser drawers. He encouraged her every step of the way. Eventually she managed to down-size her belongings so one of the dressers could be removed, freeing up some space in their bedroom. Lee smiled as he remembered how Ellie sheepishly hauled out eight bags of shoes she didn't wear anymore. Lee said she took on new life.
Ellie became fearless, in Lee's words. She gave away items, threw things out, recycled when possible. Lee was right by her side, encouraging her, helping her whenever he could, feeling proud of her change. He shared there were moments, although not many, when she second-guessed her actions, but Lee talked her through it. The next day Ellie would forge ahead.
Even now as we sat at his kitchen table, he told me how unbelievable the changes were in his wife. Each day brought new enthusiasm to clearing out some part of the house.
Ellie worked tirelessly for nearly a year. Lee was becoming a firm believer in the power of Feng Shui. He confirmed my thoughts that this new look in the house wasn't his doing at all but actually was hers. Because of all of her efforts, their home took on new energy and interest for both of them. They even got around to a couple small remodeling projects once all the clutter was gone.
Lee looks upon Ellie's de-cluttering as her final gift to him. For, one day, she left to run a few errands and, in the process, had a fatal encounter with someone who didn't see a stop sign. Lee has been alone in the house for a year. He knows for sure he wouldn't be in any position to make a move to a small place if not for Ellie's de-cluttering activities. Thanks to Ellie, he was able to move forward more easily and freely. He can only attribute her dramatic shift to her knowledge of Feng Shui.
Feng Shui often works in subtle ways. You have to be careful not to miss the results as they come tip-toeing softly and unexpectedly. Opening up the physical space of your office or your home and allowing areas to be free of clutter can bring about clarity and freshness to your life. Sometimes the smallest attempt will bring about the biggest rewards.
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