Each area of your home has a symbolic meaning with which
you resonate on a subconscious level. Clutter and untidiness within each
of these areas causes constriction and inertia in the corresponding
aspects of your life.
CLUTTER IN THE KITCHEN The kitchen has been called the "heart of the home," and with good
reason. Here we are nourished and provided for, even if we are dining on
a frozen entrée zapped in the microwave rather than a homemade meal
lovingly presented by Mom. An untidy and disorganized kitchen makes it
hard to nourish yourself and others, on both physical and metaphysical
levels. How you care for your kitchen is a clue about whether you are
giving proper attention to your own nourishment and sources of
abundance. Cleaning up and de-cluttering your kitchen opens up space for
you to receive the support and comfort that you need in life.
LIVING AND DINING ROOM CLUTTER
These are spaces where you mingle with and honor your relationships with
family and friends. Here you engage with the world while being at home
through watching television, reading the paper, or arguing politics with
old friends over dinner. Clutter can turn these social spaces into dens
of isolation, especially if the mess is so bad that it has been years
since you've invited people over. Look around your living and dining
rooms to see what they say about your relationship with the rest of the
world. Are you hiding your true self from others, burying it in clutter,
or putting it on display here?
CLUTTERED HALLWAYS
Hallways are the arteries and highways of your home. Think of clutter in
your hallways as a traffic jam that prevents important connections
between different areas of your home and your life. Look at your
hallways to see how you feel about your life's path: are they well lit
and easily navigable, or do they trip you up? If you feel a disconnect
between work and family, self and others, what you need and your
obligations, it may be time to give your hallways a good clearing out.
BATHROOM CLUTTER
Bathing and anointing the body is a preparatory ritual for many
religious rites both ancient and contemporary. On a daily basis we use
this space to prepare ourselves to meet the world. Clutter in the
bathroom can indicate a devaluation of self-worth, a lack of attention
to self that goes beyond the physical. A clean, well-decorated bathroom
can become a tranquil sanctuary for rejuvenation and self-care. Scented
soaps, attractive accessories, and fragrant candles have a place here.
Beautifying your bathroom by eliminating clutter and disorder and
transforming it into a place of refuge will bring a sense of the sacred
into your morning and evening personal-care rituals.
CLUTTER IN THE BEDROOM
Adults' bedrooms are for sleeping and intimacy, and they should function
as places of renewal for self and relationships. Clutter in the bedroom
is enervating without being restful. If you feel "wired and tired,"
creating order out of chaos in this most personal space can help you
relax and let go of the stress of the day. Then you can get a good
night's sleep or enjoy some special time with your partner.
CLUTTERED CLOSETS
Closets represent things that are hidden, unknown, or unrecognized. When
we fill our closets with clutter, we stifle our ability to be intuitive
and insightful. Cluttered closets can indicate problems that you may not
be consciously aware of but which impede your progress through life,
work, and relationships nonetheless. Keeping the closet door closed is
not an effective solution.
ATTIC AND BASEMENT CLUTTER
A cluttered attic creates a feeling of being under pressure. It's hard
to feel optimistic about the future when there's so much stuff "hanging
over your head." Ancestor issues reside up there, along with all those
boxes and chests holding the detritus of generations. And the basement
and other below-ground storage areas are considered abodes of the
subconscious, so watch your step and get that clutter cleaned up!
CLUTTER IN YOUR GARAGE
Think of your car as a symbol of your mobility, independence, and
ability to be self-directed in life. If there's so much stuff piled up
in your garage that you can barely fit the car in there, you may be
hampered or overly cautious moving forward in life as well.
Stop thinking of clutter-clearing as a tremendous chore, and start
thinking of it as one of the most effective self-improvement tactics
available to you. Every magazine and piece of paper you recycle, every
book you give to the library, every knick-knack and item of clothing you
release to a new owner creates space in your life for new insight,
energy, joy, and experiences to come in!
Stephanie
Roberts is the author of "Fast Feng Shui: 9 Simple Principles for
Transforming Your Life by Energizing Your Home", a #1 most popular feng
shui book at Amazon.com. Here "Clutter-Free Forever!" Home Coaching
Program has helped hundreds of people get rid of their clutter, and it
can help you, too. Find out more at
clutter-free-forever.com.
Dressing Girls For School
I have spoken to so many parents who tell me it is a monumental task to get
their younger daughters ready for school in the morning. Unless your daughter
has only one set of clothes to wear, she probably wants to change her outfit
three times before choosing the one she will "agree" to wear to school each day.
Here's how we solved the problem in our family...
3 Easy Ways To Make An Awesome Playroom
Are you irritated every time you walk past your kids playroom? Paper here, toys
there, the floor is strewn with stuff that you can't even guess what it is! Most
of us feel a whole lot better when things are organized. Is it natural to be
neat and tidy or is it a skill that must be learned? We'll let you worry about
that question but we'll give you a few simple ideas on how to make that playroom
fun again.
What should you expect at 6 weeks, 6 months or 1 year? We provide useful
milestones and developmental stages so that you can keep an eye on your
baby's development in the first year. Baby Stages
Ideas For Sharing Stories
With Children
This two-part article discusses the ways in which stories and
storytelling play an important role in children's lives. Techniques are
offered for using stories to help develop children's verbal skills and
imaginations. This is part one.
Who Owns The Problem; Parent or Child?
It is tempting for parents to assume ownership and responsibility for everything that goes on in the life of their child. However, when the parent jumps in too soon to solve the problem or give the answer, the child never learns to trust his own judgment and become a critical thinker.
Parenting - Making A Schedule This article on the benefits of scheduling your day as a parent
really struck home with me. It took me a while to work this out for
myself when I had young children at home, and I wish I had done so - and
benefited from the much calmer household that was the result - sooner!
