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Not
sure where to put your pet rock? Think Feng Shui - in a
nutshell,"ancient common sense”.
 Feng
Shui literally means "wind” and "water” in
Chinese, and is the thousand year-old practice of arranging
space to promote a harmonious flow of chi, or energy. Behind
Feng Shui is the philosophy that we live in an invisible field
of energy. Arranging your room according to the laws of Feng
Shui allows this energy to flow freely, promoting well-being,
peace of mind, and success in business. Sure, cultivating
harmony isn’t normally at the top of a corporate
executive’s to-do list, but more Americans are embracing
Eastern traditions with positive results.
Good
office Feng Shui begins at your desk. Clutter is like a
traffic jam for your chi, so begin by discarding and filing
random papers laying on your desk. Depending if you’re neat
or a bit messy, this could take from five minutes to a week.
 But
a new life of harmonious cubicle dwelling is well within
reach. If you need more than a few hours to tame a mountain of
paperwork, Zeer gently suggests setting aside a time of day to
begin organizing parts of your office. Or take several short
breaks each day over the course of a week to organize and toss
unwanted papers. Keep the stuff you need-Rolodex and family
photo-on your desk, because they represent centers of power
and support. A clear desk provides a calm space for
meditation, allowing more freedom for creativity and true
insight into your goals.
The next place to Feng Shui your way to success is your
computer screen. Sometimes dozens of files collect on the
desktop, and this is the first thing you see when you turn on
the computer.
"Your
mind immediately tries to create order,” says Zeer.
"But if the screen is in disorder, then you feel in
disorder.” For desktops peppered with files, place the files
in a folder or several folders to reduce stress.
Next,
set the background of your computer screen to a nurturing
color, such as lavender, off-red, or earth tones. Tension can
build up and get in the way of creativity and vision.
Nurturing colors calm the mind.
Part
of Feng Shui means arranging your space to reflect your
personality-your sensibility, attitude and aspiration””and
creating a space where you feel at home. Respect your own
feelings, and if you crave green or black, don’t be afraid
to pass on lavender.
According
to ancient Chinese wisdom, water is an auspicious substance.
For a screensaver, Zeer recommends an inspirational image,
such as a flowing river, to bring luck and spur original
thoughts.
Feng Shui consultants swear by potted plants. Plants, like a
fern or pot of bamboo, are supposed to be magnets for good
luck. And in any case, a fern can turn the carbon dioxide
exhaled by your boss breathing down your neck, into oxygen for
you. Also, a deep breath now and then and a cup of green tea,
packed with anti-oxidants, will keep the mind focused and
clear-headed
Feng Shui can get a little tricky at work because you often
don’t have a lot of mobility. Ideally, the desk should face
the door to your office with your back facing the wall.
"Some
people sit with their back to the door of the office or their
workplace, and then everything surprises them,” explains
Zeer. Craning your head to greet visitors can also eventually
cause neck strain. "Also, it’s important to sit in an
office chair with really good arm support and a high back,”
says Zeer. He recommends this type of chair because "you
want to feel empowered, supported and confident with the
people you’re doing business with.”
In a tight space, some people feel as oversized as Alice in
Wonderland after she nibbled the mushroom. For a cramped
office, Zeer recommends hanging small pictures, like a distant
landscape scene, instead of large ones. A few well-appointed
small things, even a little vase, can make a mini-cubicle seem
more spacious and comfortable.
Last but not least, Feng Shui yourself with a stylish outfit.
What you wear affects how you feel about yourself, and
confidence is a good influence on your office’s chi. This
can be largely common-sense. A smart, well-fitted suit will do
wonders for your self-confidence and you’ll project this
outwardly as well as inwardly.
At
the end of the day, we’ve all stumbled into rooms that just
didn’t feel right. So don’t be afraid to bring a little
Feng Shui to work, and treat yourself as the guest of honor in
your own office.
-
DO
sit in the corner farthest from the entrace to the room to
have a "command" position.
-
DON"T
sit in line with the door, as you will be in the path of
negative energy.
-
DO
keep your back toward a corner or a wall for support. If a
post protrudes from the corner or wall, correct it by
covering it with a hanging plant's draping foliage.
-
DO
sit with a tall building behind you to provide the support
of a "mountain" if your back is to a window.
-
DON"T
face away from the door if you are conducting business
from home. Business will symbolically come to you through
the door, so don't turn your back on it.
-
DON"T
arrange your workspace so that you look straight out into
a corridor or see the stairs, storage rooms, closets,
elevators, escalators, or toilets.
-
DO
put your computer in the North or West area of your office
to enhance your creativity. Place the computer in the
Southeast if you use it to generate income.
-
DO
place an aquarium or tabletop fountain in the East, North,
or Southeast. A small aquarium with black or blue fish in
the North area of your desk or office will activate your
business and career success. Guppies or a single arrowana
are ideal for an aquarium made of glass and metal.
-
DO
place a safe, which is usually constructed of metal, in
either West or Northwest, which both represent the metal
element. The safe symbolizes the prosperity and financial
security of a business.
-
DO
have a good balance of yin and yang when decorating your
workspace. Balance light and dark colors, soft and hard
surfaces, and smooth and rough textures in your choice of
window treatments, furniture, and flooring.
-
DON"T
have any mirrors in your office, as they can reflect
negative energy from clients to other people in the room.
You should always maintain control over the energy in your
office.
-
DO
treat the files in your office with respect. They
represent your past, present, and future business.
-
DO
keep the cords to your office equipment well hidden. This
elimate clutter and allows for the free flow of chi.
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