Can you feel the difference in the 2 photos? Stare intently at each one. Do you notice any sensations? My shoulders and neck sure did. I want to jump into the screen and straighten up the first desk. That’s what neatniks do. Conversely, I feel a sense of serenity as I look at the Scandinavian modern desk, the surface that is actually visible. I can imagine wafting scents from the diffuser. Clary Sage, Sandalwood, Patchouli rich with properties to reduce anxiousness.
Is the bottom photo too barren for you? Keeping a surface that clear might not be reality or it may create a sense of discomfort. I find that happens with clients who need the security of stuff. Objects provide a blanket that keeps them safe. Until…
Close your eyes. Imagine it’s a cold night with a furnace on the fritz. You nestle under a blanket. But you can’t get warm. So you fetch another blanket, then another, then another cocooning yourself until you finally feel the warmth of all those layers as you drift off. During the night the heater eventually kicks on still malfunctioning now sending the thermostat to a searing 98 degrees. You awake in a sweat, deeply entangled in those blankets attempting to free yourself from the mummy-wrap. It won’t loosen. What does that feel like? Smothering? Suffocating? Helpless? We look for comfort from our things. Our blankets, stuffed animals, photos, crafts, clothing accessories. And they do provide a yummy sense of comfort when they’re in balance. But like everything when the scales tip, they can make us uncomfortable. Interestingly, sometimes we don’t notice our discomfort until triggered like the thermostat example.
Thanksgiving. The appetizers, entrees, desserts, beverages beckon. We want to try them all. Are you the type to sample little bites of each dish or indulge with luscious portions of your Thanksgiving favorites? Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes, wine, pies, coffee or tea. You might wander back for seconds maybe even thirds. You stop indulging when you feel sated. Then Aunt Louise arrives with her coveted chocolate satin pie drizzled with chocolate sauce and artistically arranged dollops of whipped cream. Rich, velvety, and like hell you’re going to say “no” unless chocolate is not your thing. So you take a few bites. Then the sedative effects of the turkey’s tryptophan, alcohol, and coma-inducing sugar steal your oomph. Time to loosen the buttons on your pants to accommodate the bloating and queasiness and fight off head bob’s as you pretend to engage in conversation. Too much of a good thing eh? How quickly we go from comfort and enjoyment to overdoing.
If you are a collector the same thing can happen at home. You wake up literally and figuratively one day realizing that the amount of accumulated stuff is stifling, free space is limited or non-existent. Possessions own the house while we clamor for space among the clutter. When this happens it is time for an energy shift.
What is the energy like in your home? Is it welcoming and embracing like a gentle hug or does it make you wish you were somewhere else? Your home should be your favorite or at least one of your favorite destinations.
Try this experiment even if your home is not overrun with objects. Keep in mind that all of our possessions have either a positive, negative, or neutral energy.