Discover Your Bliss

Feng Shui remedy - my cool red door

Just so everyone knows - not everyone needs a red door.  I just happen to get the "green light" for my red door via my classical Feng Shui Consultant - P.K. Odle. 

Besides giving me a list of "remedies" for my apartment - P.K. also gave me some cool suggestions - like painting the design on my door red - instead of the whole thing. 

P.K.'s suggestion of just painting the design is classy and interesting - and another way to bring fire colors to this area of my apartment.  I'll give more detail of my consultation in future posts, yet I couldn't wait to share how cool my door looks.

If you'd like more information on Feng Shui the P.K. way you can click here to be directed to her web page and read all the cool details of her consultations and how Feng Shui can support a person's life. 

It's not Chinese interior design - it's like acupuncture for your home. 

How does shifting your normal way of doing something change your perspective?  What's something that you do that's routine that can use come creativity?

I'd love to hear your comments and insights. 

Things are shifting, change is coming

Just a brief update in my life. 

Things are shifting which can only mean that change is coming.

I recently had a feng shui consultation for my apartment and have been given a list of "remedies" so that my living space will supports my life.  Some of the remedies are simple and some are more involved (more on my feng shui experience in future posts - plus pictures). 

In addition to the feng shui, I've also been cleared to re-do my apartment building's garden areas (which is so cool because it needs it).  I worked on a section last night and will continue to inch my way to garden zen (more on my before and after photos in future posts as well). 

I've been busy, busy, busy getting tasks, projects and loose ends complete so I will be ready for my positive change as it comes.  I know amazing things are in store for me.

All of this leads me to ask:  Where do you want to change and what can you do to get it? Just remember to take baby steps to support your transition.  Change often occurs at warp speed, so don't be surprised if you get a whirl wind of positive response when you make changes to your life. 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

Save time, money & stress with your stuff

In preparation for having my apartment feng-shui'd (I won a free consultation - a $900 value!), I've been cleaning and clearing out stuff that no longer serves me.

I put a lot of my books and CDs on half.com to sell.  Here's how half.com works:  I get an email when someone buys my CD or book and I package up the said CD or book and mail it.

Half.com is a really cool spot to sell books, CDs and DVDs - however - when you sell the items depends on when another person wants to purchase it - so I can have books in my apartment that have been on half.com for years. 

Sometimes I sell the most random books and CDs - long after I've listed them - yet some of my books have just been sitting on my bookshelves for years taking up space waiting to be sold.

As I cleaned up my apartment, I took an inventory of the books I no longer wanted, how long they have been on half.com and the book's selling cost. 

If I have a book listed for $1 and it's just been sitting on my shelf for years and it stresses me out more to see it than to sell it, then I put it in the thrift store box.  I filled up a whole box and it felt so good (I also made sure that I took them off half.com, on the off chance that I sell a book I no longer have in the future). 

The same goes for clothes, hobby supplies, kitchen stuff, etc.  If it stresses you out or you have to constantly move it when you clean - then it might be more loving to get rid of it rather than have the stress and stuff in your life. 

Also, having less stuff will save you money.  Time is money and if you have to spend boatloads of time on stuff you don't like, then you're wasting your money.  You'll also save money since freeing up all that stress will make you healthier and happier and lower your medical costs (especially in the long run). 

How can you lower your stress level by getting rid of something?  How does keeping something that doesn't serve you support your growth? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.     

Low on Cash? Barter

What better time than now to barter?  If you're low on cash or have a service you'd like to provide as payment (legal services only please), then you might check out the following hubs of activity:

• SwapThing.com- I love their tag line - "My thing for your thing."  This is a great place to "shop" for what you want, then find someone that wants your "thing" in exchange.  Plus it's good on the environment - no wasteful packaging of a "new" thing and you're getting rid of something as something new enters your space.  Very Zen.
• TradeaFavor.com- "Trade anything with anyone and everyone.  Life is more than cash."  Okay, so this site has me intrigued.  You can not only trade stuff, you can also trade expertise and skills.  What's cool about this site is it links to your Facebook page which expands who you want to offer your "trades."  Watch this video to learn more:

• JoeBarter.com - It looks like this site is a combination of the previous sites with an additional emphasis on jobs. 

How can bartering empower you?  What would you like to barter and what would you like to receive in the barter? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.

Long Time, No Blog

I'm a bit shocked that I've gone two days without posting anything on my blog.  I usually keep a calendar of my blog posts so I'm up-to-date on what I've written and what I haven't.  For the past two days, I simply didn't write anything.

I'm not beating myself up over the matter nor do I have the feeling that I'm less of a person as a result of my actions - or more accurately my non-actions.

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of activity in my life. 

I'm currently in the process of transitioning into a new type of coaching.  My transition, of course, does not mean that I will no longer do traditional coaching, yet I've been exploring and testing the waters of a different style of coaching that fits more with who I am. 

I'm so excited about the changes in my life and I can literally feel them physically. 

The feeling is so different when I'm 100% in my element.  It's a lot like walking on a cloud.  Things happen with ease and grace. 

Anyone remember back in the "dinosaur days" (just kidding) of tuning in a radio station with a knob instead of a digital code?  How some radio stations were easier to get a clear signal, while other stations always had a bit of static or would change every time you moved?  That's what it feels like for me - I finally found my solid clear station that is tuned in without any static or interference. 

I am grateful for the space I've given myself to grow.  I acknowledge myself for recognizing this need and meeting it. 

Where might you need some space in your life?  What's one thing you can do to "tune in" to your radio station? 

I'd love to hear you comments and discoveries!

Clear Your Clutter with iTunes

I'm the hand-me-down iPod person.  The first iPod I received was a Nano.  Since a Nano doesn't have that much space on it for songs, I only imported into iTunes the stuff that I thought would fit. 

The same person that gave me the Nano also gave me his regular iPod (60 GB) when he ran out of space for his music and purchased one that was bigger.  With that much space, I found myself in uncharted territory. 

I have a lot of CDs.  I've cut down on my CD habit and limit my new acquisitions to holidays.  I love music. 

With all this new space, I started the long and winding road process of adding my CDs to my iTunes.  One shelf usually took me two days to import.  As a result of this process, I re-discovered my music. 

I also re-evaluated my likes and dislikes. 

If you're a person that has transformed to digital music and have no need for physical CDs, then selling your CDs might be an option in clearing your clutter (once you have them imported and have purchased a separate hard drive for your computer to use as back up). 

Personally, I still use CDs.  I don't have the iPod hook up in my car, so anything I want to hear on the road, needs to be in CD format (yes I know you can get converters for your iPod and I will consider that in the future). 

Although I still use CDs, I discovered that I've outgrown many of my CDs - especially if the CD only has one song on it that I like.  For the CDs I've outgrown or only have one song on them I like, I'm listing on half.com - in order to sell them and clear more clutter. 

iTunes can be a wonderful source for clutter clearing.  Just be sure to remind yourself that electronic clutter (CDs and songs that you do not like) can lower your energy so periodically review iTunes for songs and albums that no longer raise your energy. 

What area or collection do you have that might benefit from a "clutter review?"  How can periodically reviewing your current inventory support your bliss?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

The Clutter/Money Connection According to Suze Orman

On Tuesday's Oprah show, Suze Orman said, "When somebody doesn't have debt they also keep everything in order.  Cutter = debt.  Order  = No Debt.  When you respect what money can buy you (things) you respect money itself."   

So in the time of current economic unrest - what can you do?  Clear out some clutter so you can make space for money to come into you life.

As a life coach, I love working with people around clutter and clearing their mind, body, spirit and home of stuff that gets in the way of their living. 

Here's a few quick tips to bust some clutter today, this weekend or in the coming weeks:

• pause before you bring new stuff into your home - ask yourself - Do I really need this?  How is this "thing" serving me?  If needed, give yourself 24 hour in between finding what you want to buy and actually buying the item.
• does this raise or lower my energy - look at the object - Do you feel uplifted?  Do you instantly feel bummed that you wasted your money?
• use your public resources - Can you get that book at the library?  Most libraries not only allow you to check out books for free - they also have cds, book on tape and movies. 

What's something that you can clear today?  How can you incorporate "clutter busting" into your daily, weekly or monthly routine?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

Go Shopping in Your Home

The next time you need something - consider shopping in your home.

Please ignore this idea if you need new milk or dog food.

Shopping in your home is a creative way to reduce the amount of stuff you bring into your home by finding a new use for something you already have or re-discovering what you already own.

For example, I wanted to figure out a way to put the business cards I collect from others on my computer. At first, I thought about what programs might work on my computer and how much I wanted to spend.

Then I realized that I owned "Neat Receipts" - which has a business card scanning feature - problem solved.

Need a container to put on your kitchen counter to hold your utensils? Pause before you buy something new. There's a million different ideas within your own home that can serve the same purpose - a flower pot, an extra-large mason jar, a washed and cleaned fruit jar, a random basket you have in your closet.

The idea is to get creative and use what you already have. It's one of the first steps in saving our planet.

What's something that you might need to purchase that you can "shop" your house instead? How can you expand this idea with neighbors, relatives and friends?

I'd love to hear your discoveries and comments.

Want to Prevent Identity Theft?

Call 888-5OPTOUT to remove your name from credit issuers' mailing lists. 

After a five minute chat with a computer, you will soon reduce your identity theft "opportunities." 

How?  Credit card companies will exchange any "pre-approved" credit card offers complete with application with a letter.  This simple step will cut your risk of someone stealing your mail or going through your garbage and applying for a credit card in your name. 

Because we're talking credit bureaus, you'll have to provide your Social Security number.  It's okay in this case.

How can reducing your "identity theft" vulnerability support your peace of mind?  What would it look like if you received only the mail you wanted? 

I'd love to hear your discoveries and comments!

The Story of Stuff

Want to raise your "stuff" awareness? 

Watch - The Story of Stuff.

It's a bit long, yet I found the presentation and information packed into this video to be both informative and entertaining. 

How do you determine what information is of value to you?  What "stuff" are you willing to re-evaluate in your own life?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.