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Home » Home Improvement Articles » Feng Shui Decorating Enhances Holiday Mood Celebrations

Feng Shui Decorating Enhances Holiday Mood, Celebrations

Do holiday gatherings drive you crazy? Do your family get-togethers result in more stress than harmony? The problem may not be you or your loved ones. It could be your house.

As you prepare your home for the holidays this year, take a few moments to consider some of the following tips based on the principles of feng shui, the ancient art of enhancing positive energy within an environment. By enhancing this energy flow, known as "chi," within your home, your holiday season is more likely to become a time of relaxation and goodwill.

•Banish clutter. This is one of the most basic feng shui rules, serving as a starting point for almost every other feng shui activity. As holiday decorations come out, some everyday items may have to be stored to prevent a cacophony of competing objects.

"It's not relaxing to be surrounded by so much stuff that you don't know where to look next," says Linda Binns, owner of Harmony Inside & Out, specializing in holistic health and feng shui consulting. "People fall into the trap of thinking that they have to put out years' worth of decorations, whether they really like them or not, and somehow make everything fit around all their regular items."

Binns suggests only displaying items you really love and not overloading your environment, which constricts the flow of positive energy and creates discord.

•Balance your color scheme. While you may love the bright reds, greens and golds of the holiday season, these colors augment existing energy and should be balanced with more calming shades, such as cream, blues and pale hues.

"There are places and times when you may want to create a lot of energy, and that's where you can mass those bright holiday decorations," Binns says. For example, holiday meals can be more exciting and jovial when bright and shiny table settings and decorations are used.

•Decorate for harmony. Your choice and placement of decorations is crucial to the atmosphere of your home and to the harmony of those who enter. As mentioned above, too many bright colors can create an overly-stimulating environment and increase the risk of tension. Yet not enough holiday items will result in a "dull atmosphere," Binns says.

She suggests that small rooms contain decorations that have a matte finish, rather than lots of reflective surfaces, to help absorb excess energy. The flowing shapes of ribbons and fabrics also help create a soft, gentle atmosphere.

•Don't overdo the Christmas tree. You may love the sparkling lights and pretty ornaments on Christmas trees, so bigger is better, right? Wrong.

"Evergreen trees naturally have a spiky, 'yang' shape that can disrupt the even flow of energy in a room" Binns says. "Just as you wouldn't want to overpower a room with a piece of furniture far out of proportion to the room's size, too large a tree is not conducive to a relaxing, harmonious feeling."

Binns says that the yang energy of a Christmas tree can be tempered by using cream and other muted colors among the brighter ornaments and by putting bows or fabric garlands on the branches to help soften the tree's harsh edges. Also, it's important to place the tree away from seating areas to ensure the comfort of friends and family.

•Make holiday meals memorable. Excitement is added to holiday mealtimes when the table is set with hard, shiny items such as silver serving pieces, sparkling crystal and brightly-colored holiday china. Red napkins will also create a festive mood, while green napkins and cream-colored linens will tone down the table.

Speaking of tables, round or oval are the best shapes for feng shui-friendly dining. The absence of sharp corners and hard edges helps energy flow freely and gently through the room. If you do have a rectangular dining table, make sure your guests are not seated too close to the corners, which can cause a feeling of unease during the meal.

In addition to the setting, the foods you choose are important to the overall experience. Binns, a trained nutritionist and holistic health practitioner, says, "It has been found that too much sugar or rich foods create a sense of fatigue and overwork the body's digestive system. Excess alcohol overstimulates the liver. As with most things, moderation is key, and serving plenty of fresh vegetables will help balance richer dishes."

Binns adds some general advice: "If people feel cooped-up or claustrophobic, they will be more likely to argue. So remove any unnecessary furniture, open the windows briefly to refresh the atmosphere, and use water features, like small fountains or floating candles, to create a calming influence."

Candles emit natural energy and supplement the relaxing effects of dimmed lights. Fluorescent lighting, especially when added to the already stimulating effects of holiday decorations, creates an energy drain and should be reduced. Finally, add some relaxing music to your environment and turn off the TV, shutting it into a closed entertainment center if possible.

"Feng shui is an ancient practice that really works to enhance a whole array of areas in our lives," Binns says. "By surrounding yourself with things and people you truly love and following some basic tenets, you can create balance, harmony and relaxation, which will carry you through the holidays and into the new year."

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And here is another random article you might be interested in...

When Well-Written Resumes Don't Work

Job seekers spend more time fretting over their resumes than any other process during a job search. This is because most believe that the resume serves as a magic bullet. But no matter how great you sound on paper, the reality is that a resume can get you only so far in the job search, even if it is well written.

The job search is made up of several key components including your outlook, job search activities, and interview performance. Each component builds on the next and if you lack strength in one area, your search will be handicapped. Below are telltale signs that your job search may be in jeopardy and the quick fixes you can incorporate to increase the chances your job search will be successful.

Signs You Have an Unenthusiastic Outlook

• You are quick to dismiss someone's advice by making statements such as, "That doesn't work. I tried it." Solution: Keep an open mind when someone is offering you guidance, even if you have heard the advice before. Sometimes it takes a few times for a message to penetrate.
• After an interview you find yourself making comments such as, "The moment the interviewer saw me, I could tell he wanted someone younger." Solution: No jobseeker is the perfect candidate. Some are too old, others are too young; some don't have much experience while others have too much.
• You send out emails that read, "I sent a resume early last week and followed up, and you never returned my phone call. Are you ignoring me?" Solution: When you feel overwhelmed, frustrated or just plain angry, take a walk and clear your head before you send an offensive email.
• You aren't taking personal responsibility for your own job search, instead blaming external factors for your lack of progress. Solution: There are some aspects of your job you can't control, but the ones that you can (e.g. the number of calls made per day, networking events attended), take seriously.

Signs You Are Taking the Passive Approach

• You haven't developed a job search plan and are flying by the seat of your pants. Solution: Don't wing it. Take the time to map out a strategy and write it down. Don't rely on your memory. There is something about writing down thoughts that makes you more accountable.
• You're going it alone without the guidance of an interview coach and/or career coach. Solution: Partner with someone who will provide objective and constructive feedback. In doing so, you will be able to identify areas of strength and those that need improvement.
• You adopt the if-they-are-interested-they-will-call-me approach and never follow up. Solution: Take the initiative to call employers to inquire about the status of your application.

Signs Your Interview Skills Could Use Some Work

• You are always second best. Solution: Call past interviewers and ask them why you didn't receive an offer. When you make it that far in the process, interviewers are more likely to disclose the reason you weren't selected.
• You walk out of an interview saying, "Darn it! Why did I say that?" or "I wish I had mentioned my experience in ________." Solution: After each interview, jot down everything you said that didn't work, and how you would rephrase it for the next interview. Then, when you get home or back to the office, write a thank-you note to the interviewer(s) that mentions the lacking information or carefully revisits what you wish you hadn't said.
• Every time you leave an interview you believe your performance was strong, but you never receive a job offer. Solution: Work with a Certified Interview Coach or a professional who specializes in interview training who will be able to assist you in discovering and correcting the problem.