Feng Shui and Goal Setting

Feng Shui is deliberate. There may be serendipity in placement and design that furthers the goals of Feng Shui, but nothing is entirely “by accident.”

Where you place your home in relation to directions, the land that it’s on and the structures around it, is deliberate in Feng Shui. Likewise, how you decorate your home–inside and out–is also deliberate. This includes the layout of the room, the design of each room, and even down to something as small as the arrangement of your desk can (and perhaps should) be deliberate.

Many elements of your daily life will be more successful if you plan ahead as well. This is also part of Feng Shui.

Feng Shui means, literally, “wind and water.” This refers to the flow of elements through your environment. That environment includes your daily schedule.

START YOUR DAY WITH CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELF

First of all, as soon as you open your eyes, do a quick reality check. Did you wake up happy or cross? Most people wake up happy; it’s only as they start thinking about recent or expected events that they become cross. To maintain a happy outlook, it’s vital to separate who you are–the person who woke up happy–from the circumstances and events that aren’t a good fit for that happy person.

Having recognized your true core mood upon waking up, it’s important to decide how you want the day to flow, independent of others’ input.

As author Suzan Hilton says in The Feng Shui of Abundance, “Consider what would be uplifting, expansive, creative… the positive things and experiences you would like to result from your interactions.”

Start by setting one general goal, and one specific one for your day.

CHOOSE ACHIEVABLE GOALS

Let’s say that your greatest concern is money right now. A general goal would be, “I’m going to move in the direction of increasing my income and living within that income.” A specific goal might be, “Today, I’m going to spend under $10 for lunch,” if you’re accustomed to eating out with friends. And then, do that.

Aristotle said, “Man is a goal-seeking animal. His life only has meaning if he is reaching out and striving for his goals.”

FIRST, FOCUS ON ONE AREA OF YOUR LIFE

Keep your first specific goals reasonable and within your routine sphere of control. An unreasonable money goal would be, “Today, I’ll win the lottery,” or, “Today, there will be no unexpected expenses.” If you’re concerned about fitness, the day’s general goal might be, “I’ll exercise more and drink more water today.” If you usually take the elevator to your office (and if your doctor approves), your specific goal could include, “Today, I’ll walk up one flight of stairs and take the elevator from there.”

If you’re focusing on romance, your general goal for the day could state, “I’ll say hello to more people today, because friendliness is attractive and makes it easier to meet others.” Your specific goal might be, “I’m going to pause at [potential date]‘s office and make a couple of minutes’ light conversation right before lunch today.”

Confucius said, “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” This might mean breaking down the goals into smaller, more achievable targets, and extending the date when you plan to reach your larger goal.

REMINDERS HELP

Consider writing your goals on an index card, and place it where you’ll see it. If it’s a spending goal, tuck the card prominently inside your wallet. If it’s a romance goal, place it on or sticking out of your desk calendar. Andrew Carnegie said, “If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes.”

In many cases, your general goal will be the same for several days in a row. If you can, write that goal on a few cards and put one on your mirror, one on the refrigerator, and tape one to your car dashboard.

REACH HIGHER

As you become more confident about your ability to set and meet goals, you can increase your challenges gradually. This could mean setting steeper goals, or more of them. Always keep “the big picture” in mind. Pamela Vaull Starr said, “Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.”

PAVE THE ROAD TO YOUR BETTER FUTURE

You may also set more goals, perhaps smaller, more frequent ones. From the advice of Abraham-Hicks: “Our futures are individually paved by the steady stream of thoughts we set forth. We are literally creating our future life as we direct our thoughts of this moment into the future.” As you set additional daily goals, start small. Intend what will happen in the next 15 minutes. Keep it within your reach. If you’re driving somewhere, your goal might be, “I’m going to arrive safely and happily at my destination, and see at least one interesting thing along the way.”

KEEP THE BIGGER PICTURE IN MIND

Keep your goals light, fun, and happy. Your general goals should be more about feelings than about the specifics that achieve them. Woodrow Wilson said, “You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.”

SUMMARY

By setting deliberate, achievable goals for your environment and your daily life, you create a setting in which there are opportunities for more luck and serendipity. Feng Shui is about flow, and by gently steering the flow–or creating a happy context for your life–luck will flow into your life as well.