FENG SHUI SIMPLY
The Pathway to an Open Heart
By Cheryl Grace

When you open your heart and develop true compassion for all people, all living things, and the environment, you discover how it leads to self-love and ultimately the loving relationship of your lifetime. It is necessary to respect everyone’s individual journey in life, no matter how rocky it may seem to you. Feng Shui teaches us that by honoring our neighbors, other countries with their unique traditions and customs, and all humanity, you are creating an environment that nourishes friendships and invites loving people into your life. Looking for your soul mate? Start with having an open heart.

Everyone can achieve an open heart by following these simple steps:

Adopt a positive mental attitude. When we allow our day to be filled with negative thoughts and behavior, we become influenced by fear, doubt, and low self esteem. This affects our state of happiness and destroys our inner peace. If you begin each day thinking that everything every one you meet brings you an opportunity and every event is a life lesson, you will see bright spots in all that comes your way. It’s the principle of “be careful for what you wish for.” Imagine that you day will fill with positive and happy moments and that is what you will have.

Put less emphasis on material possessions. When we steer away from our obsession of acquiring luxury items and possessions that appear to upgrade our status or self-worth, we create an obstacle to what is really important. If our view is that the only way we can succeed is through material gain, we create an environment of competition, which may lead to developing characteristics of greed, arrogance, and pride. Thoughtless actions without compassion will lead to unfortunate repercussions. Acquire friendships, not things, and see how your life improves.

Practice compassion daily. When you come face to face with a person or a group of individuals we sense may cause us harm, this is an opportunity to exhibit patience and tolerance. Any event or situation that potentially could create suffering can also be viewed as an opportunity to gain a useful experience, inner wisdom and strength. By electing to first act with understanding and kindness instead of viewing a person or situation as automatically undesirable, we change the energy towards a positive outcome. This includes avoiding idle gossip that keeps a negative story alive.

Make time for introspection. The pathway to spiritual fulfillment and ultimate happiness and joy can begin with a little introspection. This does not require you to sit in a lotus position with incense burning if this is not your view of a comfortable environment. Simply the mental process of contemplation helps us diminish our preoccupation with the self-centered concerns of our lives. Introspection allows us to seek ways in which we can live our lives responsibly without being self-righteous. It is also a way to gain control over the ego and a restless mind and guide it to peaceful solutions to all of your problems. It is beneficial to explore taking a few minutes of introspection early in the morning when your mind is most alert and clear. It is also helpful to sit in a calm environment to remain focused.

Practice Humility.  You can practice humility daily by being aware when vanity, being stingy or judgmental enters into your thinking pattern and behavior. When you get the “heads up” that you are about to act in a negative way, you can pause to reflect how you can create the life you want simply by changing your actions to one of an open heart.

Cheryl Grace is a professional Feng Shui consultant and nationally certified interior refiner.

To learn more about how Feng Shui can help you reach your life potential and enhance career opportunities through a Mentor Program, contact Cheryl at (941) 400-3816 or visit www.ggRedecorating.com for a
Feng Shui consultation.