Let Your Values Do the Work

How do you organize your life around your dreams? Start by asking yourself:

WHAT MAKES MAKES LIFE WORTH LIVING?

Then let your values do the work! Yes, your values could help. I’ve been playing around with values for a few years now, with clients and in my own life, and I know that looking to your values works. They have a lot to teach us about what makes life worth living.

What’s a personal value? I’ll start by saying what it’s not. A value isn’t something you inherited from your culture, family or society. It’s not something you “should” do, or “have to” do. A value IS something that you choose freely, and from your gut. It’s a choice that connects you with yourself, and all your visions and dreams! It’s the way you live your life, made visible in each choice you make. Values are a life direction, not goals to strive after. You continuously move to their rhythm – always bringing you back to the present moment. They provide the meaning and purpose, guiding you like a compass, to a life worth living. Have you been desiring something different, a change? This could be your values nudging you to give them some space in your life.

So, what do you do when you don’t know what you value, or more, feel so bogged down in the fullness of life, that you don’t think you have choices? You take small steps, the tiniest of steps! Start with simply taking a few deep breaths. Then think about how you’ve been spending your time. Get curious. What did you do today, what did you do yesterday? Take inventory of what you ARE valuing. A few more deep breaths. Next, notice if any of those values moving through your day, are values YOU care about, personally. Maybe you find a few, even one, that makes you feel connected to your life. How could you get more of this value in your day to day? What’s the tiniest move you could make?

If you didn’t connect to any of your choices, and feel a chasm between your current life and your values, take a few more deep breaths. What would you have rather been doing? What would you like to be doing? Dream big, or even simply think of the tiniest thing that you would like to be different. What value is that revealing? A couple more breaths. Now think about the tiniest step you could take towards that value. The tiniest action, shift, move. This could even be a thought. Choosing a different thought can move you closer to what you value, and become a building block to taking action. Remember, each action we take is a choice we’re making…and multiple tiny actions, create momentous changes.

This past year I put all my values exploration to use and created a deck of cards, Elemental Values. This deck is for exploring your personal values using the Five Elements of Feng Shui – a tool to help you navigate your way towards action. NEXT SUNDAY 4/6, 6:00-7:30pm, I will be at The Future in Minneapolis, offering a workshop on using the Elemental Values Deck. Come join me if you want to take a deep dive into your values and how you can tap into these everyday. In this workshop you will explore your personal values, learn techniques to access your body’s knowledge, and be introduced to the Five Elements and how this system works. This workshop is designed to develop your understanding of how to use the Five Elements to connect with what you value, understand what might be getting in the way of choosing what you value, and support you in moving forward. This workshop is open to all, owning a deck is not necessary. Should you want to purchase one of your own, reach out to me!

“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.”

— Rumi

To buy a deck of cards go to:

To sign up for the workshop, go to: https://thefuturempls.com/collections/events/products/april-6-elemental-values-the-workshop

Let Your Front Door Do the Work

How do you organize your life around your dreams? Start by asking yourself:

WHAT MAKES ME FEEL ALIVE?

Then let your front door do the work! Yes, your front door could help. I’ve been practicing Feng Shui for many years now, with clients and in my own space, and I know that this practice works. Not that you just sit there while your door does all the work—you make the first move—then your move is matched.  One of the principles of Feng Shui is that everything is energy. You, your home, everything in your home, including your front door. Feng Shui “works” through making “adjustments”. Basically, in making a Feng Shui “adjustment”  (changing something with intention) you’re changing the energy of your space, thoughts, and emotions. The front door is significant because it’s where the Qi (life force) comes into your home and into your life, it’s your calling card. Riding on the waves of this Qi, is the energy of health, opportunities, relationships, change, DREAMS, and these find you when they’re invited in through your front door. When was the last time you came home through the front door?  Just doing that, you’ll shift some energy, and discover a lot about your Qi—and what your calling card is saying. If you’re like me, there’ll be some surprises.  The first time I did this practice, of using my front door, I realized it wasn’t that “alive”, there were some cobwebs, small, but yes! It was like an abandoned part of my home. What was the message on my calling card?  If my house was mirroring my life, I’d say I wasn’t paying attention to parts of my life. Some things weren’t being nurtured, I was looking the other way, that type of energy.

Well, recently I was reviewing some key Feng Shui principles and remembered, again, MY FRONT DOOR!  I thought I’d already put my door to work. Planters were framing the door, a new door mat shined at the hearth, a beautiful brass knocker alerted me to visitors...  All these things do call in energy, and it had been working for me, but there was still an area that wasn’t moving. I’ve been dreaming of living somewhere new. The idea get’s me super excited, but it’s just not clear where. I’d been operating under the assumption that the answer was “out there” in the world and not a question for my current home to answer. Then I remembered, everything is energy, everything is connected. These energies all intermingle. Even a new home can come in through my current front door.

My building is black and so was my front door, up until a few days ago.  I was avoiding changing its color by adding flowers and a door knocker…but this is a big question, and it was calling for a bigger change. Yes, I had made it inviting, I had changed the energy, I had done everything but the actual door—the portal!  The color of the door needed to change, the shift needed to be bigger. Amazingly, just after a day of thinking about colors and preparing, the energy around my front door, and my home, started to shift.  It was more electric, more alive.  The door, my home, and I were becoming more animated, and we were getting into conversation.  I was clearer and more amped. This was the right direction. Within the week I’d painted my door a new color.  (Benjamin Moore, Cinnamon Slate) Wow! It makes me so happy every time I walk by, just thinking of this new color is calling in some fresh Qi. At this moment in time, I needed a dose of fresh Qi. Let me also add, we are in the fall season, the element for fall is metal, the organ is the lungs. What this means, is that it’s time for some deep breaths, to clean up some clutter, get some clarity, and make what’s left, shine! It made perfect sense that now’s the time to be polishing up my door, allowing me to breathe, sending out a clear message, knowing that this energy of a new home is also looking for me. Now I’ll sit back, let my beautiful front door do the work, and watch what unfolds.

Is there something you’re yearning for?  It really could be as simple as some peace of mind, a deep and healing breath, or a bigger yearning for change. It starts with you, and your front door is there to help. The best first step is to simply go and visit your front door. Here’s a few things to look for: Can you get in easily? What do you see, is it inviting? How does it make you feel? Is it filled with dust bunnies? Think of the metaphors, it’s super interesting!!!  What’s your calling card saying? What would you like it to say? If you’re ready for the next step—you can start with something simple like a new welcome mat, flower pot, or just wiping down the door and sweeping the hearth with a heart full of gratitude. These small steps will start the ball rolling. You don’t have to paint the door right away—just start the conversation. Go slow. Pay attention. Notice the energy. Does it make you feel alive? Then begin organizing your life around your dreams—starting with your front door.