➡️ I apologized.
➡️ I put my head down.
➡️ I drew my shoulders inward.
If it weren’t for Helene on the other end of Zoom, I wouldn’t have realized what just happened. It was such an automatic and familiar response.
But, she called me out
“You just totally shut yourself down.”
I’d been passionately telling Helene why I loved the new format of my virtual retreat workshop. I switched from 100% teaching to a sweet rhythm between teaching and implementation. I carved out time during the workshop for participants to physically go and make the changes in their home that had life changing potential.
To be honest, it was a crusade moment about why taking action mattered.
It went something like this….
“I’m tired of good intentions. We keep attending the classes and listening to all the things we should do, but then life gets in the way. We never get past the good intention moment. We just stockpile “to do” lists. We don’t make the time to put the vision board together, declutter the pantry or reposition our desk. We can’t experience change if we don’t make the change.”
But before finishing my thought, I splashed cold water on my passion.
In the recesses of my subconscious, I heard the faint whispers…
➡️ Who do you think you are?
➡️ What will other people think?
➡️ Don’t shine your light too brightly, or you’ll get burned.
Those voices are super subtle right?
Sometimes they swoop in and divert our attention from our passion to the comfort of a pint of Ben & Jerry’s.
BUT….
When we pause to hear those voices (or have a Helene in your life to witness them), then there’s an opportunity for healing. We can acknowledge the voices, thank them for their concern and remind them we’re in charge. As Denise Linn writes in her book, Soul Coaching, “A fear named is a fear tamed.”
If YOU being YOU in all your fiery, passionate ways is something that also needs healing, I’m inviting you to look at the Fame & Reputation area of your home.
In feng shui, every area of your home is associated with an area of your life. The Fame & Reputation area is associated with showing up and being seen. It’s the area that likes to dance with your passion. It’s not about hiding or shying away from what inspires you.
Here’s a quick tutorial about how you can flame the fires of your passion by working with this space in your home:
- Identify the Fame & Reputation area of your home by imagining a tic tac toe board placed over your home’s floorplan. When you’re standing at your front door, the Fame & Reputation area is that back, middle square of the tic tac toe board.
- Regardless of the function of this space, remove anything you don’t love, need or use. We don’t want any needy energy stonewalling your passion!
- Check out the lighting in this space. Do you need to replace any burned out light bulbs? Can you add additional lighting? Do you need to turn on the lights that are already there? Can you swap out any light bulbs with higher wattage ones?
- Add something to the space that inspires you. Extra credit if it’s connected to what you’re passionate about. Be sure to think outside the box and feel free to use the walls and the floors. Walls are the perfect place to hang an inspiring piece of artwork. Floors are the perfect place to add a super fun and bright throw rug.
Since I’m no longer shying away from crusades and soapbox moments, I’ll offer one more here….
You matter. Your voice matters. And I’m pretty sure that what you’re passionate about has the power to help heal this planet and those who occupy it.
AND
Your home matters. It’s the biggest overlooked tool when it comes to supporting who you are and who you are becoming. Don’t wait until tomorrow. Check out your Fame & Reputation area today and make 1 of the 3 changes mentioned above.
Here’s to your passion,
xoxo
Dorena
