“You can’t make positive choices for the rest of your life without an environment that makes those choices easy, natural, and enjoyable.” – Deepak Chopra

When my mom first introduced me to Feng Shui 15 years ago, I was quite opposed it – Really for no reason other than I was ignorant. And the name and pronunciation itself, “fung shwey”, just sounded too silly for a college teenager like me to take seriously. But during desperate times, I turned to Feng Shui to help me navigate through tough economic conditions, from graduating #1 in my Finance class and finding a solid job during the dot com bust, to marrying my high school sweetheart – to successfully purchasing 2 homes in my 20s!

Feeling uneasy, tired, and stressed? I have definitely been there! What I learned was I needed to evaluate my environment and surroundings, as it was impacting my relationships, health, career, and financial situation. Luckily, one’s life can be improved through the practice of Feng Shui. Here are a few basic Feng Shui facts that I would like to share with you:

1. It is not a religion, superstition, or belief

One major misconception I had when I first heard about Feng Shui is that it was a religion or faith. I even thought it was a superstition. It is not! Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese methodology of arranging objects with an environment or space, such as an office, a bedroom, or a backyard, to positively boost and balance the energy flow and thereby benefit its occupants. The placement of one’s desk at work, for example, can impact one’s career progression – Or the wrong placement of one’s bed can impact one’s relationship luck. Feng Shui also considers the structure, materials, floorplan, garden and landscapes, as part of one’s environment. Feng Shui does not contradict any religion or beliefs, so don’t be afraid to learn and benefit from it!

2. It is not a fad

Existing for over 3000 years, Feng Shui has gained tremendous global popularity as many people have discovered it benefits such as increased success, improved health, relationship luck, and much more! I had stereotyped Feng Shui as only being practiced by folks like my grandparents, but boy was I totally wrong! Feng Shui has become very mainstream and many famous entrepreneurs, celebrities, and institutions currently use Feng Shui practices, such as:

• Bill Gates
• Bill Clinton
• Citibank
• Coca Cola
• Disney
• Oprah Winfrey
• Steven Spielberg
• United Nations
• Virgin Airlines
• The White House

3. Feng Shui means “wind and water”

The words Feng Shui literally translate into “wind and water”, which symbolizes energy. Feng Shui is about actively influencing our environments as the “chi” or energy in our spaces can positively or negatively impact our well-being. Combined with other healthy habits, such as positivity, mindfulness, exercise, balanced diet, and meditation, one can greatly improve his or her life – from building successful careers, to finding love and improving one’s health and creativity.

4. Feng Shui can be affordable

Anyone can learn the principles of Feng Shui and it doesn’t require a lot of money to be spent. As a matter of fact, some basic and practical tips, such as don’t have a pile of clutter on your work desk, or remove any dead plants from your home or office, don’t even require any money to be spent! While some folks may want to have a professional practitioner assist with major renovations, most Feng Shui concepts and cures (another fancy word for remedies or solutions) can be implemented yourself.

5. Feng Shui can be a fun and easy

Who doesn’t love painting their rooms in an array of colors? Or decorating their living space with beautiful plants? When practicing Feng Shui, one may feel “doom and gloom” when inundated with a bunch of “do nots” or “be careful” remarks. I personally found it difficult to get my head wrapped around the overwhelming amount of information out there about Feng Shui, that it actually made me stressed out. It doesn’t have to be this way and I would like to change this for others. What I learned is to just have fun with Feng Shui and practice it like I do with any other hobbies, a piece at a time. Remember you have more control over your circumstances and your environment by understanding the concepts of Feng Shui. The important thing is to be patient. Feng Shui won’t change your life overnight, but it will make your living situation more comfortable and better overtime.