QUESTION:
"This sounds a bit naughty....BUT What is a power spot and where would I find it in the bedroom?
Oz and I loved your show on Friday and my "yeah-but" about putting the office in the dining room is that the resale value of the home would go down if this sweet couple tried to sell the home without a formal dining room. You are helping to stretch me out of my comfort zone about what a home is about and how it is a place to serve, comfort and support people, not the other way around." -- Marianne
STEPHANIE: Marianne, this is why I love this forum -- because in a half-hour show we can only cover so much information. But here we can go much deeper. And I'm sure lots of people have the same exact question about removing the dining room.
Let's start with that juicy question. First, regarding the resale value of the house. I completely hear that as a valid issue. Here's my concern about that.... So often we get worried about doing the right thing for down-the-road and we don't end up living fully in the now. We can end up worrying so much about what will happen when we sell a house (which could possibly be decades away) that we miss out on the opportunity to express ourselves, be creative, and fulfill our deepest life goals in this moment. Now, if the family said they were moving in 2 months, I might have gone a different approach, but in this situation, they had every plan on staying in this home. If they were to sell the home, this would be very easy to re-stage and a simple move of furniture could have that room back to it's original layout in one day, especially since it wasn't anything more permanent like a kitchen. Ever situation is unique of course -- in this particular situation, I can't imagine this would affect their resale value.
I have a good friend who did just this. He moved into his home years ago and really made it his - he painted unusual colors, but colors that inspired him immensely. He used his entire home to support his life. During the years he lived there he thrived, and met his soul mate - things honestly couldn't be better for him. But if he would have played it safe, and his home hadn't become the playful, optimistic oasis that it was, I'm not sure if things would be as good today. When he sold his house recently, I almost think that people could literally feel the love and joy in his home, and they wanted a bit of that good feeling. He was in a market where lots of comperable houses were sitting unsold, but his sold quite quickly. So you just never really quite know how life will turn out, but living fully in the moment simply can't hurt!
It boils down to thinking outside the box, breaking the rules that have come before us, asking ourselves from a deep place "what do I long to do?", and making sure our homes support us, instead of us supporting the home.
Also, my biggest concern was to address the fact that this couple was struggling financially and that Karen was feeling extremely unfulfilled in her career. If we didn't address those issues -- getting some abundant energy swirling around in that unused wealth corner, as well as urging Karen to fulfill her own career path -- then they very well might have needed to sell that house sooner than they'd hope!
If Karen's dream is to coach women and start a home business (I realize these details didn't make it into the show), then it was vital that her home speak to these dreams. To have a room, especially on the main floor, go unused is similar to not using your left leg over time. The ramifications of stagnant energy are evident. Since they never used the dining room it would be extremely easy for this family to simply pull out some card tables and have a warm, welcoming gathering. Their home was quite big, with plenty of space to do this in their kitchen and living room, which already had a full dining table and chairs. Remember, the joy that comes from gatherings with friends and family is about the love that is shared between people, and can happen anywhere there is joy.
Often times we do things just because we haven't thought NOT to do them any longer. We get passed down ideas of how we should live by our ancestors. I see this all the time... We have a belief that we should all have a dining room, whether it serves our lifestyle and goals or not. More and more, people are letting go of their formal dining rooms because of this, and more and more home offices are actually taking their place. It's an individual matter, one only YOU can answer. If you use your dining room and love it, by all means you should keep it! It's serving you and bringing you and your guest's joy. But if there's a way the space could serve your life better, then that's something to consider...
What we most want to focus on is making sure that the people living IN the home are well supported and inspired. When they are truly happy and fulfilled in their lives, they will naturally become better friends, better spouses, etc. Then when they welcome people into their home, they will be an inspiration to those that come in contact with them, instead of putting the guests' needs before the family's own happiness and fulfillment. The ripple effect on the planet if just one family changes their lives and becomes more joyful could be staggering. They will teach abundance & love simply by their example. Because of this redesign, Karen is coaching women and making a difference in so many, many people's lives - that to me is far better than having a pretty, yet unused, dining room.
POWER SPOTS:
Let me know if this clarifies power spots for you a bit more....
Keep in mind, in the string of evolution, we're not really that far removed from cave men. Modern life has happened quite rapidly and we still have primitive instincts that are in good working order. One of them is the natural desire to feel safe and protected. When we have our back's to an activity, we feel vulnerable. We can't see who's approaching, whether they're friend or foe, and have no reaction time if some one or some thing was about to attack us. Now granted, that rarely happens in one's family room, but the instinct is still there.
As often as possible, and especially with the larger pieces of furniture, we like to be facing the entrance or main expanse of the room. This is the location I would call the "power spot", or the location farthest and opposite the entrance into a space, since you feel most in command of what's in front of you and therefore feel more empowered. Not every piece of furniture can sit that way I realize, but try to make sure your desk, bed, sofa, and if possible, your stove, can give you a view into the room. If this isn't possible, try using mirrors (or a painting hung wth reflective glass, etc.) that will allow you to see behind you.
I hope that helps! Feel free to ask more questions if you'd like more clarification!
My thanks goes to Marianne for her amazing questions - thank you for taking the time to ask!!!
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