Accessing the Energy of Colour

Every now and then, people and ideas cross our path that are similar and compatible but not necessarily the same as our own beliefs. 

On my journey exploring whether to become an Image Consultant, I also explored the world of Feng Shui.  As someone who likes clear and clutter free, but is a natural hoarder trained with consummate post-war values, this little book was a godsend.  Scroll to the bottom of the link and you’ll find a connection to the audio version so you don’t have to further clutter your bookshelves!  

You don’t have to subscribe to the beliefs of Feng Shui to get value from this book – at every page turn, it felt like Karen Kingston had been looking over my shoulder!   How did she know about the box of ‘useful things’ under my desk, the broken bits and pieces that might ‘come in handy’ being stored in the cupboard?  So began my lifelong journey with clutter clearing and considering the impact of items on my energies.

This moved further into choosing things for the positive energies they bring which, with my training, extended into considering the energies of Colour and the impact they have on us.  For me, Colour is the root of everything, wearing and surrounding myself with my Colours feels good; from an alternative perspective, why do I feel on some days that I need a certain Colour? 

Recently, instead of being at the mercy of the clothing and choosing things that suit me, I’ve started experimenting with actively choosing things to wear from my wardrobe that will help me create the energy I want for the day.  

I’ve been working with my friend Vanessa Edwards, Feng Shui Consultant and Peace Ambassador, on her original list, incorporating the Energy of Colours and the benefits.

This coincides with a recent blog entry from Sue Donnelly, an independent consultant friend who specialises in Fashion Feng Shui and talks of intuitive dressing for health and energy….hey, that’s what I’ve been doing!  Sue’s blog provides another perspective on using Colour for positive coming from the Chakras.   

At House of Colour we believe that Colour is the start of everything around our appearance.  The right Style in the wrong Colour will not be as effective as the right Colour in the wrong Style because the first thing people look at is your face, where Colour has more impact.  Better still to identify your best Colours and combine them with your best Styles because everyone has a blue, a red, a yellow, a pink, a grey, – the question is, which shade of each Colour is the one which best complements your skin tone as each season has plenty of examples of light, dark and bright Colours?  So you can do exactly that – actively choose your Colours for the energy they provide and you want to invite into your life.

Over the coming months I’ll be working through these Colours – if you have anything to add, interesting anecdotes or stories, please email me at blog@houseofcolourhq.com.  I’ve never done this before so it will be fun trying something new! 

How Many Hats Do You Wear?

There are periods in life when balls get dropped, some are more visible than others, and the regular readers among you have commented when it gets a bit quiet on the blog front – feel free to feedback any time - your views are always welcome!

 

My excuse is much the same as many - ‘too busy’, although given that some people manage to organise multi-million pound businesses and their families, it must be that my support structures are not sufficient or my organisational habits not up to scratch, as every now and then I drop a ball or two!

When your life is full to the brim, how many hats can you wear at once and who can you bring in to help you with a ‘hat’ which is maybe not your area of expertise?  

 

I’ve been heard to say that I can be 3 things, wife, mother and career woman.  But is that true?  Is it possible to do more than one thing at a time? 

 

The world of technology is clear that there is no such thing as multi-tasking – the concept of multi-tasking is merely an illusion created by the processors working so fast or in parallel that they appear to be able to do more than one thing at a time – a bit like an effective parent! 

But, when the systems get overloaded, the computer crashes!  When I try to take on more than my own capacity, something drops and nothing seems to get done effectively.   Bring in the cavalry – back up required!  This Blog gives some good ideas for reducing the number of hats you may be trying to juggle! Whether this is asking for help from a friend, hiring a PA, a team of staff or even outsourcing to a company, it’s possible, BUT a certain amount of organisation is required to get to that point!

Just as order and structure supports me in work, so it does in my home - everything in its place and a place for everything’ - thus, frustrations mount as the clutter increases with expanding work, school activities, birthday parties and the Christmas influx!  All the ‘places’ are full and ‘things’ start to pile up in the corners. 

Working mostly from home means my space needs to be organised and (subject to the limitations of having young children) relatively tidy; I walk around the ‘clutter’ and TRY to ignore it but notice how distracting it is.  I say ‘try’ because in reality mess has an adverse effect on me; tidiness leaves me feeling relaxed and able to breathe. 

But it’s more than tidiness - at a basic level, the areas of my home need to support ME, i.e. do the right job in the right way.

At House of Colour, we work to identify that your clothes do the right job in the right way, supporting you in your lifestyle.   Enter Rannveig (pronounced Ranvay), of Anna Stone Design, an interior designer who works with ‘space’.  Rannveig listened to what I was trying to achieve and my frustrations with it not seeming to come together.  Trained, professional and objective, her fresh eye, made my space work better for me just as I’ve helped people’s wardrobes work better for them.

My problem was reduced to about a quarter of its original size by reorganising 3 out of 4 of my downstairs rooms - space and energy is apparent!

After an exhausting but enjoyable day spent rearranging sofas, chairs, tables, toy storage and pictures, my home felt completely different.  With only Rannveig’s time as my cost, I was well on the way to solving a problem that had seemed insurmountable because it drained me of energy and I always had too many things to do.   I’m used to being brought in as the ‘cavalry’ but today I’d been the recipient!  

And the best bit?  Nobody noticed!  I’d say that’s because it’s right, it works - just as when someone is wearing the colours and styles which suit and flatter them, people notice the person not the clothes.

‘Good is the enemy of Great’…

 'Good is the enemy of Great'.......

…is a well known Jim Collins quote From Good to Great - he states that:

 

‘Get rid of the good to make room for the great in your life’. 

I’ve noticed an ongoing theme this week:

Holidays are useful changes in energy which either cause a spate of activity before the deadline of leaving, or an injection of inspiration and enthusiasm after which a spot of spring cleaning is often initiated.

• My trusty swimming costume got left on holiday - it saved me finding a plastic bag to carry it in after using it during the day and flying home in the evening!  But this wasn’t the real reason, the Lycra was starting to go (Chlorine is the enemy of Lycra!) and I realised that I bought it when I was about ½ stone heavier, maybe not a lot, but on a 9½ stone frame, that’s 5%.  It didn’t make me feel great.
• As I started to unpack and return everything to their rightful homes, I recognised that at least 8 of my tops, trusty stalwarts, were no longer in regular use - past their best.  They didn’t make me feel great.
• I moved along to my dresses and realised a couple, while fine, never really worked. Each time I would overlook them in favour of another.  While I thought I liked them, they didn’t make me feel great.
• I’ve never quite bought into the handbag graveyard, preferring to have 5-6 covering the main colour/purpose points in my spectrum rather than one in every style or colour possible.  One, well loved and used, was past its best, another too floppy, unstructured, I could never find anything because it either fell to the bottom of the ‘bucket’ style, or the bag flopped over when I put it down and everything fell out.    They didn’t make me feel great.
• And so to shoes.  There comes a time in every shoe’s life when it has earned its retirement but at what point? Sometimes they’re looking past their best before date, other times, past the fashion trend, even though I like the colour or style and they still fit - 2 pairs gone.  They don’t make me feel great.

Are you noticing a theme here?

Working through accessories and jewellery, I removed 20+ items, resulting in a gentle feeling of relief at  the extra ‘breathing space’ in my wardrobe. 

 

By removing a small percentage of energy drainers I’ve freed up myself and the space in my wardrobe.  Even without any more clothes I immediately feel better because the ones left are the ones which make me feel great!

The mantra I’ve passed on to many friends and clients over the years is ‘if you don’t use it or love it, pass it on’.  Regardless of your feelings for 'it', if ‘it’ doesn’t love you, it won’t make you feel great and you deserve more than that! 

Why settle for ‘good’ when ‘great’ is available?

New Skills in Time Management

Arriving in London one Friday in October, as it was raining, cold and windy I realised that I had to get a taxi rather than my intended ‘healthier’ option of walking the mile from King’s Cross station.  I’d also forgotten about an important job but managed to cram it in 30 minutes before the course started!  Heading back to my hotel later it was dark, windy and drizzling and the Gray’s Inn Road was gridlocked!  

The course?  180 Degree Time Management, delivered by Tanya Dotson of Synergy People; I couldn't have created a more perfect analogy! 

I’ve recently posted about clutter clearing my office and how this crossed over into clutter clearing other areas of my life…. but how do I clutter clear my head, I’ve got so many things to juggle as a housewife, mother, Image Consultant, Director? 

There are many solutions available on the market, coaches and trainers abound and without doubt they all have something to offer.   The course marketing material talked about hangover habits from University, which made me sit up and listen.  I’d trained myself to leave things until the last minute, cram and work to the pressure of deadlines, no doubt getting an adrenaline hit along the way!  So 180 Degree Time Management was about identifying the WAY I work then turning it around to use my habits to support me more effectively.  A different approach…. no-one has ever trained me in this.   Tanya’s next course  will be held in London on 28^th February and 1^st March.

If you’re well organised but want to learn how to use your Microsoft Office tools better, to be more efficient and effective, why not try the Training Surgery.  As well as providing traditional classroom style training and a ‘surgery’ format, this organisation has also created an online learning platform called myolli – which allows you to take control of your learning.  You can do it in your own time, at your own pace.  By learning simple ways of using Microsoft Office more effectively, learners will gain back the time that they spend wondering how to do things and the time they spend when things don’t quite work as they wish.

Back in London, I emerged from the hotel ready for day 2, having chosen to spend several hours that night restructuring my diary and inbox (the magic ‘below 10’ was achieved J) I was met by clear roads, quiet (calm) streets, blue skies and sunshine…. There is hope!

Clear that Clutter!

I’ve done it again.  Many, many hours have been spent over the last two months clearing out clutter and I’m now gearing up for my second pass! 

Growing up on a farm the impact of my surroundings and the need for light and fresh air came home to me after I attended a London University!  So it’s no surprise that I’ve developed a keen interest in Feng Shui.  In my own language, this is about having a physical environment that works to support me in my life.   This includes being as mindful of the negative power of clutter as I am of the positive elements in my environment.

An interesting point that Karen Kingston makes in her book, Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui, is that the negative effect of clutter can be far more powerful than the positive energy of anything else.  Clutter clearing is contagious, having cleared my office, I moved to my wardrobe including my underwear!   Pareto’s principle of 80:20 suggests that 80% of our time we wear 20% of our clothes.  Having helped many clients over the years, I concur.   Fortunately, I’ve applied what I teach generally but some areas are creeping towards 60:40, most notably my underwear and socks!  Suffice to say I found it liberating only keeping the ones I wear regularly!   Our theory at House of Colour is that you’ll only wear something uncomfortable 3 times before overlooking it in favour of something else when choosing what to wear.  This is especially true of underwear!  So do yourself a favour, be honest - if in doubt, chuck it out! Or at least put it in a bag with today’s date on it – if in 12 months time you haven’t been into the bag, then it’s time to get rid of it… without taking a sneaky look at what’s inside!

My husband’s wardrobe didn’t survive completely unscathed but a cautionary word of advice here from Karen and myself – don’t try clearing other people’s clutter!  After a painful process several years ago, I’ve managed to keep on top of this and learnt how to work with my husband.  I am currently learning how to work with my children!  If you want more tips, read Chapter 14 of her book!

The contagion is spreading; several of my friends have reported that they’re starting to clutter clear as a result of me sharing my experiences!   And there are many charity shops who are able to recycle fabrics as well as clothes and are extremely grateful for anything that doesn’t make it past the EBay apathy!

The process:

1.       Prioritise:

             a.       Identify all the areas that hold clutter
             b.      Grade them on a scale of 1-10 by how much they annoy you
             c.       Grade them on a scale of how big or small they are
              d.      Start with the smallest areas that bug you the most to get the quick win

2.       Have boxes to sort the clutter into:

             a.       Fixing/mending
             b.      Cleaning
             c.    Returning  to their owners
             d.      Charity shop/Ebay .. but make sure it’s done within the week otherwise it becomes  
                      another source of clutter
             e.      Filing – to be deposited in the rightful places around your home – but don’t do it until
                      you’ve finished clearing otherwise you’ll get distracted
             f.       Throwing away

3.       Sorting / Filing:

             a.       When replacing your cleared belongings, file them according to function/purpose/
                      colour so that they are easily found
             b.    Keep all things visible.  Out of sight is out of mind and you’ll forget they exist if they’re
                      hidden in a corner of your wardrobe.
             c.    Lifestyle – recognise how you spend your time and keep your clothes in proportion to
                      this.  10 ball dresses are fine if you go to several each year!

 My confession?   I couldn’t do this on my own – I’ve (nearly) finished the job myself but I needed someone to help me break the backbone in the worst area – my office.   Your consultant is trained to help you clutter clear your wardrobe as a critical part of your Wardrobe Review service.  Consider what help you need….and cut yourself some slack. Clutter clearing is a draining process but it’s well worth the feeling of lightness, clarity and space at the end!

 

The Tale of Six Pink Cardigans

Is doing your own wardrobe review difficult?  If you're me, yes, which is why this is hard to write.

Maybe it isn't hard for you - maybe you’re one of those enviable people who can just say ‘no, I've had you for long enough, you're tired and out of fashion; bye.’  If so, then this blog is for your amusement only.  

Oh, before we even start, I’m assuming that everything in your wardrobe is in your correct Seasonal Colours - if not, that's the first question you should ask. 

 
My wardrobe’s ruthlessly organised with trousers, jackets, skirts together and so on, neutrals on the left and then a rainbow progression from red through to violet.  This may seem to border on the obsessive but when you have many clothes it makes sense to keep them organised.

The problem with this is duplication - when I switched over to my Summer wardrobe last week it was embarrassing to find that I have no less than 28 cardigans!

  
Now, I can cope with having 28 cardigans in theory, but worryingly a closer look revealed that I had six pink cardigans!
 
I’ll share with you the painful process of whittling them down to an acceptable number.

The first question I ask myself is‘Did I wear it last year?’ Yes to everything except the shell pink one and the Kettlewell short cascade.

• Did I enjoy wearing it? Yes, except the classic round neck. 

• Is it still looking good? They're all fine except the round neck, a bit flat, and the shocking pink looks a little tired. The round neck was new last season, a cheap £10 bargain - maybe not such a bargain after all?

• How many items in my wardrobe does it go with?  The shell pink goes with nearly everything, as does the coral wrap, the shocking pink goes with three things and the ugly sister is the classic round neck!

• Lastly, do I love it? I do love the silly waterfall sleeves on the shocking pink, I'm really fond of the Kettlewell short cascade and I'm prepared to love the shell pink crop. The round neck thing is boring and I'm happy to let it go!

So there we are. Six pink cardigans reduced to five - was it worth the effort?

Well, I’ve gained the space of one cardigan and, remember, I’m now going to carry out the same exercise with the rest of my wardrobe.

The point is that there’s nothing wrong in having lots of clothes as long as they all work hard for you, you enjoy wearing them and they all look great on you.  Oh, they also need to fit and be in good condition!

It’s worth going through this process at least once every six months - even House of Colour Consultants have the odd sub-standard item that needs weeding out – do you?!

 

Life’s lessons applied to your wardrobe

How many of these lessons can also apply to our wardrobes?

I’ve just paid £15 for a £1 portion of chips!

The nice man in the chip shop informed me, after I’d handed over my money, that the 50p I’d given him in the changes was worth £15!  Strangely enough he didn’t want to give it back to meL

• We don’t always realise the value of what we have in our wardrobes.   I’ve met many clients who’ve realised that items they already possess can be used differently, accessorised or altered and brought back to a useful working life again. 

I arrived home to find half of one of my plants had fallen off.  I’m fond of it, a faithful old friend that survives my neglect!  Having rectified the situation, it looks so much better for a significant pruning. If I take care of it properly there’s even a chance it will survive and thrive again.

• We may be fond of our wardrobes but just like plants, a serious prune every now and then is essential to maintain a long, healthy and useful life.  It may be that a whole section needs an overhaul or simply a bit of maintenance, care and attention will bring it back to life. 

My kitchen storage jar (containing chocolate drops) had mysteriously developed a chip.  It’s a mystery how others containing sultanas, raisins, flour and nuts don’t have the same inclination to jump off the shelf – maybe my two young boys can shed some light?  So I bought a replacement but unfortunately, my memory didn’t serve me well and I bought the wrong size…. then discovered I already had a replacement and could have saved my time and money.

• We often think we need something new but our memory of what we’re trying to replace isn’t quite accurate.  Not only that but there is often something already in our wardrobe that will do perfectly well, possibly with a bit of tweaking using accessories, if we only took a look.

All these lessons are useful practical tips that apply equally at times of economic recession or abundance.  Understanding how to inject a bit of colour, variety and interest into your wardrobe by starting with what’s already there has got to be worth a bit of time and attention – hasn’t it?

 

Holidays- a break from the Norm!

I’ve just had my first holiday in a VERY long time!  It’s not that I haven’t been away but somehow going abroad to a nice warm place, while you know those at home are bundled up against the cold, feels very different to holidaying at home.

For the first few days I do very little, despite including exercise clothing in my suitcase, it’s invariably day 5 before I feel inclined to use it!  It’s also about day 5 that my brain tires of ‘doing nothing’ and craves information - I start to read the paper, a book, a magazine and now, a new revelation.… talking books on the plane!  A pure delight to put on the headphones and lay back with my eyes closed as the dulcet tones lull me into an almost sleep!  

And so the pattern’s set for the first few days after returning home - I observe the world from a very different place. 

·         After a day in my office I realised that a trip to an air-conditioned gym wouldn’t be as  restorative as fresh air - 45 minute walk

·         While walking, consolidated the day’s activities - returned with my brain feeling much calmer

·         Saw an alternative way of organising my ever-increasing list of projects and tasks – a change is as good as a rest for injecting fresh energy!

·         Recognised that the air freshener I was given for Christmas is as refreshing as good old fashioned fresh air – windows opened, brain clearer

·         Ensured I had a lunch break, including a walk to revitalise for the afternoon.

·         Cleared 2 items from my wardrobe that have been unworn for over a year

·         Cleared 2 items from the children’s toys that haven’t been played with for over a year

None of this is a huge revelation, I’m guilty of getting stuck in ‘business as usual’ as the days run into months – but by shifting lots of little things by one small notch, the energy and performance of my day has shifted considerably and my ideas for what can be achieved are growing.

From desks to wardrobes, homes and offices, to cars and gardens - a change of perspective can only be healthy – I’m now planning my next holiday, another new concept, generally that gets done on the plane as I come in to land!