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Here’s a real-life story about a powerful Feng Shui adjustment that can help you make immediate and positive changes in your life. 

One of my recent clients – I’ll call her Elaine – was interested in having a Feng Shui consultation because she wanted to improve certain parts of her life.  Specifically she told me she was ceding too much control to other people, both personally and at work.  She wanted to regain control.

Elaine's home office was arranged so when she sat at her desk she faced the view out the window.   But this meant she faced away from the entrance to the room: she was literally turning her back on the energies – positive or negative – that entered her space. 

The Command Position
I advised her to turn her desk around to face the door so when she's working she’d be sitting in what Feng Shui calls the “Command Position”.  

The Command Position emerges from our instinctive need to have visible control of our environment. We humans are most comfortable when no one can sneak up on us or surprise us. 

A key Feng Shui concept, the Command Position gives you the greatest visual control over your space, putting you in a "power spot" so you can anticipate whatever might be coming through the door.  It provides an important metaphor for being in control of your world.

Elaine followed my advice and later told me that this simple change gave her an exhilarating feeling of “taking command” of her life.

The Command Position is one of the simplest, most powerful tools you can use in your space, and it's the same in any situation. Place the most important piece of furniture in every room to face the doorway, but not in a direct line with the door, to give yourself the widest possible view of the room.

Putting The Command Position To Work
Put this powerful tool to work right now in your living and working spaces. Here's how:

In your family and living rooms, put yourself in command by placing a comfortable chair or couch diagonally across the room from the entry.  It’s likely to become the most well-used seat in the room! 

In your bedroom, where you spend so much time and are most vulnerable, situate your bed to face the doorway, taking care that it doesn’t face it directly.

Finally, take control in your office by positioning your desk to face the doorway (have you ever seen a CEO whose desk faced away from the door?).  This is sometimes difficult in small offices, so if the Command Position isn’t possible use a small mirror to reflect the entry behind you. 

Take a look around and try out new room arrangements wherever it makes sense. You'll feel the difference immediately!

You'll find more information about key Feng Shui concepts on the Open Spaces Feng Shui blog.