I have a cheap, if not free, way to shift your energy around, y’all.

I was so excited to share these tips with you that I created this video diary before I could brush my teeth, comb my hair and change my clothes (sorry for the eye crisps, raspy voice and robe attire).

Life before the coronavirus was like a merry-go-round with an ever-increasing centrifugal force — moment by moment — work, social events, travel and more work and dream projects. We were all spinning around like crazy.

Then, six months ago (I still can’t believe it’s been half-a-year), the COVID-19 pandemic’s pause forced us to stop abruptly and take stock of what really matters. Most of us have become discombobulated on a personal, professional and spiritual level. I can honestly say I experienced loss on all the aforementioned levels and am still grieving.

Then more pandemonium ensued: #BLM #AttacksOnAsians #Wildfires #CrazyWeather #ExtremeHeat #Politics #RBG…. Ahhhh, #2020 stop it already!

I’ve never experienced such highs and low lows in such a short period of time. So how do you cope?

For me, whenever I’m feeling down, unmotivated and despondent, I meet up with my dear friends to eat or hang out at a coffee shop. I also like to take walks and spend time staring into trees, the bay waters or blue skies… and take deep breaths.

COVID + wildfires have taken much of those simple joys away, too.

While cooped up under smoky California skies, I decided to move my furniture around. If you’ve been following me on Instagram @ToanLamTV, you’ve seen me talk about how rearranging a room also moves your energy around. It truly lifts and shifts your mood and spirit.

TRY IT.

While I have vlogged about the importance of shifting your home space, I haven’t discussed a tip that will motivate you to move yo’ stuff around mentally, physically and spiritually. Here are some my #ToanTricks:

Take Action

Move your stuff around. It shifts your energy, inspires creativity and allows for new opportunities, energy and love to come through.

I’ve lived in this Edwardian shotgun San Francisco apartment for more than 13 years, so I thought I was a ninja Tetris pro at arranging rooms. But I am so proud to share that I configured my furniture in a way that I have never done before. Here’s a pic of my before and after. Please share yours. Then share your pic with us and don’t forget to tag us at @toanlamtv & @goinspirego.

Xx
Toan

The post Motivation to Move Your Energy Inside and Out appeared first on Go Inspire Go.

If your home makes you sad, mad, confused or frustrated, it’s time to adjust, or break up, with it. I know it’s not easy getting up and moving out — that’s not what I’m suggesting, especially in dense, big cities where the rental markets are as hard to catch as that soulmate. But if the chemistry and energy aren’t working, it’s time to mix things up.

Ask any good interior designer — this is the truth — the relationship you have with the place you call home is like dating. You gotta keep trying new things until it feels right.

OK, I’m going to share a secret most people won’t tell you. Recently, Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, the creator of Apartment Therapy, a.k.a. “Apartment Therapist” and I talked about how emotionally connected we are to our homes. Yes, YOUR emotions are deeply tied to your place. It makes sense, the ups and downs of your partner or housemate and memories — all that energy is confined within these walls.

So are you ready to take action so that you have a healthier relationship with your pad? I’ll walk you through this tough decision:

Take Action

To start, here are three questions to help you decide if your relationship with your home is healthy:

1. Does it serve your needs?

Just like any good partner, he/she should tend to your needs. I’m not talking about the overbearing, high-maintenance boo. I mean, does your house function in a way that it’s productive to what you need to do on a daily basis?

If you need to work at home, do you have a designated space to be productive? If the answer is no, take action. Clear out space to put a desk. If you already have a desk, declutter it. If you like to entertain and you don’t have enough seating, get some poufs or folding chairs.

2. Does it inspire you and make you want to nest?

I once heard Oprah’s design darling Nate Berkus say, “Your home should rise to meet you.” I will add, “It should rise to meet your best self.” Your home is your sanctuary, so you should feel comfortable and able to relax at home. If not, why? If it’s dusty and cluttered, chances are there is stuck energy in your place and in your life. You know when you’re feeling weighed down with too much stuff or if there are too many dust bunnies kissing your feet. So, take action. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, start small, clear out the clutter, give one thing away a day. If you need to clean, start with one room a day.

3. Does it make your heart happy?

Only you know if you’re comfortable in your place or if you’d rather be out and about and hate coming home. If you are the latter, then sit in the room for 10-15 minutes and pay attention to what you’re feeling. If you’re feeling swallowed by stuff, consider breaking up and giving away things you don’t use or that don’t spark joy. The key here is to be aware and present to what you’re feeling — then take action! I know we are creatures of habit, so it’s easy to be stuck in the doldrums of what we are used to. But start with baby steps and before you know it, you’ll have a happy, productive, beautiful relationship with your place.

I bet if you paid attention to how you’re feeling and address it — remember, baby steps — you and your place will live in harmony and love.

If you learned something new or if you want help with a design issue, hit me up in the comments below. Sharing is caring, so hit that follow button and share this with your peeps.

Onward,
Toan

Follow me: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram.

The post Breaking Up With Your Place appeared first on Go Inspire Go.

But before you say goodbye to that item that doesn’t spark tingly, emotional excitement, there’s one question your belongings and I are begging you to ask. If you’re being true to yourself when answering, it may set off a spiritual sparkle too:

Take Action

Sit still, take some deep breaths and ask, “How does this room (or space) make me feel?” Do you feel swallowed by stuff? Or if you’re a minimalist and want some warmth in a room, take a moment to feel the feeling — instead of thinking about it.

Before you do anything, it’s important to understand the kind of person you are. Are you “warm” or “cool”? Act accordingly. Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, author of my favorite design books, “Apartment Therapy,” believes these two types best describe people’s approaches to their living environment.

He explains, “You typically hear about warm people. These are the ones who worry about clutter and organizing and who tend to obsess much more about their homes. They are often gregarious, friendly and generous. Warm people are good hosts but are bad with cleaning and clutter. They are challenged by excessiveness and attachment to people and things.

“Cool people use their homes less and often find them an inconvenience. They want them to be comfortable but keep them as low-maintenance as possible. Efficient by nature, cool people are often sharp, smart and independent. Cool people are good guests, but they are not great at making things comfortable. Cool people are great at avoiding clutter. At home, they are not do-it-yourselfers, and they feel clumsy. They are challenged by not feeling attached enough to people and things.”

If you’re “warm,” consider purging. If you’re “cool,” consider carefully selecting one or a few things that bring warmth to your home.

Extra Extra

Whether you’re warm or cool, I’m not going lie, parting with or adding on things for your home can be equally difficult. Get back up. Seek input from a friend. If you’re a cool person, get a warm person to help pick out a rug or throw that makes your place a little more cozy.

Happy purging or purchasing! I’d love to know what your initial gut instinct is when you walk into each room in your home. Now the big question is, what will you do to change your place so you feel lifted and shifted by this change? Remember, when you change your physical space, you also change your internal place.

If there are questions or design solutions that I could help you with, hit me up on social and please share with your design and design-challenged friends.

Onward,
Toan

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The post One Question to Ask Yourself Before Tidying appeared first on Go Inspire Go.