Finding your path in life: how feng shui has shifted our careers Q&A with Laura and Anjie
How has your business and work life changed since you started practicing feng shui?
Laura:
I knew I wanted to add more mindfulness and intention to my design work. At first, I started slowly: I made feng shui an add-on to my current portfolio of client services. But over the years it has become my single focus. Flash forward: my business is now almost exclusively feng shui consulting and design. That may not have been my original intention, but that was where the universe took me.
What was your biggest challenge when you decided to shift career paths?
Anjie:
In the first few years of my business I was also freelancing and doing other part-time gigs. I had to make a decision. I was exhausted and was doing a disservice to both my freelance gig and my own clients, but most importantly to myself. I was in fear mode.
I was scared to let go of the freelance gig, because it was security. And I was terrified to go 100% on my own. A business coach asked me, what’s the worst thing that could happen if I let go of the freelance project? I contemplated this. The worst thing that could happen if I quit the freelance job is... I may not receive enough work and clients… and then I would have to find a freelance job.
I also carefully considered my history. I could always find work if I needed it. So... I realized I was living my worst-case scenario out of fear. The next day I gave notice to the freelance job (they asked for six weeks of course!) It was a huge learning experience to see how I was holding my life back out of fear and ignorance. And not that everyone should quit their day job, but really take an honest look at what the fears are.
As you look back down your career path, what is one thing you are happy that you did?
Laura:
I am so happy I decided to study this practice deeply with excellent teachers and mentors. I had been practicing feng shui on and off since the early 90’s, and about 15 years ago I decided to train more formally, to hone my skills and channel all that raw intuition. So, I studied. A lot. The last piece of the puzzle was when I joined the BTB Masters program in NYC. It was a big investment both energetically and financially, but it was worth it! Feng shui is a life-long practice, and I continue to study with my mentors (Steven Post, Rosalie Prinzivalli, Katherine Metz and Barry Gordon) to this day.
What are three things you learned when you shifted your career path?
Anjie:
I would say the following:
- That I could do something that created joy for myself and others
- That the universe had more in mind for me than I could have ever imagined
- Feng shui, meditation and my teachers were the greatest gifts that this world has to offer me
What helped you to decide that it was the right time to shift careers and focus on feng shui?
Anjie:
The philosophy deeply connects to me on a heart level. Feng shui opened my heart and mind. It makes my heart sing and I know in my heart that it’s the right path for me.
“It's hard to know whether to laugh or to cry at the human predicament. Here we are with so much wisdom and tenderness, and—without even knowing it—we cover it over to protect ourselves from insecurity. Although we have the potential to experience the freedom of a butterfly, we mysteriously prefer the small and fearful cocoon of ego.”
- Pema Chodron