CREATING MORE SPACE IN LIFE By Kater Leatherman In these changing times, it seems as though having enough space is fast becoming a rare commodity. We just don’t seem to have enough of it. When life feels like a juggling act of obligations, to-do lists and pressure to keep up, one has to wonder what is happening. One of the biggest robbers of space is the onslaught of technology. What is supposed to save time actually compels us to cram more in. Another culprit is filling the space in our minds with stuff like projections, expectations, fear and negative thinking. To illustrate the benefit of having space, take a print ad. Have you ever noticed that the ones with the most white space are also the most effective? The same goes for the rare television commercial that uses no sound. Why? Because less is more. And, how about our home? Letting go of clutter energetically opens up valuable space and makes us feel lighter. So, whenever and wherever you can, space is worth the time it takes to carve out because it increases efficiency, reduces stress significantly and allows us to enjoy life more. Here are eight ways to create more space: 1. Set priorities to create more time. Do what’s most important to you. Let go of guilt because you’re not doing enough. Drop self-imposed obligations and remember that not all will get done. 2. Center your attention on the here and now. Focusing on the past or leaning into the future crowds precious mental, emotional and spiritual space. 3. Maintain a clutter-free home environment. Let go of anything that is high maintenance, comes with painful memories, or is useless, outdated or broken. 4. Heal your past by dealing with trigger reactions as they come up in the present time. Living with unresolved emotions will eventually manifest in some form of dis-ease in the body. 5. Saying no to others is saying yes to yourself. Tackle tolerations, i.e., people, places and situations that siphon your energy. 6. Meditate to practice expanding the spaces between your thoughts. This connects you to yourself and will help curb mental chatter. 7. Create physical space in your body through stretching which releases stress, tension and tightness. 8. To encourage spontaneity, leave some white space on your calendar. Kater Leatherman teaches yoga and is a home stager, professional organizer and space solutions expert. Her book, “MOVING ON: One Woman’s Quest to Create S P A C E for Change, is available for purchase at www.katerleatherman.com