Wabi Sabi, an ancient Chinese philosophy adapted by the Japanese and practiced by many Westerners today, presents an alternative way of living more than a way of decorating your home. However, you can adapt your interior and landscape design using Wabi Sabi principles for happiness.

"Wabi Sabi" (pronounced "wah-bee sah-bee") was formalized as the Zen Buddhism tea ceremony evolved. Zen Buddhism originated in India, traveled through China in the 6th Century, and to Japan in the 12th century. The ancient wisdom of Wabi Sabi practitioners helps today's busy home makers with interesting interior design ideas. Wabi Sabi interior design followers learn to relax, take time appreciate the beauty and simplicity of natural design, and to know that their home doesn't need perfection to bring joy, which compares to our research findings in residential Design Psychology.

Before you relate Wabi Sabi to Shabby Chic style, understand that the Wabi Sabi way of life starts with simplicity, whereas Shabby Chic interiors often fill spaces with a lot of interesting finds, which can end up with too much to care for and eye clutter, according to Design Psychology principles. This lesson of too much design detail, which stops the eye and makes you feel overwhelmed, became apparent to us when we moved from our expansive Victorian home into a smaller house and had to choose the more important furnishings from the treasures discovered over ten years of collecting, both in antique and thrift stores.

If you want to makeover your home for joyous living, consider Wabi Sabi restraints along with Design Psychology principles:

Simplify your life and home design.
When you choose the best from your treasures, keep those accessories that support positive memories, regardless of monetary value.

Take pleasure from natural beauty.
Choose design details with colors, patterns, and textures similar to those found in nature, which feel harmonious to people because they connect us to the earth.

Appreciate your home and furnishings, no matter how imperfect.
When you love your home, this love shines throughout and makes it easier for you to clean and maintain. Your positive attitude brings you encouragement to find beauty all around, inspiring fresh ideas for home makeover projects.

Wabi Sabi beliefs include the principles of incomplete and impermanent designs, which parallel the Design Psychology principle that your home needs to grow and change, to support your changing lifestyle and emotional needs.

In contrast to Wabi Sabi's use of modest and humble furnishings, Design Psychology appreciates the inherent beauty in all things. Enjoy the fruits of your hard work and don't feel guilty when mixing the humble with quality showpieces. I love my Italian Millifiore glass lamps sitting next to my Mexican Rose rock.

Like any good design theory, Wabi Sabi finds beauty in the unconventional. Your originality in design makes your home unique. Design Psychology practice avoids the use of furniture "groups" and prefers unique, individual pieces offering comfort. If you were tempted by a furniture set, such as matching sofa, love seat, and the three matching tables, don't worry; just know that additional pieces don't need to match perfectly and that blending styles and finishes makes unconventional, unique spaces.

Design Psychology supports fearless home makeovers, bold with colors to lend emotional support yet restrained, without overly-filled rooms, to provide backgrounds for people and harmonious living.

Similar to the Wabi Sabi tea ceremony, practice daily rituals in your home. Create a home to celebrate life, one full of tranquility and beauty. Choose your home interior design style to best support your happiness.

Copyright ? 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

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Remember the times when you knew you should practice your drums, but just didn't feel like messing with it? It's at those times you lacked focus.

There was a time when I had a studio session to attend to lay down some drum tracks and I simply was not in the mood at all. Hey, I was tired! It was Friday afternoon, it was a long, hard week, and I was done! While driving to the studio that day my mind was consumed with pretty much just wanting to watch television.

Anyway, I remember driving up to the drum studio and thinking, "Man, I don't want to be doing this right now." But, I decided I better get focused on my drumming because time is money in the studio. If you have ever bought studio time you know what I mean.

Well, on the way to the drum studio I began thinking about the songs I was about to lay down the drum tracks for. I also began thinking about the fact that my drum tracks will be permanent. People will hear them and I want my tracks to be as close to perfection as I can get them. I knew I had to somehow get focused and get in the mood - right NOW!

So many people will use any excuse for not doing something because they are simply not in the mood. When it comes to responsibility, whether a person is in the mood or not, it doesn't matter. If you have booked studio drum time and paid good money for it you better be in the mood, or at least get in the mood!

The best way I have found to change my mood at any given time about something is to simply begin thinking in a different manner. Feelings follow thoughts, and given that fact, I basically just changed my thinking.

I decided to clear my mind of all the noise in my head and only mentally listen to the songs I was laying drum tracks for. I tapped on my steering wheel as I drove along, and honestly, it wasn't even just a few short minutes until I was starting to "feel it." By the time I arrived at the drum studio I was more than ready to play my drums.

The next time you have an appointment with your drum set, but just don't feel like drumming, you are not focused. Just know you can change your focus at any given time. Because your feelings follow your thoughts, you can change your thinking and automatically change your mood.

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