These tips will help you harness this energy.

1. OPEN YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS The air inside your building is up to ten times more polluted than air outside. This is due to building practices that seal building against energy loss, and because of synthetic furnishings and carpets which are continually sending toxic vapors into your home.

Opening your doors and windows will bring more energy into your life as this is where energy enters your homes and rooms.

2. TAKE CARE OF YOUR PLANTS Now is a good time to feed them, dust them, shine their leaves and give them some love. Plants produce movement of air, which helps them remove toxins from your environment. They also produce water vapor which controls humidity.

3. CLEAN YOUR WINDOWS Often it’s not until sun shines on your windows that you can see just how dirty they've become. Create a clear view of your world.

4. BUY FRESH FLOWERS These will add brightness and vitality to your life. Make sure you replace them when they wilt.

I am definitely an introvert, and have set my life up so as to have a lot of time and space to myself. This is how I function best. I know what feeds my soul and I also know when I don’t do these things everything in my life is affected.

Sometimes I need a reminder of importance of these things.

During a visit to New Zealand recently, I had occasion to stay with a family member who was so excited to see me, she wanted to spend lots of time with me and include me in every cup of tea. She was being a good hostess – she is also an extrovert. So, where she gained energy I was fast losing it. I did have some space for myself, but not enough. I assumed that a week like this was fine. I also didn’t fully unpack my suitcase, partly because there wasn’t anywhere to put everything, but also, I thought – it’s only for a few days.

I know effect of being surrounded by clutter, and I know I need lots of space – physical and emotional. I know effect of tolerating things that bug me. I also know that sometimes in past it has seemed like too much trouble to act on my needs.

One of big things I learned is that it DOES matter. Even temporary situations affect me. I learned there is no room for unconsciousness around my environment – there is no place to hide. I learned I need to respect my being an introvert. It’s part of what makes me unique. It’s part of how I express myself and give myself to others. And when I don’t respect this aspect of myself, part of me shuts down and everyone misses out.

When I look back on my time in New Zealand, visit that was most successful was with a friend who is an author and also an introvert. He made sure he had time to himself, which also gave me space.

I eventually took care of my needs by finding a Bed and Breakfast to stay in for my last week. With great good fortune owner was going out of town, so I had her whole, huge, sunny house to myself. I unpacked my suitcase, made my room inviting, and so created an environment that supported me. Everything looked different from this place, and from there it was a lot easier to create a balance between visiting and quiet time.