Rearranging the Furniture Compulsion

Originally posted by Spiramirabilis
reply to post by seagrass

 

and the rooms keep getting smaller -

I wonder why?

:-)

I read in a Feng Shui book about how if the room is supposed to have a certain color there in that location, you could paint the walls underneath that color... My Fengy must be really confused...

I do think the whole idea of why people move things/arrange things is interesting

but, it really makes me wonder if it's about more than compulsive behavior, neurosis, personal preference - or even just boredom

Psychology of Space
In psychology - The way in which space is perceived is an area which psychologists first began to study in the middle of the 19th century, and it is now thought by those concerned with such studies to be a distinct branch within psychology. Psychologists analyzing the perception of space are concerned with how recognition of an object's physical appearance or its interactions are perceived.

Other, more specialized topics studied include amodal perception and object permanence. The perception of surroundings is important due to its necessary relevance to survival, especially with regards to hunting and self preservation as well as simply one's idea of personal space.

en.wikipedia.org...

Psychogeography was defined in 1955 by Guy Debord as the "the study of the precise laws and specific effects of the geographical environment, consciously organized or not, on the emotions and behavior of individuals.

en.wikipedia.org...

The term proxemics was introduced by anthropologist Edward T. Hall in 1966 to describe set measurable distances between people as they interact.[1] The effects of proxemics, according to Hall, can be summarized by the following loose rule:

Like gravity, the influence of two bodies on each other is inversely proportional not only to the square of their distance but possibly even the cube of the distance between them.

en.wikipedia.org...

Originally posted by Tadarida
That's when it's time to de-clutter and throw some things out! That's my advice! It will help your brain get decluttered too... like a mental tune up or like defragging your computer!

[edit on 6/3/2009 by Tadarida]

yes. i equate physical (material) clutter with psychological clutter. a little bit is normal, more is unhealthy.

i move my furniture around every3-4 months or so. i am an artist by trade, but can't say if rearranging the living room has anything to do with creativity. maybe.

Wow, I know that rearranging the furniture is irritating to some people, but to get banned over it is a little over reactive.

reply to post by seagrass


:-)

was thinking the same thing

I don't know which mod escorted them off the premises -

and I'm sure it's just not done - but, I'd give just about anything to know what they said

just a hint even?

Originally posted by PrisonerOfSociety
reply to post by Hazelnut

 

May i conduct a quick thought experiment...

If you have 10 CD's in the corner of the room and you line them up into a neat pile and leave the room. Someone else enters the room and re-arranges them, perhaps even putting some CD's onto a coffee table, you would notice this and feel the need to put them back in their original order.

That's the physical realm.

Now what if i took the same CD's and started to splice 'n dice the tracks into different play-lists; if you noticed this new mash-up, would you feel the need to re-order the tracks?

That's the digital, non-physical realm.

I'm just curious to know how OCD manifests in the real World with furniture et al.

To answer your thought experiment honestly, I would put the CDs back where they belong in the physical realm. Interestingly though I would not even think to reorder a digital mix of the same CDs. What does that say about me? That the non-physical realm is not in my control? I dunno

Originally posted by seagrass
You know? I think if I lived in a forest, I would still rearrange the sticks and leaves....come to think of it... I have even rearranged my yard, the rocks, the plants etc...

[edit on 3-6-2009 by seagrass]

You cracked me up with that one! My husband laughs at me because I rearranged the rose bushes and perennials last year. In my opinion, anything that is not nailed down is subject to relocation. LOL My excuse is that there are better growing conditions over there. But I'm a novice gardener, learning as I go. Some plants don't like being moved, some are happier in their "new" location.

I've got a backyard that is hilly and uneven. I spent all day one day trying to find the best place for the hammock swing. To make a long story short, the swing ended up right in the place it started to begin with. I didn't accomplish a thing, except to eliminate any possibility whatsoever that there might be a better location. Oh! And to make the neighbors go, hmmmmmm.

Originally posted by seagrass
I don't really hord knick knacks, they are usually out there to see, but I get tired of certain ones and put them away for a while. Holidays are nice because you get to add some flair for a while and then put it away.
Color affects me so I get tired of one and a new color makes me feel different. I can have a "new favorite color" and so I want to paint the whole house that color. Or it just is tiresome looking at it after a while. White is worse though.

It sounds to me like you are very creative and sensitive to your surroundings. Color does affect us doesn't it? And white walls are so uncomfortable...but white trim looks good against colored walls. I like that you have the energy and ambition to repaint. It says something about your personality. You are willing to do whatever it takes to bring peace and comfort to your surroundings. I think that is a good thing.

Originally posted by Tayesin
reply to post by Hazelnut

 

The compulsion is more about the need for change in our life, specifically the need for inner change, the release of suppressed issues and feelings, etc.

Because most people cannot or will not seek out and find methods that help to release these issues/burdens, we use the nervous energy of it to make some change... any change... to release that energy we feel so strongly and the easiest way to release is to move furniture then get the feelgood thing happening for a short time.

An old saying quotes that our home and how it is kept is a reflection of ourselves. Some people can gladly avoid and live in squallor, where the mess becomes invisible to them as they search for an external thing or person to help change the life experience. So to for the compulsion to move the household furniture.

Tayesin, how very astute of you. Either you are psychic or just very clever (or both). My home is neat and tidy, orderly and clean as a whistle. A place for everything and everything in its place.

I do have the need to release stagnant emotional energy but never thought that had anything to do with furniture rearranging. I assumed that I do it because that was what my mother did and I was just following along with that 'norm'. But, sadly it seems I'm the only one of us kids who does it.

I'm a very organized person and try to be an efficiency expert in all things. I try to find the best, most efficient, practical way to do almost everything. It can get overwhelming at times when the people around me would rather be disorganized and messy. Not just with surroundings either. Its a thought process that plays out in the physical realm too.

I'm imaginative and thoughtful but not artistic in any way. I can wrangle words pretty well sometimes. But my only real talent is empathising with other people who have deep emotional turmoil. I feel for and defend people who are being suppressed or degraded by others. I'm a friend of the underdog.

Moving furniture around may well be as you say. The need to manage repressed emotional energy. Interesting.

Originally posted by Hazelnut

Originally posted by PrisonerOfSociety
reply to post by Hazelnut

 

May i conduct a quick thought experiment...

If you have 10 CD's in the corner of the room and you line them up into a neat pile and leave the room. Someone else enters the room and re-arranges them, perhaps even putting some CD's onto a coffee table, you would notice this and feel the need to put them back in their original order.

That's the physical realm.

Now what if i took the same CD's and started to splice 'n dice the tracks into different play-lists; if you noticed this new mash-up, would you feel the need to re-order the tracks?

That's the digital, non-physical realm.

I'm just curious to know how OCD manifests in the real World with furniture et al.

To answer your thought experiment honestly, I would put the CDs back where they belong in the physical realm. Interestingly though I would not even think to reorder a digital mix of the same CDs. What does that say about me? That the non-physical realm is not in my control? I dunno

lmao... I have exactly two places (one more that is questionable) in which I can place my hammock... and I would make a new playlist.. I like mixing up my tracks too.
I have moved my CDs so many times but usually only because I had moved the stereo as well.
A CD on the table would be a curiosity to me.... I would definitely notice it.. and most likely put it back.. but not necessarily in an order. But if I was the one who put it there, it can stay for a little while.... I am not an organized person by some standards in fact, I must unorganize what I have organized. That is the thing that bothers me because then I can't find it. I like clean and I like chaos. Both.

[edit on 5-6-2009 by seagrass]

Originally posted by Hazelnut

Originally posted by seagrass
I don't really hord knick knacks, they are usually out there to see, but I get tired of certain ones and put them away for a while. Holidays are nice because you get to add some flair for a while and then put it away.
Color affects me so I get tired of one and a new color makes me feel different. I can have a "new favorite color" and so I want to paint the whole house that color. Or it just is tiresome looking at it after a while. White is worse though.

It sounds to me like you are very creative and sensitive to your surroundings. Color does affect us doesn't it? And white walls are so uncomfortable...but white trim looks good against colored walls. I like that you have the energy and ambition to repaint. It says something about your personality. You are willing to do whatever it takes to bring peace and comfort to your surroundings. I think that is a good thing.

Love white trim. Wood trim is ok if it doesn't clash with too many other woods. Right?
I love white as cabinets, furniture and accent, but never walls. I even question the ceiling being white at times. That way you can switch all colors with it. I know a house with all the same color walls, carpet, cabinets etc.... and I find it calm, but boring. I would have at least had a different style of cabinet in the bathrooms...or SOMETHING. Everything is in it's place and never changes. All the insides of the cupboards are organized.. and for some reason I still want to move stuff in her house. It's like needing to stir the pot... It isn't because it looks bad, or could look better, it's just that it has been sitting in the same spot too long.

I am creative. Love to paint. Love to see how things look in a different arrangement with a different color. Love changing styles and themes.
I also don't mind those homes, like my mom's, that never change. It's nice to go there and find exactly what you expected... but in my house that is not possible.

reply to post by seagrass


I just had a feeling that you are a creative person. That's great. I admire artistic and creative people very much. People who are talented in any way impress me.

I'm still trying to discover my deeply buried, hidden talent. I wonder what it is. I'm 48 and still haven't found it. LOL Oh wait, I know. I have a smile that lights up rooms. You'll have to take my word for it though since you can't see me.

Originally posted by Hazelnut
reply to post by seagrass

 

I just had a feeling that you are a creative person. That's great. I admire artistic and creative people very much. People who are talented in any way impress me.

I'm still trying to discover my deeply buried, hidden talent. I wonder what it is. I'm 48 and still haven't found it. LOL Oh wait, I know. I have a smile that lights up rooms. You'll have to take my word for it though since you can't see me.

You are probably a creative person, you probably just don't see your talent as creative or artistic. Everyone is creative imo. I would like to see that smile.. they are rare these days.

reply to post by seagrass


Could hidden creativity and talent be expressed by rearranging furniture or placing certain physical elements in corresponding Elemental directions? North being solid, East is Air, South is Water and West is Fire. Hmmm? Subliminal and subtle arrangments to cause intended entanglement with particle matter.

Seagrass, do you dream extraordinarily? I do and always have. Could the dreams be an expression of physical matter through subconscious energy? If I've gone off half cocked - please disregard.

I think you might be close... but I have been told that it is real in the dreams.. By myself of all people. I was in a mall shopping and I kept telling myself while I was feeling everything, "Remember when you wake up, that this is real".

Originally posted by Hazelnut
reply to post by seagrass

 

Could hidden creativity and talent be expressed by rearranging furniture or placing certain physical elements in corresponding Elemental directions? North being solid, East is Air, South is Water and West is Fire. Hmmm? Subliminal and subtle arrangments to cause intended entanglement with particle matter.

Seagrass, do you dream extraordinarily? I do and always have. Could the dreams be an expression of physical matter through subconscious energy? If I've gone off half cocked - please disregard.

Feng Shui is considered an art. I am sure rearranging energy is also an art. As is anything you can do that creates a change.

Originally posted by Spiramirabilis
if anyone has any kind of an explanation for this behavior - I would really appreciate it.

Your pattern is a bit different from rearranging furniture.

Analytical psychology loves metaphors. One shrink might tell you that your frequent moves are an attempt to get away from something inside yourself - some part of your personality, some long-gone trauma, some controlling parental imago, something of that kind. Another may tell you that you're in love with potential, with freshness and change, that you want to maximize your opportunities and hate to decide between alternatives, that 'settling down' to you represents stasis, stagnation and death.

But maybe you just don't get on well with landladies.

Or have you ever felt betrayed by a place? Let down by a location?

It's not as stupid a question as it seems at first.

reply to post by Astyanax


:-)

seriously?

OK...

Analytical psychology loves metaphors.

maybe because everything we do is metaphor - everything

it's why I love this stuff

and - though I focused on moving - I've also done my fair share of rearranging

in art - whether it's with paint - or graphic design - any time or place where you have a choice and a decision to make about where something does or doesn't go - or what the qualities of those things will or won't be - it amounts to about the same thing as rearranging the furniture and painting your walls

works with words too

over the years - it's always seemed that I'm going by some kind of instinct - knowledge that I already have - but can't begin to really understand

constantly rearranging - placing, removing, shifting - darker - lighter - red, blue, yellow...

I have a goal - and there are principals involved - but I've never been able to explain those principals with words

books and schooling attempt to make sense out of it - but, the closest they ever get is describing the shadows of the principals

the only thing I can think is - it's all metaphor - for the basics of our existence

black/white - shadow /light - cool/warm

mountain, water, tree...

...Another may tell you that you're in love with potential, with freshness and change, that you want to maximize your opportunities and hate to decide between alternatives, that 'settling down' to you represents stasis, stagnation and death...

I agree - but doesn't everybody feel this?

Or have you ever felt betrayed by a place? Let down by a location?

oh - now, that is an interesting idea - because I have

almost to the point where I'm beginning to feel it's karma following me around...

It's not as stupid a question as it seems at first.

always such a comfort Astyanax

:-)

OK - edit because I believe I misunderstood - you mean your last question - about feeling betrayed by a place?

no - I don't think it's a stupid question at all - I think it's a very thought provoking question really

[edit on 6/12/2009 by Spiramirabilis]