by Stephanie Dempsey

Feng Shui practitioners believe that the bathroom is a metaphor for the homeowner's self-image. If you're recovering from a bad breakup, experiencing problems with asking for what you want, or simply want to boost your confidence, add some cures to your bathroom. Even a few simple adjustments can help you walk taller.

Scrub-a-Dub-Dub
If you want to feel better about yourself, clean your bathroom from top to bottom. Remove all vestiges of mold and mildew, and caulk the tub if necessary. Invest in a new shower curtain if the old one is grungy. Your fresh and fragrant bathroom will prompt you to spend more time on personal grooming, making your natural allure evident to everyone you meet.

Create a Scent-sation
One of the best ways to boost your spirits is to add aromatics to your bathroom. Choose candles, soaps and lotions that are subtle instead of cloying. You can use different scents to trigger various emotions. For instance, floral scents like rose, jasmine and carnation attract romance, while green scents like pine, rosemary and cucumber bolster courage. Citrus aromas like lemon, orange and grapefruit stimulate the imagination, while spicy scents like cinnamon, ginger and frankincense encourage self-expression. Want to explore your sensual side? Introduce musky scents like sandalwood, musk and cedar to your bathroom.

Soften Up
If you put other people's needs before your own, treat yourself to some plush bath towels. Enjoying their fluffy luxury each day will remind you to be kinder and gentler toward yourself. While you're at it, go ahead and splurge on a tactile bathmat and plush robe.

Conserve Your Energy
Bathrooms contain drains, which can sap your energy. Putting the lid down on the toilet and closing the drains in your tub and sink can help you feel more vibrant. If you feel overwhelmed, flush the toilet a few times and run the taps. The cleansing energy of water can restore your spirits.

Pause to Reflect
Mirrors symbolize the way you see yourself. Make sure that your mirrors are clean and sparkling; otherwise, you may be unduly harsh on yourself. It's also important to hang your bathroom mirror so it reflects your entire face, plus two inches above and below your head. If your bathroom mirror is too small, you will be prone to underestimate your abilities. Get a bigger model so that you'll be prompted to fulfill your potential.

Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet
Old, outdated medications are subtle reminders of unhealthy times. Rid your shelves of any expired pills, powders and potions. Keep only the ones you need, and stow those where they won't be the first things you see each time you open the cabinet. Put preventative health treatments like vitamins in a more prominent place, so that you'll feel a greater sense of control over your health.

Keep Cosmetics to a Minimum
There's nothing wrong with using cosmetics, provided that you really use them. An excess of beauty treatments suggests a fundamental insecurity. Pare down these products to the ones you use regularly and relegate the rest to the trash. You'll be less likely to resort to superficial quick fixes when your bathroom is neat, orderly and spacious.

Add Some Greenery
If your bathroom doesn't have a window, its energy can become stagnant. Adding a plant can introduce fresh life to this space. Of course, the plant should be healthy, so you may want to buy two identical plants. Put one plant in the bathroom and place the other in a room that gets sunlight. Rotate the plants every week so they stay healthy.

Don't Be a Drip
Leaky faucets are an indication that you're wasting valuable energy on the wrong people. Fix the leaks or invest in a good plumber. You'll soon find people who appreciate your talents. Best of all, you'll stop wasting money, making it easier to save for things you'll really appreciate.

Bolster Your Ego
If you like to read when you're in the bathroom, make sure it contains uplifting reading material. Rid the space of fashion magazines or tabloids that make you feel that you'll never be rich, thin or beautiful enough. Replace them with books and journals that make you laugh, dream and rejoice.

About the Author
Stephanie Dempsey is an accomplished author, feng shui practitioner and astrologer. Stephanie has authored a weekly home design column for Women.com, which combined the precepts of Astrology and feng shui. She has also contributed to such New Age titles as Love Signs and You: The Ultimate Astrological Guide to Love, Sex, and Relationships. Stephanie holds a degree in feng shui from the Mountain Institute of TRIBECA in New York City.