Embracing The KonMari Method of Organizing~

It seems as if I have been on a quest to simplify my life and environment for the past few years and have not achieved even a semblance of success until recently. Despite reading numerous articles about organizing, purging unnecessary items and focusing on keeping only those items that I truly love, would pay to move, or would buy again at full price, I hit roadblocks. 

My unreasonable emotional attachment to inanimate objects gave them power over my psyche and kept me from letting go, tossing, donating, or burning. Two factors have given me the wherewithal to rid my closets, cabinets, files, shelves, walls, drawers, cupboards, baskets, bins, and pantry of items, objects, tzotckes, memorabilia, photographs, heirlooms, books and paraphernalia that do not bring me joy.  1) My husband and I are in the midst of home renovations that require us to move furniture and the contents of nearly every nook and cranny to work on various projects. This has revealed the abundance of objects that no longer serve us. 2) on the recommendation of one of my yoga friends I purchased, immediately read Marie Kondo’s book titled “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing”.

This is a small, hardcover book easily purchased through Amazon.com. But the method of tidying espoused by Kondo can be life altering. Her obsession with organizing led her to conduct research on the subject and ultimately discover that before one can organize effectively, it is necessary to discard anything that does not spark joy in one’s heart.

Kondo explains the roadblocks that have kept many of us from clearing our spaces. These include guilt; feeling the obligation to hold on to a gift we don’t like or to retain family artifacts that just collect dust. She gives us tools to let go of these inanimate objects that are burdensome, bring negativity in our environment, and prevent us from truly enjoying our personal spaces.

It is simple. Objects are just objects. If I bought a sweater that I loved in the store but never wear, the sweater has served its purpose by giving me that moment of joy when I purchased it. I can thank it for its service and toss it.  If somebody gives me a gift that I don’t want to keep, the gift has served its purpose by letting me know the person who gave it to me valued me enough to think of me. I can thank it for that and pass it on to charity.

The book gives instructions for tidying one’s environment in a specific order and in a specific way that may seem completely odd. Start with clothes, then books, papers, etc. until tackling mementoes last. But the method works. I’ve already filled 6 -33 gallon trash bags with clothes and accessories and haven’t completed all of my sub-categories yet.  I actually have space in my closet and my drawers have never been more organized.

There is now space for the positive energy to flow.