If you hadn't heard of Marie Kondo or her KonMari method of decluttering before this month, you've probably heard of it by now. Marie Kondo's Netflix show called Tidying Up with Marie Kondo has been a viral sensation. Based on what you read and see on social media, it seems that almost everyone across America is facing their overflowing closets and cluttered drawers and letting go of anything that no longer sparks joy!
Given it's become such a topic of media conversation, I wanted to share some thoughts as someone who was trained in the KonMari method under the master, Marie Kondo, herself and received my certification in 2017. Below is a picture of the day I met Marie when she taught a day at our seminar.
I know first hand the life-changing magic that happens when people use the KonMari decluttering method to deal with their clutter. I've watched people stuck and overwhelmed by clutter transform right before my eyes just by sorting through their things. It reminds me of a quote below that I love from Dr. Wayne Dyer. I love the quote because I know it to be true with so many of my clients. And personally, it has rung true for me as well, especially during times of great transition in my life.
Conventional wisdom tells us to follow our passions and that our heart knows the way. Sometimes, we simply cannot hear what it is telling us because of what might be physically manifesting around us.
Decluttering is a transformative process because when you take the time to review everything you own, category by category, it stirs up something inside of you. It requires you to think about and evaluate past choices, and it empowers you to move forward in a new, and sometimes different, way.
There are three main principals in the #KonMari method of decluttering:
Focus on what you want to keep vs. what you want to get rid of
Use a filter of "joy" to determine what you keep
Sort through your items category by category instead of room by room.
When you look at all of your items with a filter of only keeping the items that bring joy, your mind naturally begins to use it's filter that it uses in other areas of your life like your career and your relationships. It is why using a decluttering method that focuses your mind on what you want to keep, rather than what you want to get rid of, is such a powerful tool.
It's also why it's important for you to write down your ideal vision of your life before you begin to declutter. By writing down what kind of home, relationships, career and life you want before you begin the journey provides you with a vision to keep you motivated and to see the decluttering process through the end.
For anyone overwhelmed in starting the decluttering process, my advice is to take it one simple step at a time. One small step usually leads to another and another until you're done. A simple step of walking around your space to see how you feel is a great start. Then, when ready, write down your ideal life on paper and start taking the steps you need to get there. Follow the callings of your soul. They really are trying to tell you something.
If your heart is telling you it's time to declutter ... listen to it. If you think a guide would help you in your decluttering, feel free to download the free checklist I've created here