Gratitude makes it easier to let go

"Have gratitude for the things you're discarding. By giving gratitude, you're giving closure to the relationship with that object, and by doing so, it becomes a lot easier to let go." - Marie Kondo

In the world of decluttering and organizing, you will often hear: "Let's get rid of this crap!" or "This is junk. Trash it!"

It's helpful to avoid this kind of negative language. The KonMari Method is all about joy, respect, and gratitude. When you let go of one of your possessions, thank it--for the usefulness it has provided, for a lesson it has taught you, or perhaps for the value it will bring to somebody else.

Our stuff is never just stuff; it has feelings and emotions attached. When we let go of an item, we are often letting go of a part of ourselves, such as:

✴️ a former identity or role
✴️ a phase of life we are no longer in
✴️ goals that no longer fit us
✴️ an old job or position
✴️ an obligation we seek release from
✴️ a relationship that no longer serves us
✴️ a gift that doesn't suit us

By showing respect to our discarded belongings, we are also respecting ourselves.

Ready to embark on your tidying journey? I'm here to help. Contact me to get the conversation started. 🌱

"Being organized" isn't a goal. Dig deeper.

“It’s not about the dress you wear, but it’s about the life you lead in the dress.”
- Diana Vreeland

Photo by @thelazyartistgallery from @pexels

Tidying up is never really about the stuff. When we say something sparks joy, we mean it sparks joy for us. Objects without context are merely objects; it is we who imbue our possessions with meaning. That's why the first step in deciding which dresses (or any other belongings) you should keep is to decide what kind of life you want to live. 

It's tempting to skip the self-reflection, and get right to the "decluttering" part. But the decluttering part will go much more smoothly if you're guided by your vision. 

"Being organized" isn't a goal. Dig deeper. The more specific, the better.

😐"I want to clean this place up" vs. 😍"I'd really like to be able to invite friends over for dinner and enjoy their company, without worrying what they think of my house." 

😐"I want to clear out my closet" vs. 😍"I want getting dressed in the morning to be a stress-free experience that makes me feel good about myself." 

😐"I want an organized kitchen" vs. 😍"I want my kitchen to be clean, tidy, and well organized so that I'll enjoy cooking wholesome meals as part of a healthy lifestyle for myself and my family." 

What kind of life do you want to lead in that dress? 🌱

Tidying is the act of confronting yourself

Photo by @koprivak.art from @Pexels

"Tidying is the act of confronting yourself; cleaning is the act of confronting nature." - Marie Kondo

"Tidying" and "cleaning" are often used interchangeably, but the meanings are really quite different. When we tidy, we move items and put them away, whereas when we clean, we are removing dirt.

Dirt and dust tend to naturally accumulate, without us doing anything at all. It's a law of the universe. But often you will hear people talk about items "piling up", or "finding their way in". The truth is that objects don't grow legs and walk into our homes. We bring them in. Therefore the responsibility for clutter lies with us.

This means that tidying is the act of confronting ourselves. And the process of self-confrontation can get uncomfortable at times, because we are asking ourselves questions such as:

🔸 Why is this item in my house?
🔸 What was I thinking/feeling when I bought this?
🔸 Why have I kept this item for so long?
🔸 Why do I have so many of ______?
🔸 Why do I find it so difficult to get rid of this item?

The good news is, if we are willing to go through the process and tolerate some discomfort, the rewards are amazing. Confronting ourselves and making decisions, rather than putting them off until "later", can leave us feeling joyfully tidy, both inside and out.

Are you ready to confront yourself?🌱