I cant start telling you my Journey without introducing you to a little book that was one of my insperations.  So first let me tell you about the book.  Please do not think I have covered all you need to know about the book.  It is well worth picking up and reading.  I have given my copy away as a gift.  Even the book can bring joy by giving it away.  You will understand more as you read. 

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

“It’s not about what to discard, it’s what to keep.”

The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying Up is Epitome of great things that come in small packages.  On the surface it is about organization and simplifying your space.  But if you take the lessons to heart it is a way of life.  Its lessons can help you bring clarity and joy into your life.  

The goal is to have a place for all the things you use daily.  Even typing this may sound overwhelming to most people.  But her method of starting small and by subject and not by room like most people try.  

Start with clothes, then books, papers, “komono” (miscellaneous), and finally end with mementos (things with sentimental value).   Keep the thought “ Does this bring me joy?”. And that’s where the magic happens.  First you discard and in the process you are left with only the items that you want in your life.  

The act of discarding is not just throwing it away.  You can donate, gift, recycle.  I love the feeling of removing stuff from my environment.  It gives me a physical feeling of lightness.  I feel as if I can float above it all.

Once you have discarded them then you can see light and clarity of what’s left.  You can make a permanent home for those things that remain.  You do this one subject at a time and soon all things in your life have a home.    

What’s cool about the method is that it starts impacting what comes into your space.  You’re at the store and you see something you like.  But you ask, “does it bring me joy and will it have a place”.  Most of the time the item never gets put in the cart.  

By starting with the easy stuff first like clothes, you have practiced letting go.  The idea of holding on to something for a special day or when you lose 5 lbs turns into the art of release.  She adds the idea that you thank it for its service and let it go.  I love it. Thank it and let it go.  The anxiety of decluttering is turned into a practice of graditude.  

Another magical thing that happens is that you will be left with things that fit perfectly in the space you have.  No need to move to a bigger place.  Your belongings in their place help you feel a sense of belonging.  Now that is magic.  

Discarding anything that doesn’t spark joy means that you only keep what you truly love. This process brings clarity of how you want to live your life. When you detox your belongings, you detox your body and mind. This will help you simplify other areas of your life, such as career, money, and relationships.

When you start asking “Does this bring me Joy?”  Your life will change in ways you never expect.