If you believe that "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" (and Why Not Believe?) then
this book is a great read, very motivating and insightful!
I am posting just a few of the points that I felt were important.
I would recommend you to buy this book if you would like to know her advice on the order to tidy, specifics on being successful at tidying, and the benefits of a tidy life.
“the
life changing magic of tidying up” by marie kondo
Tidying can be broadly
divided into two kinds: deciding whether or not to dispose of
something and deciding where to put it. If you can do these two
things you can achieve perfection.
If
you can't feel relaxed in a clean and tidy room, try confronting your
feelings of anxiety. It may shed light on what is really bothering
you. When your room is clean and uncluttered you have no choice but
to examine your inner state. You can see any issues you have been
avoiding and are forced to deal with them. From the moment you start
tidying, you will be compelled to reset your life. As a result, your
life will start to change. That is why the act of tidying should be
done quickly. Tidying is just a tool, not the final destination.
The true goal is to establish the kind of lifestyle you want most
once your house has been put in order.
Daily tidying
consists of putting back what you use daily.
Can
you place your hand on your heart and swear that you are happy when
surrounded by so much stuff that you don’t even remember what's
there? Unfortunately, the majority of people make do with rooms that
are more like storage sheds. Decades drag by as they struggle
unsuccessfully to maintain order by tidying every day.
The moment you have put everything in its place, you have
crossed the finish line. Unlike work, studies, or sports, there
is no need to compare your performance to that of anyone else. You
are the standard. Better yet, the one thing that everyone finds
hardest to do – continuing- is totally unnecessary, You only have
to decide where to put things once.
I
never tidy my room. Why? Because it is already tidy. The only tidying
I do is once or sometimes twice a year, and for a total of about one
hour each time. The many days I spent tidying without seeing
permanent results now seem hard to believe. In contrast, I feel happy
and content, I have time to experience bliss in my quiet space where
even the air feels fresh and clean; time to sit and sip herbal tea
while I reflect on my day, As I look around, my glance falls on a
painting that I particularly love, purchased overseas and vase of
fresh flowers in one corner. Although not large, the space I live in
is graced with only those things that speak to my heart. My
life-style brings me joy.
From
my experience with private individual lessons, “quickly” means
about half a year. That may seem like a long time but it is only six
months out of your entire life. Once the process is complete and
you've experienced what it's like to be perfectly tidy, you will have
been freed forever from the mistaken assumption that you're no good
at tidying.
The whole point in both
discarding and keeping things is to be happy. It may seem obvious,
but it is important to experience this realization for yourself and
let it sink into your heart. Before you start tidying, look at the
lifestyle you aspire to and ask yourself, “Why do I want to tidy?”
When you find the answer you are ready to move on to the next step:
examining what you own.
Tidy
in the right order. Discard first THEN decide where to keep things.
I came to the conclusion that the best way to
choose what to keep and what to throw away is to take each item in
one's hand and ask: Does it spark joy? If it does, keep it. If
not, dispose of it. This is not only the simplest but also the
most accurate yardstick by which to judge.
Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the
plunge and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset your
life and embark on a new lifestyle.
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Do
not discard other family members items. Getting rid of other
people's things without permission demonstrates a sad lack of
common sense. Although such stealth tactics generally succeed and
the items discarded are never missed, the risk of losing your
family's trust when you are caught is far too great. Besides, it
just isn't right. If you really want your family to tidy up, there
is a much easier way to go about it.
To
quietly work away at disposing of your own excess is actually the
best way of dealing with a family that doesn't tidy. It may sound
incredible, but when someone starts tidying it sets off a chain
reaction. Cleaning quietly on one's own generates another
interesting change – the ability to tolerate a certain level of
untidiness among your family members. Once I was satisfied with my
own room I rarely felt the urge to dispose of things belonging to
my siblings or parents.
Giving
things you can't use to others who can is an excellent idea. It
can be economical and a source of joy to see these things being
enjoyed by treasured. But that is not the same as forcing things
onto your family members because you can't bring yourself to
discard or donate them. If you want to give something away, don't
push people to take it, or make them feel guilty.
You
can offer to give them something if they would have been willing
to pay for it. We need to show consideration for others by helping
them avoid the burden of owning more than they need or can enjoy.
”When
I put my house in order, I discovered what I really wanted to do.”
These are words I hear frequently from my clients. For the majority,
the experience of tidying causes them to become more passionately
involved in their work. Some set up their own companies, others
change jobs, and still others take more interest in their current
profession. They also become more passionate about their other
interests and about their home and family life. Their awareness of
what they like naturally increases and as a result, daily life
becomes more exciting.
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Although
we can get to know ourselves better by sitting down and analyzing our
characteristics or by listening to others' perspectives on us, I
believe that tidying is the best way. After all, our possessions very
accurately relate the history of the decisions we have made in life.
Tidying is a way of taking stock that shows us what we really like.
People
who lack confidence in their judgment lack confidence in themselves.
I, too, once lacked confidence. What saved me was tidying. Now, I am
confident in my environment and surroundings. I am grateful to be
surrounded by what I love, by things and people that are, each and
every one, special, precious, and exceedingly dear to me. The things
and people that bring me joy support me. They give me the confidence
that I will be all right. I want to help others who feel the way I
once did, who lack self-confidence and find it hard to open their
hearts to others.
Your
real life begins after putting your house in order.
