8 Lessons I Learned From Marie Kondo

I have loved to organize since I was old enough to make a mess.  From as early as I can remember I loved to empty out all my closets and drawers just so I could reorganize everything.   Every time I would go through this exercise I would inevitably end up with a bag of items that I would have to sneak out of the house as my mom would never let me discard anything.  I suppose since my mother had paid for all the items I wanted to declutter it was her prerogative to disallow my discarding but I knew if I didn’t physically move these things out of the house myself they would show up again in my space.  These early lessons stayed with me my whole life and to say I could relate to Marie Kondo’s philosophy on tidying would be an understatement.  I have pretty much followed a version of the KonMari Method™ in one way or another my entire life.

When I heard that Marie Kondo was developing a special for Netflix I was thrilled.  I have been trained in the KonMari Method™ and have coached several clients myself in this methodology but to see Marie interact directly with clients was something I was really looking forward to.

The series does not disappoint.  The individual journeys are portrayed as realistic as possible and I can see so many examples that reflect the similar journeys of clients I have had as well.  The parallel that stands out the most is that people, in general, have something they need to face to be able to move forward.  Once you can confront what that is and decide what will move forward with you by determining what items bring you joy then you will have truly put your affairs and items in order.  I have seen over and over with my own clients and the transformation that comes along with going through this process.

We all have different takeaways when we go through change but I would like to share with you what I learned from my training with Marie Kondo and how being a KonMari Consultant has influenced me.

1. I truly have found my calling. I love helping others help themselves to discover what brings them joy.  My clients continue to inspire and amaze me.
2. It is okay to not be “Instagram perfect”. Sometimes the “after” photo will be a change that only you will see and that is okay as the most important change comes from within.
3. You do not need fancy containers and expensive organizing systems to get organized. Shoe boxes do just fine.
4. Letting go frees up room for the awesome to come into that space.
5. I truly believe experiences, not things, bring the most joy.
6. Put your physical possessions in order and your life will follow suit.
7. Truly learn the concept of “Spark Joy” and you will not spend money on unnecessary items. This concept makes you very selective with what you buy and allow into your life.
8. You need to confront what it is that is holding you back in order to move forward.

As a Certified KonMari Consultant, I can coach you through a series of lessons concentrating on what brings you joy and letting go of things that no longer serve their purpose. Through this process of letting go of physical items you will learn to make space in your life for more joy.