The KonMarie method

iQueen

mavvymoo wrote: »

Tooties
You are going to do the best thing reread and start again. I have done this on quite a few categories you cant do this as a major declutter it is a journey! The good thing is for you is a lot of the clutter has gone so you have an excellent starting point now

I know a lot of people who have completed it like you have and felt the same as you. Not joyful not happy and not FINISHED. I think that is the key you cant be happy with what you have left as you have not finished your journey mentally.

I have now done clothes again for about the 7th time :eek: yesterday I went back to basics everything was pulled out and put on the floor and I started again as it was a niggling doubt in my head and I kept being pulled back there.

This isnt a process to be taken lightly as it really gives you elation one minute and black dog (as I call it ) the next.I think you do need to experience this in order for this to work and nothing not one thing can be skipped over.

I really wish you luck but you are going to have to really start feeling it.You will get there if I can anyone can do it but be prepared to dig deep and really look into yourself and you will find the answers. I just wish I could tell you what they are but I cant that is up to you

Mav x

I 100% agree about the forum x Me, too!

Brilliant post, Mav! :T I totally agree.

The book lays out a strict order for kondoing, for a purpose: it aims to be mind-changing, thus preventing the clutter of non-essentials ever coming into the home again. It is like a form of self-hypnosis.

If we get to the end of the process, or a category, feeling dissatisfied, we haven't completed the transformation. The biggest change we are making is in our thinking.

The hardest thing to change in life, is ourselves, and some of us may fight such change - we think we are OK as we are. Everyone can improve!

Kondoing is not going to change us in any way that we don't want! Change can only happen as far as we allow.

Making decisions about what we actually need in our lives, physically, causes us to, consciously or unconsciously, address other areas of our lives - our values, our past, what we want for the future, and how we can fill every area of life with joy. This changes our behaviour.

To successfully finish kondoing, we need to acknowledge these psychological changes - even if some of us think it's a load of 'woo'! It will make us happier! :dance:

Eyeore

didn't want to read and run - Completely agree with Mav and Iqueen. I have been following this thread since the beginning and have been KM'ing slowly since then. I have had to change my mindset along the way, whic has affected other areas of my life and consequently have gone back over areas. I also have more KM'ing to do but have settled within myself not to put a timeframe on it as that added to the pressure which frankly I have enough of with my job. So my advice would be to anyone struggling, take the time that suits you and it really is easier if you do one area at a time, then you can work on it and also leave it pending if you need to. Also try not to sweat about the mess whilst you are dealing with a particular area, it will get sorted and tidied, I promise!


Best wishes to all.

silvasava

Not read the book yet but I've been lurking & following you all. Totally agree about the mind set as I'm realising I have 'stuff' kept for all sorts of reasons but hardly or never used!
I did manage to Kondo all my birthday cards last week. I've always kept a few 'special' ones in the past - but why?? I don't look at them - no one else will look at them and when I pop my clogs they'll go in the bin so they've been thanked for the pleasure & kondo'd out the door.
I have 3 drawers in the kitchen full of 'just in case' carp so that's the next task.
Thank you all - & carry on Kondo'ing

iQueen

Eyeore wrote: »

didn't want to read and run - Completely agree with Mav and Iqueen. I have been following this thread since the beginning and have been KM'ing slowly since then. I have had to change my mindset along the way, whic has affected other areas of my life and consequently have gone back over areas. I also have more KM'ing to do but have settled within myself not to put a timeframe on it as that added to the pressure which frankly I have enough of with my job. So my advice would be to anyone struggling, take the time that suits you and it really is easier if you do one area at a time, then you can work on it and also leave it pending if you need to. Also try not to sweat about the mess whilst you are dealing with a particular area, it will get sorted and tidied, I promise!


Best wishes to all.

I agree. :T

We are working towards a clearer, tranquil sanctuary, where we are surrounded by joyful things and, which provides us with time and room to think more deeply about what we individually need from life.

It doesn't matter how long we take to complete the project, so long as we continue to focus on what we want to achieve: as joyful a life as possible.

When we set off kondoing, it is all about getting rid of what we don't need. As our thinking changes, it may well be necessary to re-kondo some categories, because we recognise that our needs have changed, since we started.

A major problem today, is the pressure almost everyone is under. Life is changing at a phenomenal speed and human beings adapt slowly. So, removing as much pressure as possible, leads to clearer thinking, better outcomes, and happier lives.

The mess will definitely start to clear at some point - it is inevitable, with 'more out, than in'. My house was a mess to start with, so I'm really looking forward to reaching that point! That point will come - preferably before I fall off my twig, and can still remember to enjoy it! :rotfl:

iQueen

silvasava wrote: »

Not read the book yet but I've been lurking & following you all. Totally agree about the mind set as I'm realising I have 'stuff' kept for all sorts of reasons but hardly or never used!
I did manage to Kondo all my birthday cards last week. I've always kept a few 'special' ones in the past - but why?? I don't look at them - no one else will look at them and when I pop my clogs they'll go in the bin so they've been thanked for the pleasure & kondo'd out the door.
I have 3 drawers in the kitchen full of 'just in case' carp so that's the next task.
Thank you all - & carry on Kondo'ing

Welcome, silvasava! :coffee:

I definitely advise reading the book and following MK's method - it works because, following the practical pattern, affects us unconsciously too, which sustains motivation and continually decreases 'clutter tolerance'.

You already have a head start, because you are identifying your unneeded stuff and have started to change your thinking. Kondoing 'by the book' will embed and develop these changes.

Congratulations on the birthday cards! I'm avoiding my stack for the moment. Yep, I don't know why I hang on to them, either!

I'm about to have a fourth go at what's left of my clothes, and they will probably be re-visited again, before I reach the end! I don't have that many, but I really need to get 'know' who I am now! :rotfl:

Bedding and towels were easy (and all in the same place!) Books are another matter! And paperwork will be a nightmare. :eek:

I haven't done the kitchen yet, but I did off-load some things to a local jumble sale at the weekend. :j

Good luck on the journey!

katsu

I had a friend yesterday when I was clearing some sports gear say "didn't you have a big clear out of that last year? Why get rid of more? "

It was so funny that he thought as I'd gone through it once it would be right forever.

I didn't get rid of much more; the item I went to get rid of turned out to be joyful but I've freed up a few more bits,which made me happy and will bring joy to their new owners.

I'm seeing this as an iterative journey where the level of joy gets refined. I'm now clear in my mind about a coat I do love but have never worn and when I tried it with an outfit the other day it looked wrong. Yes I might lose weight but when I do there will be new clothes to wear that fit the new me'

Craftyscholar

iQueen wrote: »

Bedding and towels were easy (and all in the same place!) Books are another matter! And paperwork will be a nightmare. :eek:

Oh, yes - to all three comments.

I suppose it doesn't matter how few clothes you end up with as they were probably the only ones you were wearing anyway.

drusilla

I have not kondoed anything today but I am feeling the fruits of my labours.

As I have done clothes and jewellery, I decided I should wear some today. I generally just grab anything and tend to wear the same stuff. Last night I decided to be organised. I got out my clothes for today and included some jewellery. I have had no end of compliments today. Not sure if I did look good or they are just used to seeing me in the same things. Anyway, I felt much better. May even do it again tomorrow.

I would have had no chance if my clothes were not so beautifully organised.

silvasava

Thanks iQueen - I have done my towels but need to do the bedding. I'm dreading doing my clothes 'cos I have a LOT and they all bring me pleasure and they are organised by season & colour but I'm sure I can find a few things that are 'not quite right'. I've also got a shoe stash that I'll be visiting soon.
Craftyscholar - there's the adage that we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time......;)

iQueen

katsu wrote: »

I had a friend yesterday when I was clearing some sports gear say "didn't you have a big clear out of that last year? Why get rid of more? "

It was so funny that he thought as I'd gone through it once it would be right forever.

I didn't get rid of much more; the item I went to get rid of turned out to be joyful but I've freed up a few more bits,which made me happy and will bring joy to their new owners.

I'm seeing this as an iterative journey where the level of joy gets refined. I'm now clear in my mind about a coat I do love but have never worn and when I tried it with an outfit the other day it looked wrong. Yes I might lose weight but when I do there will be new clothes to wear that fit the new me'

As MK says, it should be a once-only job, because we train our minds to ignore tempting purchases that aren't necessary or joyful, and we get used to cleaning taking very little time.

Obviously, we have to be on the look out for things that no longer feel joyful, or wear out, and weed these immediately, rather than allowing them to accumulate by putting down roots in drawers and cupboards.

Craftyscholar wrote: »

Oh, yes - to all three comments.

I suppose it doesn't matter how few clothes you end up with as they were probably the only ones you were wearing anyway.

You're probably right, and when my house is fully kondoed (and free of dust and fluff-bunnies!) I'll be happy to wear my smart-casual things for housework. Just need to get there... before my tatty 'kondo clothes' creep out of the house to be shredded! :rotfl: