Your surroundings have an effect on you!

How often have you thought, “I have too much stuff!”?

How do you feel when you walk into a hotel room, serene and uncluttered, before you unpack your suitcase? Do you have a sense of calm and order, a feeling that “all is well”?

Do you ever go on a whirlwind of cleaning and neatening up, maybe before guests come over? How do you feel before the clutter returns?

For a brief time you may find yourself feeling a little happier, like you’re on top of things, that all is well—fleeting as that may be.

If you’re saying, “Yes! I know exactly what she’s talking about!” then you’re someone whose physical environment a strong effect on your mood and even how you view yourself.

Millions of people long for less clutter

You’re not alone. This is why Marie Kondo’s book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” has become an international best-seller. This method of tidying has tapped into a deep longing for less clutter in a culture where most people feel overwhelmed by their stuff. Keeping only what brings joy is a radical and refreshing way to approach the problem.

My own tidying festival changed my life

I have found from my own experience of doing a full “tidying festival” of my own home, as well as from working with my tidying clients, that the Konmari Method™ of tidying has many wonderful benefits besides a tidy home that, once decluttered, stays that way.

Here’s just one example from my own experience: I was a psychotherapist for close to forty years. I loved it. I was dedicated to it. It was my calling. However, looking back now, I can see that there were signs that something was changing. When I went through my books as part of my tidying festival, I had the shocking realization that my professional books did not spark joy! Wow! That was a clear signal that I realized I needed to pay attention to. Two years later I made a career change to being a tidying consultant—it sparks joy!

What is the life-changing magic of tidying?

Put simply, it makes your life so much better in so many ways! But let me be more specific:

• You gain a greater ability to choose joy in other areas of your life: As you practice tuning in to your “joy meter” with each of the things you own, you will find that you get better at knowing what brings you joy in other areas of your life, like how you spend your time, the type of work you do, your relationships, etc. The overall effect of getting better at choosing joy is that your life gets happier!
• You become more confident: Because the process involves a lot of decisions, your sense of confidence in your ability to know what’s right for you grows stronger. You realize that you do know what you want and you gain the confidence to act on that knowing.
• Your sense of yourself grows stronger: By paying attention to what you want, why you want it, and whether choices made in the past still serve you, you grow a stronger sense of yourself in the present that is affirming and empowering.
• You find a greater sense of competence: Knowing that you’ve made a choice about every single thing in your home and where to keep it creates a feeling of “having it together” that grows your sense of competence.
• You discover more clarity and focus: With fewer distractions in the way of clutter in your environment, your mind becomes more clear and you are able to focus better. Your outer environment becomes more conducive to creating the inner environment of clarity of thought and mind.
• Your energy is refreshed: The clearing of unneeded clutter has a the effect of freeing up energy and lightening the outer environment and how you feel about it. It’s like afresh breeze and sunshine flooding in on a spring day!
• You experience more gratitude: The process grows your appreciation for your belongings and the way that they support your life. You may also find yourself appreciating yourself more for taking care of your home in this new way.
• You find a new pride and pleasure in your home: When you are done tidying, you’ll feel a sense of pleasure in having created a space that reflects what brings you joy and any embarrassment to have people see your space will be lifted.
• You gain peace of mind: You may be at a point in your life where you are thinking about how the stuff that burdens you will be an even greater burden to your loved ones when you have passed on. You’ll rest easier knowing that you aren’t simply leaving this unpleasant chore for others.
• You feel empowered: The effect of making decisions about what to keep and what to let go of, and where to put them in a way that is pleasing, is a greater sense of empowerment. You learn in a very concrete way that you can create positive changes in your life by taking action.

Tidying your home the Konmari way is one of the most transformative things you can do for yourself on both an inner and outer level.

Call Jill Fischer at: (603) 558-1550 or email: jill@tidywithjoy.com to set up your complimentary 30 minute conversation to talk about your decluttering needs and how she can be of help.