Benefits of choosing joy
The KonMari® Method hinges on choosing what to keep, not what to get rid of. Using ‘joy as a compass’ is a phrase that stands out from my training as a consultant and in Marie Kondo’s writing she tells us that, when an item sparks joy, we should feel a ‘little thrill,’ as if ‘the cells in your body are slowly rising’.
Not every item – whether you are looking at a piece of clothing of a sentimental item in your home – leads to this feeling. A trusty pair of waterproof trousers will make few people tingle, but we are all glad to be wearing them during a downpour. Joy, therefore, is not just about that almost indescribable feeling of happiness that we get from some of our things. Practicality matters and so does how often we use the things that we own.
Regardless of how we recognise joy, when we commit ourselves to focusing on what really matters and what we value and love, this can enable us to let go of the difficult emotions that can often go hand in hand with – and inhibit – discarding.
And it is not just joy that comes in multiple forms. There are many ways of tapping into whether an item, or goal, aligns with what really makes you tick. During a recent tidying session, a client told me that she had ‘hit a wall’ with joy-checking. I advised that rather than asking herself if an item sparked joy, to think about the following statement: ‘if it’s not a hell yes, then it’s a no.’ It is a point that Dave Ramsey, personal finance expert and author of the Total Money Makeover, swears by. It helped, and my client was able to move past her roadblock.
Thinking about the cost of holding onto an item – or a habit or a behaviour – is another helpful strategy. Is keeping it (and potentially the many other items) worth the downsides, which often rear their heads as visual and mental clutter, frustration, guilt and never really breaking the habits that have caused clutter or an unhealthy relationship with money? The answer to this question is usually ‘no.’
‘Joy check’ KonMari-style
Ask yourself if an item ‘sparks joy’
Consider how you feel when wearing or using the item
Try not to focus on what you paid for the piece
If it was a gift, ask yourself if the giver would really want you to hold onto things you don’t love
Hold the item close to your body, preferably near to your heart. What do you feel?