imple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains. ~ Steve Jobs
I think most of us are familiar with Marie Kondo’s ubiquitous book “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing”. The book introduced us to the KonMari Method, a mindset that helps people create order & tidiness in their lives. Kondo’s method involves steps to simplify and organize your life by discarding items that no longer ‘spark joy’ or hold value for you. If you are interested in knowing KonMari’s principles for decluttering the stuff in your life there are many links online. For this post I wondered if the ideologies might be applicable to other areas of life (especially since very few psychological principles start with the letter K) – let me know what you think…
The KonMari method begins by you imagining your ideal lifestyle. This entails taking the time to clarify why you’re undertaking this decluttering process and what sort of life you want when you’re done. This step is imperative – please take the time to paint a vivid & detailed picture of your preferred future – who & what would be a part of your life – where & when and, most importantly, why!
Next, you’re asked to tidy all at once. Literally, this means dragging everything out, looking at the mess and then putting back only what is important. When was the last time you did this with your routines? Have you fallen prey to the ‘tyranny of the urgent’? In this life you’ll never get rid of pressing situations that demand your immediate attention, but if you aren’t consistently taking time for what is truly important (e.g., self-care, meaningful relationships, setting goals, etc.) you’ll never be free of the sense of being chronically overwhelmed and ineffective. This is Lesson 3 (Put first things first) in Stephen Covey’s seminal book (noted below); if you’ve never checked out the Urgent/Important matrix I think you’ll find it worth your while.
Finally, as you move through the decluttering process, you’re asked to hold onto an item to determine whether it still ‘sparks joy’ in your life. For a moment try doing this process with the people you spend your time with. Are these individuals lifting you higher, challenging you, helping you become your best self? Leaders (Jim Rohn, Tony Robbins etc.) consistently say “you are the average of the five people you spend time with”, so if your current circle of influence isn’t trustworthy, dependable, non-judgmental, supportive (or just fun to be around), perhaps it’s time to – with great care and respect – let go of people you may have grown apart from so the best aspects of your life have more room to breathe and develop.
With the KonMari method there’s a specific order to follow as you tidy – you start with the easiest decisions and progressively move towards the harder ones. It’s important to follow a similar system if you are going to question why you’re holding on to various aspects of your life (i.e., old habits, negative emotions, limiting beliefs, past pain etc.). Biblically speaking, working through the process of simplifying your life holds several benefits as well. Scripture tells us that with simplicity comes:
• Joy (Romans 14:17, 15:13),
• Contentment (Matthew 6:19-21, Mark 6: 7-9, Luke 12:15, Hebrews 13:5)
• Rest (1 Thessalonians 4:11, Psalm 46:10, Philippians 4:20).
So, give it a go – take the challenge and follow Kondo’s system in a way that works for you. Hopefully, as you do, you’ll find your life moving from cluttered and complicated to clear and calm.
Resources
7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Stephen Covey)
Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World (Richard Foster)
Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things (Adam Grant)
Simplicity: The Freedom of Letting Go (Richard Rohr)