Today we are continuing our spring cleaning series with another strategy from my dear friend Terri Lynn!
At the bottom of this post, you will learn more about Terri Lynn and how you can connect with her and her work!
Last Month I Marie Kondoed My Life (Real Spring Cleaning)
If you are on Instagram, have Netflix or simply don’t live under a large rock you more than likely have heard of Marie Kondo! I began binging her show while cooking dinner every night and quickly knew that the KonMari method was something I wanted to dive into. I ordered up her book, finished watching her entire show, read that book cover to cover and made a commitment to completely Marie Kondo my home in one month!
KonMari Method
For those who are not familiar with her program, she begins by categorizes absolutely everything in your home. Category by category you hold or touch every single item in your home and ask yourself if it brings you joy. If it doesn’t, you either toss it or give it to charity! Night #1, me and my husband grabbed absolutely everything in our clothing closets including shoes, hats, underwear and threw it on our suddenly-looking-super-small king-sized bed. Holy sh*t!! Insert tiny breakdown. Then we got to work! By the end of the night we had both removed well over 70% of what had previously taking up tenancy in our clothing closets and we were SHOCKED! How could we have that much in our homes, in our lives that don’t bring us joy?!
For 3-4 nights a week we dove head first into a different category within our home and time and time again we were shocked how much we chose to let go of and how much extra space we suddenly had in our previously packed full 2000 sq. ft. home! By the time we completed the full KonMari method we had let go of well over 50% of our belongings and honestly, many of our closets look so empty in the most wonderful, joyful way!
Living the Marie Kondo Lifestyle
What shocked me the most while implementing her method was how often throughout the day I found myself asking, ‘does this bring me joy?’ I would be in a meeting with my employees chatting about the new program we were creating and would suddenly realize that this new program truly wasn’t bringing me any joy beyond finances! I was hanging out with a girlfriend and suddenly saw her in a completely new light, ‘this relationship doesn’t bring me joy anymore.’ I found myself analyzing my morning routine and realized the HITT workout I was doing 3x/week was no longer joyful at all for me! #byebye
On the flip side, I began to learn so much more about myself, the things that fired me up and make me feel oh so joyful! I realized that despite being a total ‘city chick’ I am obsessed with the outdoors! I suddenly recognized that despite working from home and being able to get away with hoodies and lulu’s for clothing, dressing up is something I love to do, even if it’s just for me! I also had a revelation that spending time with the grandparents that raised me for a portion of my life was one of my favourite things!
Let’s Take Some Action – Spring Cleaning for Your Mind
Maybe this email was the final straw in breaking the camel’s back and motivating you to dive into the KonMari method ASAP or, maybe this simply isn’t a good time for you. Either way, I want to give you an action step to begin to implement the key to this method into your life TODAY!
Choose an item to wear on your body that brings you immense joy. Maybe it’s a ring you got from your grandmother for your 18th birthday or a bracelet that you got from your partner as an anniversary gift! Either way, make sure it’s something you can wear daily without it beginning to smell like a barn in Southern Manitoba. Whatever it is, choose it in your mind’s eye and claim it as your ‘joy reminder.’ Our subconscious has the amazing ability of actually remembering the meaning you placed on an item simply by setting an intention around it!
Now, every time that this item catches your attention I want you to ask yourself, ‘does my current reality bring me joy?’ This will end up being an ARRAY of things! Maybe you’ll be driving to work and recognize how little joy your job truly brings you. Maybe you’ll be getting dressed and recognize that your 8-year-old scratchy peach wool sweater no longer brings you joy. Or maybe you’ll be having coffee with a sweet friend and recognize how truly joyful they make you! Whatever it is, don’t judge it. Just ask it one simple question…
Does This Bring Me Joy?
I would absolutely love to hear from you as you apply this practice into your life! I pretty much live on Instagram, so go ahead and give me a follow and shoot me a message on there!
https://www.instagram.com/therealterrilynn
I also have a website where I release informative blogs on living a Holistic Lifestyles two or more times a week! Check her out below!
http://terrilynn.life
Xoxo,
Terri Lynn