The response to the posting on The Joy of Tidying has been tremendous; it hit a real need. Already the amount of clothes gone from a number of households has filled up dozens of garbage bags. This Means greater organization and enjoyment for the givers, and it has released thousands of items to new recipients who will find joy in them.
The things you have are manifestations of your consciousness, so this is not just stuff, useful tools, or clutter; these are all items that are connected to you. As a result, when you make changes in your home, you change your consciousness. When you release things that are no longer are right for you, you feel light, free and renewed energy.
We all need things in life, clothing for warmth and style, shelter, books, papers, tools for accomplishing our tasks in life and entertainment. What is the right amount for one is different than for another, but we all recognize clutter when we have it, which is having things that are not right for us or having too much of it.
Find the right balance that allows the winds of heaven to move through all parts of your life, uninhibited; recognize that clutter blocks that movement. Here are a couple of points made by the author, Marie Kondo (The life-changing magic of tidying up), said in my own words:
- Books are for reading, if you are not going to re-read a book or read it for the first time (you have had it for six months and not read it yet) then pass it on, even if it is new. Let someone else enjoy the book you will probably never open.
- The joy of receiving a gift may be in the exchange itself. If, after this exchange the item does not give you joy, then pass it on. Know the gift has already fulfilled its purpose when you received it and the thoughtfulness and effort the giver made in presenting it to you. A real friend would not want you hanging on to something they gave you if it does not give you real joy.
- A few pictures will remind you of a past event. Having boxes of badly taken pictures that you will “someday” go through will not bring you joy, nor will you ever go through them. Sort them now and keep only the cream of the crop.
- Keep papers only as long as it takes to deal with them. When you respond to a letter or pay a bill let the paper go; don’t keep them a minute longer. And don’t keep extra buttons from new clothes (when have you ever used that button?), even instruction manuals you can look up online—let them all go.
- Make a place for everything you have. Give it a home and then find joy in returning it to its home when you are done with it.
Many of us think of organizing and tidying up as a hassle, overwhelming or never really possible. Connecting this process to feeling joy, freedom and clarity of consciousness brings new elements to what may seem a vexing and perpetual problem.