Marie Kondo-ing My Inner Life Changed My Outer Life

Does It Spark Joy?

From my reading about Marie Kondo’s Konmari method of organization, does it spark joy is the question addressed to items during the organizational/reorganizational process. If an item doesn’t spark joy, according to Ms. Kondo, it is time  to move it to its next place of being. It is time for it to no longer take up space in your home and in your life.  

Hmmm. as I read this, I wondered, "What would happen if I applied this concept to my inner life?"

Here’s Where I Started

  I only keep in my heart that which sparks joy 

  I only eat or drink that which sparks joy

  I only spend time on that which sparks joy

  I only give space to that which sparks joy

  I only hold in my body that which sparks joy

  I only take action on that which sparks joy

  I only create that which sparks joy

  I only walk paths which spark joy

  I only think thoughts which spark joy

  I only create intentions which spark joy

  I only speak words which spark joy

  I only make choices which spark joy

As I made this list, I then integrated each of these new joy sparkings into my life using the breathing exercise in chapter five from my workbook Heart of Courage: Solutions for Undoing What Fear Created. Chapter five’s is entitled “Embracing Our Dragons: Getting to Know the Hidden You.”  

Example: Breathe in "I only make choices which spark joy." Breath out what I noticed - fear. Breathe in fear, breathe out: I felt joy.

This breathing exercise acquainted me with the dragons/blockages keeping me from more fully embodying these desired qualities. It took me about 20 minutes to complete this process. Feeling good and appreciative after completing it, I sat down at the dining room table to eat my breakfast. My plan was to finish my breakfast, shower and dress, and be ready in an hour for my 10:00 appointment.

One of our dining room  windows looks out onto the driveway where I observed my husband bustling about. “I wonder what he’s doing?” He was attempting, by himself, to load a defunct Maytag washing machine into the back of his truck. I watched him for a few seconds as he struggled and decided I must go out, still in my pajamas, and help him. Now, I’m less than five feet tall, with arthritic hands and a back issue, yet that didn’t stop me. I put on some work gloves and with a lot of moving and re-positioning, we managed to get that puppy into the truck. Whew! It was then I realized all the inner sparking joy work I had just done had shown itself and was put to good use within less than 15 minutes since I had completed it. 

After we accomplished getting the washer into the truck (it’s a heavy sucker), I felt joyous, joyful about what we had accomplished, joyful I hadn’t injured myself, joyful feeling how strong and purposeful my body felt, joyful I could be of service, and joyful about our teamwork.

Before doing my inner Marie Kondo-ing and the Dragon Embracing exercise, had my husband asked me to help (he wouldn’t have, knowing about my physical issues), I would have helped, wondering if I would be able to be useful and not injure myself, while all the while mumbling and grumbling about how I really needed this time to get ready for my appointment; why hadn’t he told me the night before he was going to do this, why hadn't he asked me then so I could plan my schedule, and on and on the ego would natter. 

What made the change? Perception. Because I had cleaned out my inner closets of old behavioral beliefs aka stories and ways of responding (the dragons), this freed me up to take 15 minutes of my time and create joy for the both of us instead of the situation being a joyless burden I could grumble about. And . . . I had wanted the washing machine moved a long time ago. What a gift!

The washing machine has been recycled, that day was joy filled, I was on time for my 10:00 appointment, and I am appreciative of the 20 minutes I spent on the does it spark joy inner process. And . . . no, I won’t be taking any major Konmari tidying action in my life. However, in neatening up my office two days later, I went into a kitchen drawer looking for an item I could use in my office. I didn’t find the item, but in 15 minutes the drawer contents were sorted, that which was no longer needed was pitched into the garbage, and the drawer and its dividers washed out. That spontaneous action sparked joy!

©2020 Cristina Whitehawk