Minimalism: the magic of tidying dramatically transforms your life

Minimalism “the life-changing magic of tidying up”  Chapter 5 summary:

The main reason I wanted to start this blog was so that I could find my passion(s) in life.  This last chapter of “the life-changing magic of tidying up” chapter 5 summary REALLY hit home with me – I mean 4Real!

“What do you like to do?” is a question I hate answering, because at the core, I’m not sure I really know the definitive answer.  This is the opening of this chapter. There are a lot of things I enjoy, but if I had to choose something I could say I was passionate about and try to make a career out of, I’m simply not sure.   One of the author’s clients discovered what she really likes to do when she went through this tidying process by noticing the recurring theme of all the books she chose to keep on her bookshelf.  Apparently this happened with many clients as tidying not only reflects the decisions we made in the past in life, but it’s a way of taking stock to see what we really like also.

The author herself talks about how she was always tidying things since a young child and in school.  I have to note that I REALLY connected with the author as I myself love to organize things, but I don’t think I’m at the same level as the author by any means. My  parents used to tell me that instead of playing I’d organize things around the house, like shoes from size and color.

The author goes into growing up as a middle child and being an introvert.  She explains because she had issues with developing trust with people and was not comfortable exposing her feelings to others, she had an unusually strong attachment to things – she may as well have been talking about me. We don’t have to hide feelings in front of material things and its almost as if they have unconditional love because there is no judgement from them.  WOW….. THAT totally makes PERFECT sense to me.  Everything in my childhood and who I am today clicked in that regard.

Another statement called out to me, “By gaining a clear standard by which I can judge things, I gained a great deal of confidence in myself.” Tidying results in confidence of your decision-making capacity. I personally lack confidence in my own judgement so it is no wonder I lack confidence in myself.  I look forward to changing that by going through this process.

She explains her confidence in her environment is because she is surrounded by things she loves, which in turn gives her confidence that she will be all right.  Well that explains why I feel most confident at my own home, hosting rather than going over to a family or friend’s house has been my preference.  My home is a reflection of me and what I love and it makes sense I feel confident in it.

This brings us to greeting your house and showing respect for the house and its contents.  The author typically wears a dress and blazer when tidying up as she sees it as a special celebration sending off things that will depart the house and feels the need to dress accordingly.  She believes by greeting the house, it will respond in kind and help tell one what is no longer needed and where things should be put so that the home and its occupants are optimally comfortable and happy.  Therefore it is suggested to greet your house every time you arrive, “Hello, I’m home!”  Thank your home for providing shelter.  If not aloud at least silently in your head.  By making this a habit, you will start to feel your house respond.  You will be able to feel where it would like you to tidy and where it wants you to put things.  Remember, you won’t find anyone more accepting of you than your home, so show your appreciation for all it does by tidying it.

Similar goes for your possessions.  All the things you own have a desire to be of use to you.  There is a reason why every single item you own belongs to you.  For those items that don’t spark joy, they simply want to leave the home.  If they have been in a closet untouched for how long, that item knows it is not bringing any joy and is of no use to you.  It is believed that whatever you let go will come back when it feels the desire to return to you in a different form.  So send off all your items with appreciation, “Thank you for finding me and have a good journey.  See you again soon!”

Tidying ought to be the act of restoring balance among people, their possessions and the house they live in.

It is common for clients to lose weight after this process.  Detoxing the house typically results in detoxing the body.  By cleaning the house of items, the air becomes cleaner by reducing dust.  And clients also tend to clean more because it is easier to spot things dirty.  Cleaning involves movement which is a form of exercise.  Once the house is clean there is more time to focus on other aspects of our lives including healthier eating and exercise.

We buy things for the same reason we eat, to satisfy a craving.  Impulse buying and excessive eating and drinking are attempts to alleviate stress.  The author noted that clients who parted with excess clothing tended to lose weight, those who discarded books and papers had a clearer mind, reducing makeup and keeping the bathroom clear reduced in better complexion.

This book states tidying dramatically changes one’s life for everyone 100%.  That is a bold statement and one I hope to be included in once I complete this process myself.  I am ready to dramatically transform my life!  Are you?!