Today, we are talking about the sixth and final principle of the KonMari Method: Ask Yourself If It Sparks Joy. It is the cornerstone of Marie Kondo’s organizing philosophy and is intended to help you decide what to keep rather than what to get rid of. Your feelings are the gold standard for deciding what to do with your belongings. Listening to your feelings will build your confidence and decision-making skills.
Other organizing methods teach decluttering through external guidelines such as discarding items you haven’t used in the last six months, keeping only x items, and getting rid of one thing per day. The KonMari Method is different and encourages people to create their own personal criteria based on how they want to live and what they want to keep.
Joy Checking
When going through your belongings, pick up one object at a time and ask yourself, “Does this spark joy?” Joy can be a physical sensation in your body, so when something sparks joy, you may feel a little thrill or excitement. If something serves a more practical purpose, like a hammer, joy may be the function it provides in your life.
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By choosing only the things that bring you joy, you will have a much clearer idea of what you actually want and need in your home.
