The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing (Magic Cleaning #1)

by Marie Kondō

“Tidying has far more effect than feng shui or power stones and other spiritual goods.”

one of the magical effects of tidying is confidence in your decision-making capacity.

But when we really delve into the reasons for why we can’t let something go, there are only two: an attachment to the past or a fear for the future.

The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life. Attachment to the past and fears concerning the future not only govern the way you select the things you own but also represent the criteria by which you make choices in every aspect of your life, including your relationships with people and your job.

Life becomes far easier once you know that things will still work out even if you are lacking something.

Selecting and discarding one’s possessions is a continuous process of making decisions based on one’s own values.

I believe that tidying is a celebration, a special send-off for those things that will be departing from the house, and therefore I dress accordingly.

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

Make your parting a ceremony to launch them on a new journey. Celebrate this occasion with them. I truly believe that our possessions are even happier and more vibrant when we let them go than when we first get them.

It’s a very strange phenomenon, but when we reduce what we own and essentially “detox” our house, it has a detox effect on our bodies as well.

Feng shui is a method for increasing good fortune by organizing one’s living environment.

If you can say without a doubt, “I really like this!” no matter what anyone else says, and if you like yourself for having it, then ignore what other people think.

As for you, pour your time and passion into what brings you the most joy, your mission in life.