NAVIGATION
Inspirational Quotes
Happiness Quotes
Intentional Living Quotes
Decluttering Quotes
Organizing Quotes
Hi, I’m Ryan
As a seasoned minimalist, I know it’s not always easy to make your home exude simplicity and functionality. Over the years, I’ve found that reading quotes from peers like Marie Kondo can serve as powerful inspiration for living a minimalist lifestyle both at home and in other aspects of life.
Marie Kondo is a renowned expert on home organization. She has helped millions of people all around the world transform their cluttered homes into welcoming spaces that create feelings of joy and tranquility. Her landmark KonMari method encourages living among items you truly enjoy, and it’s no surprise Marie Kondo’s quotes about adopting this method of decluttering and tidying up can help you find the material freedom to spark joy in your life.
Like Marie, I’ve learned the importance of creating a calming home that works for me. As a valued peer of mine in the simple living community, and I admire her determination in creating pristine spaces of joy and simplicity.
That being said, I’m not exactly a religious follower of her method. I feel that a perfectly organized home may not be attainable for many people — or families, in particular. This is something Marie Kondo admitted herself when she welcomed her third child into the world.
These differences aside, if you’re looking for powerful words to inspire you in your journey toward minimalism, Marie Kondo’s quotes are a wonderful place to start. An important note here: Remember to balance tidying up with focusing on the things that are most important to you. This way, you can be sure that you are doing what works best for you and aligns with your way of life.
The Most Famous Marie Kondo Quote
You might already be familiar with the question, “Does it spark joy?” It comes from Marie Kondo’s most famous quote from her book, and it guides readers on how to choose which items to keep when decluttering and organizing their homes. It’s applicable to all aspects of your life and it closely aligns with the minimalist concept of living with intent.
“The best way to choose what to keep and what to throw away is to take each item in one’s hand and ask: ‘Does this spark joy?’ If it does, keep it. If not, dispose of it. This is not only the simplest but also the most accurate yardstick by which to judge.”
Inspirational Marie Kondo Quotes To Live By
“People cannot change their habits without first changing their way of thinking.”
“If we can have confidence in our decisions and launch enthusiastically into action without any doubts holding us back, we will be able to achieve much more.”
“Life becomes far easier once you know that things will still work out even if you are lacking something.”
“The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life.”
“The objective of cleaning is not just to clean, but to feel happiness living within that environment.”
Marie Kondo Quotes On Happiness
Marie Kondo and I both understand that a life worth living is one that is intentional. This idea spills over into all aspects of life. Ideally, we are all intentional about how we live and about all the belongings we bring into our lives. Marie’s concept of whether an item sparks joy can be applied to the people in your life, the activities in your schedule, and even the thoughts in your head. When you want to feel inspired and fulfilled in your life, read the quotes below.
“The ultimate goal is to spark joy every day and lead a joyful 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.”
“Putting your house in order is the magic that creates a vibrant and happy life.”
“Being surrounded by things that bring joy makes you happy.”
“Believe what your heart tells you when you ask, “Does this spark joy?”
“No matter how wonderful things used to be, we cannot live in the past. The joy and excitement we feel here and now are more important.”
“Follow your intuition and all will be well.”
“Cherish the things you love. Cherish yourself.”
“As for you, pour your time and passion into what brings you the most joy, your mission in life.”
Marie Kondo Quotes On Living With Intent
Minimalism keeps growing in popularity and more people are in search of sources that teach them how to live with intent. Unlike myself, Marie Kondo is not a self-described minimalist. While the method laid out in her work The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing can result in the creation of a minimalist living space, minimalism is not her goal.
The focus of her approach lies not in discarding and having fewer things, but in choosing what to keep and living among items you truly cherish. Below are some of her quotes that relate to the core tenants of minimalism. Keep in mind, though, that minimalism is not the end-goal of her process.
“Many people have equated my tidying method with minimalism, but it’s quite different. Minimalism advocates living with less; the KonMari Method encourages living among items you truly cherish.”
“Joy is personal. Each individual’s ideal life — and space — will look different from the next. If minimalism is a lifestyle that sparks joy for someone, I encourage that; in the same way, if someone has determined that many items in their life spark joy, that’s okay, too!”
“We amass material things for the same reason that we eat — to satisfy a craving. Buying on impulse and eating and drinking to excess are attempts to alleviate stress.”
“The process of assessing how you feel about the things you own, identifying those that have fulfilled their purpose, expressing your gratitude, and bidding them farewell, is really about examining your inner self, a rite of passage to a new life.”
“What was it that motivated you to tidy in the first place? What do you hope to gain through tidying? Before you start getting rid of things, take the time to think this through carefully. This means visualizing the ideal lifestyle you dream of.”
“The true purpose of a present is to be received.”
“To truly cherish the things that are important to you, you must first discard those that have outlived their purpose. To throw away what you no longer need is neither wasteful nor shameful.”
Marie Kondo Quotes On Decluttering And Saying Goodbye
Decluttering and tidying up has long been a part of Japanese culture. The KonMari method transformed this art into practical steps people all around the world can take to create a serene living space. One of Marie Kondo’s main messages is that we must let our items go with gratitude. Respecting them and being grateful for their time is an important part of the Marie’s decluttering process. Choosing what to keep is just as important as letting go, and the quotes below can inspire you to move forward with your process.
“The inside of a house or apartment after decluttering has much in common with a Shinto shrine… a place where there are no unnecessary things, and our thoughts become clear.”
“Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset your life and embark on a new lifestyle.”
“The space in which we live should be for the person we are becoming now, not for the person we were in the past.”
“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.”
“In the end, all that will remain are the things that you really treasure. To truly cherish the things that are important to you, you must first discard those that have outlived their purpose.”
“Clutter obscures what’s most important. Discarding that which doesn’t support your ideal lifestyle creates space for treasured possessions to truly shine — and leaves room for future joy-sparking additions.”
“Just because you dispose of something does not mean you give up past experiences or your identity.”
“Clutter is caused by a failure to return things to where they belong. Therefore, storage should reduce the effort needed to put things away, not the effort needed to get them out.”
“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.”
“The process of facing and selecting our possessions can be quite painful. It forces us to confront our imperfections and inadequacies and the foolish choices we made in the past.”
“By acknowledging their contribution and letting them go with gratitude, you will be able to truly put the things you own, and your life, in order.”
Marie Kondo Quotes On Organizing And Tidying Up
After you declutter, it’s important to organize your home and find a place for the items you decide to keep. You should house them in a way that aligns with your daily routine. Marie uses the verb “tidying” much as I use the word “organizing.” Both describe the action of designating a spot for every item in your living space. By picking a designated spot for every one of your items, you may find it easier to put them back where they belong after using them. Read on for Marie Kondo quotes on how to organize your items and why.
“Tidy in the right order. As we’ve seen, there are only two tasks involved — discarding and deciding where to keep things. Just two, but discarding must come first. Be sure to completely finish the first task before starting the next. Do not even think of putting your things away until you have finished the process of discarding.”
“The best sequence is this: clothes first, then books, papers, komono (miscellany), and lastly, mementos.”
“The ultimate secret of success is this: If you tidy up in one shot, rather than little by little, you can dramatically change your mind-set.”
“If you are aiming for an uncluttered room, it is much more important to arrange your storage so that you can tell at a glance where everything is than to worry about the details of who does what, where, and when.”
“The essence of effective storage is this: designate a spot for every last thing you own.”
“When people revert to clutter no matter how much they tidy, it is not their room or their belongings but their way of thinking that is at fault.”
“Storage, after all, is the sacred act of choosing a home for my belongings.”
“Our real life begins after putting your house in order.”
“I begin my course with these words: Tidying is a special event. Don’t do it every day.”
“Tidying orders and relaxes the mind.”
“From the moment you start tidying, you will be compelled to reset your life. As a result, your life will start to change. That’s why the task of putting your house in order should be done quickly. It allows you to confront the issues that are really important. Tidying is just a tool, not the final destination. The true goal should be to establish the lifestyle you want most once your house has been put in order.”
“Tidying your physical space allows you to tend to your psychological space.”
“A dramatic reorganization of the home causes correspondingly dramatic changes in lifestyle and perspective. It is life transforming.”
“One reason so many of us never succeed at tidying is because we have too much stuff.”
“The lives of those who tidy thoroughly and completely, in a single shot, are without exception dramatically altered.”
“Visible mess helps distract us from the true source of the disorder.”
How To Use Marie Kondo Quotes As A Minimalist
I really respect Marie’s reverent approach to physical items. She recognizes that there’s an almost magical essence to each of our belongings, and that perspective changed my outlook on life. Over time, I also learned some practical methods that can add to the KonMari art of decluttering and organizing your home. The four-box method, for instance, is an approach to decluttering that I love telling my friends about. The simple lifestyle Marie endorses can even spill over to other aspects of your life, like how you eat and what you wear.
Marie Kondo is undoubtedly a guru in the realm of home organization and simple living. Use her powerful words to feel inspired whenever you need a push to move forward with your decluttering process or your journey toward minimalism.
- Have you ever asked yourself whether an item, person, or activity sparks joy in your life?
- Which of the quotes above inspired you most?
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