The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

In the final chapter, Kondō blends anecdotal evidence, spiritual philosophy, and motivational psychology to convey the transformative effects of the KonMari method. The author begins by describing how her early love of organizing spaces was fulfilled in primary school when she volunteered for the role of classroom tidier. Eventually, she realized that she could turn her passion into a profession. The author claims that the tidying process similarly prompts her clients to discover their vocation or purpose. For example, a client who worked in IT realized that all the books she had chosen to keep were about social welfare. During the tidying process, she also recalled how much she once enjoyed babysitting. Consequently, the client quit her job and launched a babysitting company. While anecdotal, this example illustrates how decluttering may prompt reflection on values and passions, catalyzing a lifestyle change.

Kondō asserts that her method changes her clients’ lives dramatically in part because the process builds confidence in one’s own judgment. Furthermore, many clients lose weight and look healthier after completing the KonMari method. The author suggests that decluttering reduces dust and cleanses the air while also prompting an inner “detox” of body and mind. Additionally, a tidy home allows one to focus on a healthier lifestyle, which often includes more exercise. These claims frame the effects of her method as both practical and spiritual. The focus on a cleaner, healthier home and an improvement in appearance conveys tangible results, while the concept of an inner detox suggests less measurable psychological benefits.

Kondō asserts that reluctance to discard items that do not spark joy stems from two causes: an over-attachment to the past or anxiety about the future. These emotional burdens prevent individuals from assessing their current needs. This notion aligns with psychological concepts of avoidance, unresolved grief, or future uncertainty. By reframing decisions around the present moment, Kondō encourages mindfulness. This practice has gained traction as a therapeutic approach in 21st-century psychiatry/psychology, lending credence to Kondō’s claims that the KonMari method changes anxious mindsets. For example, her clients have occasionally discovered that they need an item that they discarded in the tidying process, such as a document. However, they reported experiencing no stress as they resolved the problem by taking positive action. The anecdote suggests that Kondō’s technique promotes resilience and adaptability, though it may underestimate the difficulty that individuals with more severe forms of trauma or mental illness may face in implementing her advice.

Kondō greets each client’s house in a formal ritual that has its foundations in Shinto worship. She also demonstrates respect for the house by dressing in formal workwear. The author encourages readers to similarly converse with their homes, claiming that they will notice a new positive energy in their domestic space. The tidying process will also be more effective as readers will instinctively understand what their house needs. This reframes tidying from a logistical task to the spiritual practice of creating a harmonious rapport with one’s home. Although Kondō’s Shinto-based rituals may not resonate universally, they suggest a more general philosophy of respecting one’s domestic space.

The author highlights similarities between the KonMari method and the ancient Japanese practice of feng shui, which is based on the belief that good fortune arises from organizing one’s living space in the most natural way. She suggests that her technique also promotes living “in the most natural state possible” (228), as individuals are relaxed and at their most authentic when surrounded by belongings that spark joy. By aligning her method with feng shui, Kondō situates her ideas within a broader East Asian tradition of creating spatial harmony.

Kondō clarifies that items do not have to be objectively beautiful to “spark joy.” Joy is subjective, based on personal resonance rather than external standards. One of her own favorite items is an old T-shirt featuring the cartoon character Kiccoro. Although others might consider it unattractive, the T-shirt makes her happy, and she will not part with it. This principle empowers individuals to trust their own feelings rather than conform to cultural, social, or design-based expectations of beauty or good taste. Kondō’s admission also makes the concept of perfectionism in her method less intimidating. Rather than striving for a universal aesthetic ideal, individuals should focus on creating an environment that is perfect for them. For readers, this reduces guilt and self-consciousness about keeping certain items, making the method more sustainable.

In conclusion, Kondō states that once readers have completed the tidying process, they can move forward in life, focusing on caring for the possessions they love and pursuing their passions. This motivational rhetoric positions tidying as a life-changing catalyst rather than a household chore, making her method inspirational to readers seeking personal transformation.