Spark Joy

Come along with your hosts, Kristyn Ivey and Karin Socci as we explore some of the most common KonMari myths and missteps in today’s Spark Joy Podcast episode. As the KonMari philosophy has become more and more mainstream, blog posts, magazine articles and videos have come out viewing KonMari through a critical and challenging lens. These perspectives are sometimes based on misunderstandings or misreadings of Konmari concepts and sometimes these misinterpretations occur as missteps while practicing KonMari. In this episode, we will discuss our thoughts on these myths and provide some practical tips on how to avoid falling into these missteps. Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you'll enjoy: Joy Checks! What is Sparking Joy for Kristyn today: a very cute For the Love of Tidy branded onesie for her niece who is due any day now. What is Sparking Joy for Karin today: restoring an antique wooden doll bed for her niece’s birthday Learn about some common KonMari myths: Konmari equals minimalism/minimalism is KonMari Konmari is a selfish activity, fundamentally concerned only with material possession KonMari encourages to you to throw out everything you own to the point where you are either left with nothing or you need to immediately buy new things Learn about some common KonMari missteps: Skipping the step where you envision your ideal lifestyle and living environment Forgetting to honor and acknowledge items for their usefulness especially when you are letting them go Not completing all the categories Thinking about storage and organization before the sorting is completed Being overly concerned with the clutter of other people See what Marie Kondo’s home really looks like: Correction: It has come to our attention that the original article and photograph listed here was a parody article written for April Fool's Day and NOT a house tour of Marie Kondo's apartment. Photographs of Marie Kondo's home have not been made publicly available. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused. Read about what some critics say about the KonMari Method: Why Decluttering Guru Marie Kondo is Wrong Why I Absolutely Refuse to KonMari My Life Does It Spark Joy is the Wrong Decluttering Question The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving a F* Review the importance of the vision statement in Spark Joy Episodes: Episode 1 KonMari 101 Episode 5 The KonMari Lifestyle Our advice to a listener who asks how to address categories when you have items within a category in hard to get to places. Does not being able to completely sort by category mean you are not doing KonMari correctly? Gems: “There’s no right number of things a person should have.” “You can keep ALL of the shoes!” “Time is the most important commodity as opposed to things.” “You’re saying goodbye in a respectful way and you’re putting a positive message out there.”

Artist Jaye Schlesinger paints the 380 objects that remained after committing to decluttering her home and life for her exhibit "Possessed." Our guest, Jaye Schlesinger, is an award winning artist from Ann Arbor, Michigan, who specializes in oil paintings of common objects and abstracts. Her recent solo exhibit “Possessed” caught our attention. It includes 380 individual paintings of all of her possessions inspired by minimalism and simplified living. It sparks joy for Jaye to explore the metaphorical possibilities of painting the mundane. Jaye gave us a peek into the lifestyle change that inspired her creative process and story. To connect with Jaye, visit www.jayeschlesinger.com. While you’re there, peruse her portfolio and contact her to purchase high quality reproductions of her artwork in a variety of sizes. Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you'll enjoy: How the movie Tiny, The Minimalists Podcast, the documentary Minimalism, and experiencing a flood in her home inspired Jaye to start letting go of her personal possessions What Jaye's parameters for joy are, which include usefulness and beauty How being led to paint the items that sparked joy kept Jaye accountable during the decluttering process How Jaye divided her possessions from her husband's, followed by discussions about the "ours" items How Jaye enjoyed the structure this project provided within her studio time. Each painting took 2-3 days to complete and the project extended over two years How painting things gave Jaye a chance to meditate and connect to the true meaning behind some of the objects, especially the ones that were deemed sentimental Why Jaye continues to return to the still life painting How seemingly ordinary objects connect us How Jaye's husband reacted to her ruthless minimization What Jaye did to help her minimize regret What sparks joy for Jaye: Jaye's two grandchildren and three custom end tables she's building for her new home Gems: "These things of everyday life connect us. But, they are so overlooked. We take them for granted." "Less is more." "When you decide to keep a few things, they become stronger in some way." "It was always more about being deliberate than being minimal per se." Special Guest: Jaye Schlesinger.

Meg Brunson, multi-passionate mama and former Facebook employee shares tips on how to provide a better life for her family through entrepreneurship. Our guest today is Meg Brunson. Meg is a multi-passionate mama living in Phoenix, AZ with her husband and 4 young daughters. She is a serial entrepreneur and a former Facebook employee, striving to provide a better life for her family through entrepreneurship. She is the founder of EIEIO Marketing, the host of the FamilyPreneur Podcast, and recently helped her 10 year old launch her first business. In this episode, you'll enjoy: -You'll learn how Meg started her business and her motivation for becoming an entrepreneur. -Meg's tips for teaching your children critical thinking skills. -How she and her daughter drilled down to find the perfect value statement that created Story Time with Kiki: Story Time with Kiki -The importance of the calendar in managing a busy household with kids. -How Meg and her husband support their girl's passion for learning. -Meg's strong passion for helping kids set and achieve their goals. -Using setbacks and challenges as a way to help kids be resourceful and resilient. -Meg's favorite resources for building a great business: A CRM platform: Dubsado A scheduling platform: Acuity Scheduling -And, hey, we all need a good resource for relaxing! Winc To connect with Meg, you can visit her at her website: www.megbrunson.com Or her marketing website: www.eieiomarketing.com She's on Twitter: @themegbrunson, Instagram: themegbrunson and Pinterest: themegbrunson Her facebook is: Meg Brunson on Facebook She's the editor at: Phoenix Kids Out and About And Kiki's website is: Story Time with Kiki Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week's show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast. What sparks joy for Meg: Her kids "those happy moments, their smiles and giggles" The freedom of working from home and being able to spend spontaneous moments with the kids while pursuing her entrepreneurial dreams. Gems: "We should be paving additional paths for our children." "Drill down to the thing you know the best and find the value proposition within that knowledge." "Turn their questions back on your kids. Get them to explore the question themselves." "If you are passionate about it, I really believe you can make it happen." "I'm going to have those good resources. I'm just going to have to build them out myself!"Special Guest: Meg Brunson.

Kizmat Tention, super mom by day, super wife by night, helps us take off our masks to find our authentic self. Super mom by day, super wife by night, and invisible all of the time. This is what happens when you retire the Superhero cape, remove the masks, and begin the journey of, "Who am I? How did I get here? And how long will it take to pick up all of the broken little pieces of my life?" Our guest today is Kizmat Tention. Kizmat is a life coach and author who has been making big waves with her new book, Broken Little Pieces: Invisible. Since then, she's been touring and speaking about her work and sharing her very powerful message of finding your authentic self. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and two children. In this episode, you'll enjoy: You'll hear how Kizmat began to recognize that she had been given, and had taken on, identities, roles and masks throughout her life that had keep her from her true self. How masks are passed along to us and how they can damage not only our true selves, but also our relationships and those around us. The role that birth order can play in our development. Kizmat talks about her "middle child" position and Karin shares an "oldest child" memory! Here's a good article on birth order theory: How Birth Order Affects Your Child's Personality and Behavior Learn how to begin moving away from our masks and our toxic identities AND how this fits in with the KonMari Method. How clutter reflects our emotional space. Kizmat talks about the "revolving door of emotion" within our homes, going back and forth from obsess orderliness and giving up on it all. To connect with Kizmat,you can visit www.brokenlittlepieces.com and follow her on FB at Broken Little Pieces: Broken Little Pieces on Facebook,or on twitter @kizzymat on Instagram at Kizmat Tention. Her book, Broken Little Pieces: Invisible, can be purchased here: Broken Little Pieces: Invisible on Amazon Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week's show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast. What sparks joy for Kizmat: "When people are brave." She loves inspiring others to be a light in the world via her FaceBook group and her online community. Kizmat's final words of wisdom: "Don't be afraid to go and create your own lane." Gems: "It's a journey to take all of the pieces to create the mosaic of your life's mural." "Marriage multiples what is already there." "How long have I felt invisible?" "Regret and perfectionism are companions. We fear having regrets, thus propelling our mindset into the ways of perfectionism." "What am I holding onto and why? What reward are you getting from it?" "Change the dialogue of failure." "You see their glory, but you don't see their story." "Inspire someone daily."Special Guest: Kizmat Tention.

Karin and Kristyn explore the Swedish art of death cleaning and how it integrates with the KonMari lifestyle. In this episode, we review The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson. Instead of “does it spark joy,” we explore the question “will anyone I know be happier if I save this?” We review what parts of Death Cleaning sparked joy and what left us wanting more, as we compare this tool to the KonMari Method. We also apply both death cleaning and KonMari to answer a listener's question about managing clothing and papers. Now, we want to hear from you. Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: Joy checks! Karin consolidated her storage locker space in NYC and Kristyn is moving to a new neighborhood in Chicago The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson How "Dostadning," Swedish for "dealth cleaning," focuses on disposing of things prior to passing on How Marie Kondo feels about death cleaning Margareta Magnusson's background and experience death cleaning after her parents, husband, and mother-in-law passed away Questions that you can use to spark conversation around death and possessions across generations Why you shouldn't assume your loved ones will have the time and energy to examine your items after you've passed The age when you should start death cleaning The exception you may need to make while you're walking through KonMari clutter categories in order What we wished death cleaning included to aid in decision making Our advice for a spark joy listener who struggles with maintaining her tidy when it comes to clothing and paper Practical tips on how you should properly organize or give away your sentimental and valuable possessions before you pass Gems: “Will anyone I know be happier if I save this?” “If you can’t keep track of your things you know you have too many.” “If I don’t know the names of the people in the photos, nobody else in the family is likely to.”

Karin's client, Alex Erickson, found a new career path amongst his clutter and is now a practicing KonMari Consultant trainee. Today’s guest is Alex Erickson. Alex is a personal fitness trainer in the process of completing his KonMari consultant certification. Prior to this, he was a professional model. Alex and his husband, Edgar, decided to tidy their new home together using the KonMari Method after their recent wedding. Alex enlisted Karin to help him with the KonMari process in their Brooklyn home (they've recently moved to Manhattan). Not only did he do an amazing job with the process and was delightful to work with, he was so inspired by the KonMari Method, that he decided to pursue becoming a consultant on his own. He recently completed the KonMari consultant training seminar last October and is now working on his practice sessions towards certification. In this episode, follow Alex along his journey toward tidying his home with his husband, Edgar, as they learn about themselves and each other. He'll also share how he decided to become a consultant and what he has experienced with his first clients on the way to certification! To connect with Alex, you can find him on his new Instagram @hotmessorganizers. His email address is: alexandererickson@yahoo.com His new KonMari Consulting business is called Hot Mess Organizing. Website coming soon! Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: How Alex decided he was ready for the KonMari Method and why he decided to hire a KonMari Consultant How Alex got his husband on board and how they faced their fears and challenges together. How Alex used Marie Kondo’s quote,“The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life.", to help motivate him to move forward with the process. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing How Alex used a Big Box to help with the sorting process. It really worked! Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up How this quote helped Alex decide to become a KonMari Consultant himself: “The true goal should be to establish the lifestyle you want most once your house has been put in order.” The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing Alex’s Favorite Tidying Tips: Designate a temporary area for things that need to be sorted as you are working through the process. Keep in mind that any item in any category can feel sentimental, so save them for last. What sparks joy for Alex: Our big Chinese Good Luck cat! But, most importantly, my husband, Edgar! Gems: “As long as you have a somewhat open mind, you will be perfect for the KonMari method.” “You’re getting rid of a safety blanket. I had to let go of a lot of false security.” “It forced me to hold myself accountable for my own actions. I can make sure that my own items are tidy.” “When you face the clutter in your house, you are facing yourself.” “I did a fearless inventory of the material items I possessed.”Special Guest: Alex Erickson.

Dr. Melva Green, author, psychiatrist, and spiritual healer as seen on A&E's hit show “Hoarders” discusses the importance of making breathing room as you declutter mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Dr. Melva Green is best known for her work on the critically acclaimed A&E series Hoarders. She is a psychiatrist and spiritual healer specializing in REAL LIFE living. Dr. Green is the co-author of Breathing Room: Open You Heart by Decluttering Your Home, a wonderful blend of personal stories interwoven into a clear, practical guide on decluttering. In this episode, Dr. Green discusses the importance of slowing down, taking a breath, and leading with compassion before we jump into the clutter. We also discuss the do's and don'ts associated with identifying and treating someone with a hoarding disorder and associated signs and resources. To connect with Dr. Green, you can find her at www.drmelvagreen.com as well as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube at @drmelva. Dr. Green is offering our listeners a discounted, signed copy of Breathing Room using the following link: http://bit.ly/2qM2pVB Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: What led Dr. Green to take a leap of faith, close her practice, declutter, and move to Costa Rica The moments leading up to Dr. Green getting the call to be an expert on A&E's Hoarders How Dr. Green's book, Breathing Room: Open Your Heart by Decluttering Your Home evolved into a collaborative project with co-author Dr. Lauren Rosenfeld How Dr. Green's spiritual approach to therapy broadened her client's experience and given client's permission to pursue another path and reduce shame The role anxiety plays in disorganization How being kind to yourself can shift the heart space to the self love and tenderness required to start the process How the SLICE method (Stop & Listen, Intend, Clearing the Energy), a three step process described in Breathing Room, can help you jump start your journey to organization Signs a loved one's life may be impacted by hoarding Why common statistics tracking hoarding disorder misrepresent the scope of the public burden due to the "hidden" nature of the problem How trauma is often at the core of a hoarding crisis How in over 14 years, only two of Dr. Green's clutter clients were so resistant to change they couldn't be helped How the support system of family can help hoarders successfully dig out and recover How Dr. Green listens to her clients and reminds them to stop and breathe to hold a clear space Dr. Green recommends resources on wwww.hoarders.org , including a scale to help you determine if you meet the clinical criteria for a hoarding disorder Dr. Green's favorite tidying tip: Breathe... What sparks the most joy for Dr. Green: Her son starting at Stanford University! Gems: "Most of our clutter is unconscious." "The mess is not IN the way, it's PART OF the way." "Clutter is the external manifestation of what's going on in our internal space." "When we stop and breathe we're able to get a sense of what needs to go and what needs to stay."Special Guest: Melva Green.

Patty Morrissey, KonMari Consultant, shows us how to start the year defining and tracking success on our own terms by combining the power of KonMari, Ben Franklin Circles, and life key performance indicators (KPIs). Our guest, Patty Morrissey, is a certified KonMari Consultant based in Huntington, NY. Patty is dedicated to helping people throughout her dynamic career as a nanny, social worker, college student affairs administrator, corporate social responsibility manager, non-profit director, and entrepreneur. She is a lifestyle and organizing consultant, who believes our homes should “Spark Joy” and that our own definition of success is the only one that matters. In this episode, you'll learn about life management tools that complement your KonMari path and help you spark joy where it counts! Patty shares how to keep score of what matters by applying key performance indicators (KPIs) (commonly used in corporate environments) to your own life. We also explore the impact of Ben Franklin Circles, which help people improve themselves and the world by practicing 13 timeless virtues. To connect with Patty, visit www.pattymorrissey.com and follow her @pattymorrissey on Instagram and Facebook. For more information on Ben Franklin Circles, visit www.benfranklincircles.org. Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: How reading The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up during a four hour commute led Patty to leave corporate america to become a KonMari Consultant How Patty was left with a physical and emotional void after completing her KonMari tidying event that she continues fill more intentionally How Patty rationalized letting go of a majority of her journals and kept reflection papers to share on the Mortified podcast one day How Patty's brave clients encourage her to continue to revisit certain clutter categories How a ruthless focus on key performance indicators at her corporate job led Patty to take a step back and track what was going on in her own life Patty's Life KPIs: Meals with my family; Visits with friends; Walks in nature; Dates with my husband; New experiences How you can start developing your own life KPIs: Key Performance Indicators for Life How Ben Franklin's 13 virtues (created over 300 years ago) apply to modern life, serve as the foundation for the Ben Franklin Circle community, and complement your KonMari tidying event Ben Franklin's Virtues: Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Moderation, Cleanliness, Chastity, Tranquility, and Humility How Ben Franklin Circles create a safe space and permission to be honest about what's going on in your life How Patty's Spirit Walk project satisfies many of her life KPIs Why we all agree David Allen's Getting Things Done system continues to helps us lower our mental RAM How Patty's Today show appearance for being "messy" 12 years ago was the start of her trial-and-error filled journey to order How peak levels of consumption has created a new problem for our generation that's led us to examine our relationship with stuff and change our habits Patty's favorite tidying tip: Sit down with your spouse and write down your individual home responsibilities/tasks on notecards to assess how much you actually have to do. Revisit and redistribute responsibilities accordingly to ensure a healthy distribution. What sparks the most joy for Patty: All aspects of planning, preparing for, and anticipating her daughter's halloween costume and anticipating the experience Gems: "Personal growth does require some element of discomfort." "Papers really represent undone tasks." "It was not my employer's responsibility to make sure I'm living my best life, it was my responsibility." "The magic of the Ben Franklin Circle is the observation of the daily review." "Recognize how much you actually have to do and realize it's impossible for you to do it all." "Find your group that you can be you with and safely change within." Special Guest: Patty Morrissey.

Spark Joy co-hosts and KonMari Consultants, Karin and Kristyn, talk KonMari basics. In this episode, Spark Joy co-hosts take a look at KonMari basics and share their experiences as KonMari Consultants. The history of the KonMari Method along with basic concepts of KonMari organization are covered. Marie Kondo developed this organization methodology based on her experience as a professional organizer in Japan. She found that tidying could be completed thoroughly and that relapse could be avoided by following a particular order and focusing on whether an item sparks joy. Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: Learning how Marie Kondo created the KonMari Method, as found in her first book, The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up Interesting facts about Marie and the beginnings of the KonMari Method How Marie’s childhood factored into her role as a future organizer: Marie Kondo Remembers How the KonMari mission to “organize the world” has expanded into a worldwide the training program to certify KonMari Consultants Fundamental Concepts of KonMari: Tidying by category instead of location Clothing Books Paper Komono (miscellaneous items) Sentimental Sparking Joy Once and Forever Event The Power of the Pile The Folding Method How Konmari can impact other areas of your life such as your health, finances, and maybe even your love life! Gems: “You don’t have to get rid of everything that doesn’t make your heart swoon.” “It’s important to pull everything from everywhere.” “Transferring love respect and gratitude through the palms of your hands.” Spark Joy the podcast is not endorsed by or affiliated with KonMari Media, Inc. The opinions expressed on this episode represent the views of the co-hosts and guests alone, and do not represent the corporate position of KonMari Media, Inc or the KonMari consultant community.

Karin and Kristyn wind down the year with a look back at some of the shows that made the biggest impact on them and on you, our listeners! During the show, we play some of our favorite clips and talk about the impact they have made on us and how they influenced our work as KonMari consultants. Creating a podcast that focused on the KonMari Method has been our shared vision since the very end of 2016. We spent the first half of 2017 researching, preparing and putting all the pieces together and finally launched on August 31st. We are so grateful to all of our guests for their talents, wonderful stories and the amazing tips and tools they shared with us. Our listeners have been amazing. We have learned so much via your questions, comments and feedback. Thank you for being a part of Spark Joy! Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast. Before we get to our highlights, we ask, “What have sparked the most joy this year?” We would love to hear what sparked the most joy for you! Email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com and share your most joyful moments of 2017. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: We share big news: Spark Joy Podcast has been downloaded over 40,000 times! Two listeners sent us great questions: Sara asked about how to apply KonMari principles to the ongoing struggle of paper management in a busy family. Ep 9 | Tidying by Location is a Fatal Mistake Spark Joy Episode 9 Kimberly’s question was about how to determine what sparks joy when it comes to seasonal items, in this case, Halloween costumes. Ep 13 | Does It Spark Joy? Spark Joy Episode 13 And now, on to our favorite clips! Ep 2 | Meet Marie Kondo’s First Employee Jenny Ning Jenny Ning, Marie Kondo’s first employee in the US, shares what it’s like to work for the Queen of Tidy and her journey from KonMari super fan to Bay area home organizer. To connect with Jenny Ning, you can visit her at www.jennyning.com or follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@jennyorganizes). Spark Joy Episode 2 Ep 3 | Face Your Stuff with Dorothy The Organizer Dorothy Breininger, author and veteran professional organizer as seen on A&E’s hit show “Hoarders” sorts out the mind-body-home clutter connection and related addictions. To connect with Dorothy Breininger, you can visit her website, www.dorothytheorganizer.com for free tips, videos, newsletters, organizing resources for your life, home, office, and relationships. Be sure to check out her book “Stuff Your Face or Face Your Stuff” via her website or Amazon. Also, check her out on the hit show “Hoarders” on A&E. Spark Joy Episode 3 Ep 6 | Declutter Your Path to Wealth with Tess Wicks Tess Wicks, personal finance coach and educator, breaks down the journey to financial independence into key actions and makes the connection between our priorities, the things we acquire, and our life vision. To connect with Tess Wicks visit www.wanderwealthy.com and join the Wander Wealthy community on Facebook and YouTube. Also, check out Tess’ podcast Words and Money. Spark Joy Episode 6 Ep 7 | Design and the Future of Minimalism with Lloyd Alter Lloyd Alter, architect and design editor of Tree Hugger magazine, helps us understand our changing relationship with our possessions and how the upcoming generation will view design and functionality. To connect with Lloyd, you can visit Treehugger, https://www.treehugger.com, Mother Nature Network, https://www.mnn.com, or follow him Twitter @lloydalter and Lloyd Alter on Facebook. Spark Joy Episode 7 The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter by Margareta Magnusson The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning Ep 8 | Make Bold Moves with The Traveling Organizer Holly Southerland Our guest, Holly Southerland is a professional organizer who has been traveling nationwide since 2008 helping families and entrepreneurs get unstuck and find peace in their homes. To connect with Holly Southerland, visit Waco Home Organizers (www.wacohomeorganizers.com) or email info@wacohomeorganizers.com. You can also follow her on Facebook or Instagram at @holly_southerland Spark Joy Episode 8 Ep 11 | [Tidy] Like a Mind Reader with Jonathan Pritchard Jonathan Pritchard, professional mind reader and author, opens his psychological toolkit to help us apply the predictive art of mind reading to reach personal goals across all areas of our life. To connect with or hire Jonathan, you can visit www.likeamindreader.com. His book Think Like a Mind Reader is available on Amazon (http://amzn.to/2yb9WwC). Spark Joy Episode 11 Gems “We are proud to announce since we launched Spark Joy on August 31st of this year we’ve received over 40,000 downloads!” “It starts as just a means to get the house in order, but I don’t think most of us really expect the snowball effect!” “The clutter never lies and the truth is often in the clutter.” “I remembered resistance I receive from clients around trying something a new way because obviously my way isn’t working.” “This idea that we honor the item by showing appreciation for what it meant to us, and making sure the item goes on to it’s next useful life.” “I believe that organizing is really just lots and lots of small steps and lots and lots of small decisions.” “It’s ok if every rule in the book is not a perfect fit for your life! If you even apply 50% of the method you’ll notice an improvement in your lifestyle, so it’s not an all or nothing deal.” “We’ve got an amazing line-up for 2018, more guests who exude joy and embody the KonMari lifestyle that we’ll share them with you each-and-every Tuesday.”

Amanda Jefferson, KonMari Consultant, shows us how to Delegate, Defer, Diminish, and Delete our way to a stress free holiday season. Our guest, Amanda Jefferson, is a certified KonMari Consultant who serves the western suburbs of Philadelphia. After a successful 20 year career in academia, corporations, and non-profit leadership, Amanda now channels her passion for helping others by creating homes that are peaceful, stress-free and efficient. In this episode, you'll learn how to navigate the holidays using the 4 Ds. Amanda also shares tips on how to manage paper organization with three simple tools. This episode is less about getting more done and more about having less to do! To connect with Amanda, visit www.indigoorganizing.com and follow her on Instagram @indigo_organizing. Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: How a mid-life crisis that Amanda lovingly named a "Creative Renaissance" led Amanda to shift gears to professional organizing How tackling the "Paper" KonMari category made Amanda want to run and hide How career threads such as helping people, making operations more efficient, and an interest in positive social psychology and energy/time management tie into her KonMari practice How to apply the Four Ds to declutter your holiday experience and fill it with joy: Delegate, Defer, Diminish, and Delete Amanda's Worksheet: Getting from Stress to Joy with the 4Ds Ways you can spark conversations that change traditions and shift attention to fewer better things and more experiences The three tools you need to manage all of your paper Apps that incorporate a scan feature: Google Drive , Evernote , Dropbox How to make paper management fun by finding office supplies that spark joy Independent scanner apps: Tiny Scan , Genius Scan , CamScanner Amanda's favorite tidying tip: Keeping things bite-sized. Set a timer for 1 hour and dive into one category (or subcategory) What sparks the most joy for Amanda: Making Chatbooks - Photo books for people that don't have time to do photo books Gems: "Having a home that runs efficiently is really the difference between sanity and total burn out." "If your friends think you're crazy, you're doing something right." Delegate: "Make all of your holiday meals potluck." Defer: "Send New Years cards instead of holiday cards." Diminish: "Don't go all out with holiday decor. Buy a simple wreath and set white lights on a timer." Delete: "Don't exchange gifts as adults. Only exchange gifts for the children." "There should be a very, very high bar for an actual sheet of paper that stays in your home." "What is the action associated with this piece of paper?" "When in doubt, scan."Special Guest: Amanda Jefferson.

Doug Marshall hesitated to start tidying his closet, but immediately noticed profound changes taking place in his life as he moved through his KonMari tidying event. Our guest, Doug Marshall, is an entertainment and lifestyle writer, on-camera host, and social media content strategist. He recently had an article published in Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine on how to KonMari your closet and participated in a follow-on TV segment with Fox9 in the Twin Cities. Doug is a Spark Joy fan who KonMari’d his closet over 10 days in preparation for a big move from New York to Minneapolis. The impact the process had on his life still shines through his spirit and he sparks joy by continuing to share his story via media outlets, blogs and social media. In this episode, we discuss KonMari from the male perspective, how Doug KonMari'd his closet over ten days and the impact the process had on his life. We talk about ways to get over the initial hurdle of getting started, and some physical and emotional challenges to anticipate. We also discuss how Doug has attracted opportunities to continue to share his closet transformation, which has inspired others to let go. To connect with Doug, you can find him on Instagram @theworldofdoug or visit him at www.theworldofdoug.com. Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: How Doug went from saying "I will never do that [KonMari]" to writing a blog article about the impact the tidying process and appearing on Fox 9's The Jason Show How the KonMari Method helped Doug move from New York to Minneapolis The highs and lows of executing KonMari in the span of 10 days How Doug's body reacted to anxiety related to preparing for the decluttering process How Doug related to Marie Kondo's use of organization to feel safe in a world she had no control over How by examining his relationship to what stayed made room for Doug's style to be revealed to him How Doug's shopping habits are way more deliberate post-KonMari How Doug's husband reacted to his tidying quest How Doug attracted opportunities that helped him establish his voice How KonMari serves as a gateway to new beginnings and creative projects What sparks joy for Doug: "Opportunities like this!" Gems: "I'm a big believer that if you put something out into the universe, the universe shows up for you." "I trust her [Marie Kondo], I can do this." "There was so much stuff in my closet that wasn't sparking joy, that I couldn't see the stuff that did." "By the time I got rid of what didn't spark joy, my style revealed itself to me." "I don't buy anything in a store now if it doesn't spark joy." "I want to feel clean, free, grounded, and on time." "Whatever you get rid of will come back to you in a different form." "My mind is more clear and I'm open and available for more opportunities." "There is literally nothing in my life right now that does not spark joy."Special Guest: Doug Marshall.

Christine O'Brien's mission is to help mom's create calm and joyful lives. A Certified Simplicity Parenting Coach and KonMari enthusiast with over a decade of experience, Christine coaches women to create home environments that support harmony and connection. Christine coaches from the heart, using joy as a guide and her clients find so much peace in having less, doing less, and editing their lives and their homes with intention. In this episode, Christine will share her unique approach in helping moms find their own path in creating an intention-filled life. Christine transformed her space with the support of her husband and their young, spirited daughter. You can follow Christine on her website, Creating Calm Coach, on Facebook at Christine O'Brien Coach or on Instagram @creatingcalmcoach. Download her Free Creating Calm Checklist. Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: Christine’s private Facebook group community, KonMari Method: Life-changing Magic for anyone working through the KonMari tidying process Christine’s virtual consulting program, From Chaos to Calm, which consists of group and individual support for making joyful transitions How Christine combines two powerful schools of thought to inform the way she supports moms to relax into full presence with their children: Simplicity Parenting and the KonMari Method Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne Re-occurring KonMari related pain points that may sound familiar: 1) feeling too overwhelmed to start, 2) getting stuck at some point in the middle of the process, and 3) uncertainty regarding doing KonMari with a family How to guide a family through the process and how to find the joy click-point when you have growing kids How speaking to your items can “soften” and facilitate letting them go How focusing on the positive and the joy can apply to your vision for fitness and diet Learning about Brene Brown , who says that gratitude creates Joy Christine’s favorite tidying tip: “Tune in to your intuition and trust your joy checks.” What sparks joy for Christine: Her family and the transformation she has witnessed as a result of this process. She’s joyful about sharing this way of living! Gems: “The toys she’s interested in change all the time.” “As you get more in tune with what brings you joy, more space develops for experiencing joy.” “Put your oxygen mask on first and make sure you complete your tidying first before you move on to your children.” “Different personalities come out for display when you do KonMari with a family.” “What? Talk to my clothes? Say thank you and goodbye?!” “The process is about connection and not perfection.” Spark Joy the podcast is not endorsed by or affiliated with KonMari Media, Inc. The opinions expressed on this episode represent the views of the co-hosts and guests alone, and do not represent the corporate position of KonMari Media, Inc or the KonMari consultant community.Special Guest: Christine O'Brien.

Karin and Kristyn discuss the fundamental KonMari question: Does it spark joy? In this episode, we discuss what "spark joy" truly means and how to apply it to your tidying event. We share practical tips on how to build your own personal awareness of joy and how to apply this concept to your decision-making. The term will start to become part of your vocabulary and you’ll see joy everywhere. But first, we begin by sharing what's sparking joy for us today. We also answer a great question from a Spark Joy listener about how to determine what sparks joy when it comes to seasonal items, in this case, Halloween costumes. Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at  www.sparkjoypodcast.com, email us at  contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, or on Twitter at @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: Learning the Japanese language origins of the phrase, "spark joy." The Japanese translation is Tokimeku ときめく, which means "to flutter with a little thrill" in the same way that we describe how our hearts can flutter with joyful emotion when something makes us happy or excited How Marie Kondo demonstrates what sparking joy looks like while interacting with possessions. See videos below: -- Marie Kondo: Organize the World: Design Your Life to Spark Joy - SXSW 2017 -- Marie Kondo explains Spark Joy How to avoid getting caught up in how many things you're keeping or discarding instead of focusing on the joy Being reminded of the importance of vision, as discussed in Episode 5, to keep your thoughts future-focused and in tune with the quality of life you envision for yourself How to set a high joy bar by developing a criteria for what stays and what goes How considering the passage of time and your evolution as a person can help you understand whether something is part of your future or just hanging out from the past Marie Kondo states, “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 Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up "If it makes you happy, then the right choice is to keep it confidently, regardless of what anyone else says." Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up Gems: “The practice is to pay attention to how your body reacts when you’re holding your possessions.” “You want to be able to live in harmony with your things.” “Does this item spark joy AND fit into of my vision for the quality of life I’ve envisioned for myself in the future?” “This is an area I really do want to invest in instead of buying the cheapest things to just make do.” ”Keep your joy bar high!” “Objects like having a job to do.” "If it makes you happy, then the right choice is to keep it confidently, regardless of what anyone else says."

Diane Arias, wife and mom of three, strides through the highs and lows of her summertime KonMari tidying event, and shares the life-changing impact it had on her family. Our guest, Diane Arias is a true KonMari mom and one of Kristyn's former clients. After a decade of raising her three girls (one age 14 and two twin thirteen-year-olds), Diane found that her belongings, along with her home, looked run down and unloved...and so her KonMari Summer began. She tidied for up to 2-3 hours at a time across her 3,000 square foot home. The results? A space filled with love and joy that will take her family of five into the next phase of their life. In this episode, we will show you it is possible for busy moms to get tidy too! Follow Diane through every phase of the KonMari process, as she applies the method in the presence of her growing family. Look forward to tips on how to plan, pace, and reward yourself during your tidying event to avoid hitting a wall. You can follow the final stages of Diane’s tidying journey by connecting with her on Instagram (@diane_arias_2017). Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: The article that inspired Diane to pick her tidying back up after reading the The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up after working through clothing three years ago How Diane course corrected her original plan after confronting the sheer number of things in her home How Diane's vision reflected the part of her that she wanted to reconnect with to be the best model for her daughters How Diane leaned on her experience training for marathons to push through moments of overwhelm to get to a point where her surroundings were supporting her How an intentional reward system helped trigger Diane back into gear during moments when she needed extra motivation to finish Komono (miscellaneous items) The "warning" Diane thinks should come with Marie Kondo's books How each member of Diane's family reacted to her decluttering and how they supported her in their own way Diane's advice to busy moms that are ready to dive in How tidying has helped Diane be more in tune with her husband's values and motivations How Diane's children taught her the KonMari signature fold after watching YouTube videos! How Diane's family adjusted to the big changes taking place in the shared spaces and pushed through a few uncomfortable moments What sparks joy for Diane: "Having headspace...and a true, full presence for my daughters." Gems: "This is definitely something I want to do. I just need to have the timing show up for it." "I had no idea how much stuff I actually owned." "My own joy for my own life is what was missing." "I truly feel my home is a reflection of me." "A home that is full, and vibrant and joyful and truly supporting me and my family." "I would not be able to put into words what I was wanting for my children...but I've found it through this method." "You truly have to detangle yourself from someone else's belongings." "I've plugged myself into every single person's belongings in the house, meanwhile, not really taking care of my own." "These t-shirts look like someone cares." "I can be the kind of mom I wanted to be." Spark Joy the podcast is not endorsed by or affiliated with KonMari Media, Inc. The opinions expressed on this episode represent the views of the co-hosts and guests alone, and do not represent the corporate position of KonMari Media, Inc or the KonMari consultant community.Special Guest: Diane Arias.