Changing Bad Habits and Offering Advice
At the 3/4 mark in this book, I’m taking some of her advice to heart. It had great reviews and I’ve enjoyed most some of it.
Lots of helpful suggestions, but I. CAN. NOT. put all my books and/or garments on the floor to decide which ones I’ll keep. She suggests choosing to keep only those things that spark joy when you touch them. Great and valuable point.
(Let’s not discuss her claim of reading home and lifestyle magazines at 5!)
She then suggests picking each item off the floor to see if we feel joy.
My problem is I’ve read and believe enough about Feng Shui… that I won’t put my things on the floor. It seems counterintuitive to disrespect them by putting them on the floor, only to decide to keep them, because I love them. I also never put my handbag on the floor either.
Her advice I’m taking… is to give this book away.
“Keep only those books that will make you happy just to see it on your shelf. That includes this book, if you don’t feel any joy…I would rather you give it away”. She also says if you aren’t enjoying a book, stop reading it.
OK, done!
Hmm, I think you saved me from wasting my time. Frankly, I think you know more about the subject than the author. Maybe YOU should be the one to write a book on this. I want a signed copy.
Cheers, M-T
Jen, I read this too and wasn’t very impressed. A few ideas- the vertical folding really is helpful and you can store so much that way. Also her idea to store purses in purses works too. The writing was not so great and it sounded like a teenager was writing it. That said, it did motivate me to get the house purged. I agree about the photos and books! x Kim
I did take some of her tips to heart also, but my sweaters got so wrinkly!! I’m sure there’s a talent to it and I just couldn’t master it.
xoxo
I think the “everything on the floor” approach is a cultural thing. Japanese traditionally kind of live on the floor, no chairs and low tables so I expect spreading clothing out on the floor wouldn’t be as strange to the author as it is to our western sensibility.
I’ve got her book, but have yet to collect everything in one category at once. Pretty disruptive, and a lot of work. Right now I just declutter on a piecemeal basis.
I’m doing it piecemeal also. It’s the only way that works for me. I understand the cultural differences. In Feng Shui, using matching hangers will show respect for your clothing, putting them on the floor does not. It’s a personal quirk of mine. I don’t feel I’m respecting my clothes if I put them on the floor. I don’t even sort laundry on the floor:)
Just one thing to remember, the author is Japanese and they have different cultural associations with the floor. In Japan, t’s not uncommon to eat sitting on the floor, etc. As a Westerner, I find the idea of putting all my clothes on the floor distateful too, but it’s easier to understand her recommendation when you put it in cultural context.
Yes, that’s a good point. I guess the value is what suggestions she offers us that can be adapted to fit our own values. I got a few but the clothes and books were not within my comfort zone.
My daughter loved the tip about storing her sweaters vertically in a drawer rather than horizontally. Very helpful. If I can get one good tip from a book, I’m happy, but this is one I wouldn’t keep on my shelf either.
And yes, bathrooms with no hooks drive me crazy. I will not put my purse on the floor!
I tried the sweater tip. I folded them all smoothly into little squares, lined them up in my drawer like straight little soldiers and when I took one out to wear, it looked like origami. Folds, everywhere!
The tip that worked for me was the clearing by category. That, was genius.
Hi Jennifer, I love Feng Shui principles but I can’t be ruthless as I get too attached. As for my wardrobe I always edit along when I buy new things. It’s sale season now, so I’ve added a few great pieces to my wardrobe which means evaluating what needs to go. Great post! I love your honesty.
Thanks Lisa! Lucky you finding great pieces in sale. That’s not always easy to find, so bravo! For my basics, I do like to move things out, after I bring new in to replace them.