Marie Kondo, creator of The Konmari Method, got it right when she said,
When you surround yourself with possessions that spark joy, you’ll create a life and home you love.
In Marie’s book, “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up”, she teaches an elegant method that will help you get to know yourself better and create a life and home that truly represents you and the life you desire to live.
Want to have a little tour of my home?
Come inside and I’ll show you some things that spark JOY in me and how you can use my tips and Marie’s to fully become a Woman Who Lives Elegantly.
Now, if we relate the Konmari Method to The Elegant Life, which is a life filled with:
- a knowing of who you really are
- a knowing of how to move through life with ease & elegance
- a knowing of inner peace
- a knowing of your beauty & signature self
- a knowing of what brings you JOY and continuously adding more of it to your life
- a knowing of what your gifts and passions are and how to express them in the world
- a knowing that you are part of Divine energy
- and a knowing that Life is Beautiful!
We can see that The Konmari Method is a method that women can use to help them live The Elegant Life! Because, when we focus on JOY, as Marie Kondo suggests, we are in direct alignment with the essence of The Elegant Life.
When we ask the possessions in our home, “Do you spark JOY within me?” we are literally creating our Elegant Life by letting go of what isn’t us and isn’t serving us, and only keeping and letting in the things that represent who we are and the life we truly desire to live.
French Homes and the Konmari Method
There is something I have always adored about French homes and french decor. When you visit someone’s home in France you really get a sense of who the owners are.
French homes are not always typically “beautiful” or put together like you’d see in a magazine, but they ooze individuality and presence.
They have a personality, an essence all unto themselves and you REALLY get to know more about whoever’s home you’re in.
It’s a pleasure to walk around and hear stories about the possessions they have on display.
It’s so intriguing to witness the colour palettes they use.
And again, it’s not that the decor looks perfect, it’s how the person has used their home as another way to express their signature self.
Have a look at these Parisian Apartments featured on TheArchitectualDigest website.
I have walked through many beautiful homes and felt no soul whatsoever, and I have walked through very modest homes and felt absolutely enamoured by them.
The difference?
The owner’s sense of self and a knowingness of who they are and what sparks JOY within them.
Take a moment right now and wander around your home, or simply spin around in your chair and look around the room you’re currently in… does it show who you are? Does everything in it spark JOY within you?
If someone were to walk into your home, would they be able to know something about you without you even speaking?
A Parisian in My Home!
A few months back we had our friends over for dinner; Jean-Louis, the husband, is Parisian.
The moment Jean-Louis walked into my home he began wandering. He looked at everything I had on my walls and the things I had on little tables and as he did this I could hear him saying, “Oh!” and “Mmmmm…”.
I have to admit that the francophile in me LOVED that he, the Parisian, found my home fascinating and interesting.
The real feeling in me though, was one of happiness. Because I could see him enjoying our home and learning more about us as a result.
One object intrigued him enough to ask a question and this opened up a whole beautiful discussion.
So I ask you again, hoping not to sound too redundant, “Does your home spark JOY in you?”
Do the clothes you own, the blankets that cover you, the photos and pictures on the walls, represent YOU?
What do they say about you?
If you don’t feel your home represents you, then I highly recommend you begin using the Konmari Method that Marie Kondo so beautifully teaches.
This month on the blog we have been focusing on knowing yourself, honouring yourself and loving yourself…
Has anything shifted for you in your life this month after reading the blog posts? I’d be so curious to hear about it!
I’ve already heard from some women who say they have given themselves more permission this month to enjoy things they love.
Ça c’est merveilleux!
Next week we will end this month’s theme with a BIG CELEBRATION as the winner of the Self-Love Challenge will be announced!!!
Stay tuned for that!
With so much love,
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6 Comments
Wow love your beautiful home we try to follow those techniques adding meaningful art work from around the world to our walls I’m just lacking a handy man to hang them up The soap trays are fab up, I should have bought some myself. I’ll look forward to adding to our collection when we return to France in May. Miss you lots beautiful x x x
Hi my friend!Your home is full of warm and cosiness…And you KNOW I love you live flowers;) Yes, we must talk and make a plan about our next girly escapade! Love you!
Hi Erin. Great blog as always . In fact inspiring as it made me realise that your home is a window to your inner voice and why interiors are so important. . This has lit a spark within me and will give my home the attention it deserves. I have so many passion and interests and need to reflect this through what story I put up on the walls and in my decor. At the moment all walls are bare and have been for years (excuses are being too busy )your blog reminded me as to why it’s so important to make the effort to decorate as it’s a reminder of what gives you joy x
Yes, you got it perfectly, Arti! Whoo hoo! I love the connections you made and really appreciate you sharing this here!
You refer to your ‘elegant flow exercises’ where can I find out more about that practice?
These exercises refer to a morning ritual I do everyday. Certain questions I ask my soul, a daily meditation I do as well as a daily movement I do. All of these put me into alignment with what I refer to as “elegant flow” – Divine Energy. In The Art of Living Elegantly, I help you create your own morning practise that will work for you specifically. If you are interested to learn more you can go here: https://theelegantlife.com/product/art-living-elegantly/ Thank you for the question! x