The sensation that is Marie Kondo has the magic of old truths that ring true being repackaged in a new and exciting antidote to a very common malaise – clutter.
Thankfully the last decade has grown a number of movements attacking the very Western (primarily North American) conspicuous consumption and excess.
These movements like: Minimalism, Digital Nomadism, Veganism all call bullshit on a fixed abode filled to the brim with lettuce spinners, outdoor furniture, a garage full of unused adult toys (exercise equipment, not the others – ahem) and wardrobes full of once-worn clothes.
The spark in Marie’s approach is that an object must “Spark Joy” to be worth keeping. The spirit of Marie’s method is an interesting observation that you don’t decide from some ideology or “ism” – you apply your own personal emotional response as your guide.
So too with creativity!
Debilitating Clutter?
Some people defer creative action because they feel paralysed by the clutter and disorder of their workspace.
Others celebrate being surrounded by the tools of their trade.
The photo of Einstein below is not one of a mundane scientist but a fabulously creative thinker, his writings outside science are also worth a read. Clearly clutter was not debilitating to this creator.
Recently, popular startup investor Naval Ravikant (@naval) and clear thinker, commented that he leaves books lying around the house and picks them up when the fancy takes him – skipping through the irrelevant cruft and not fearing that serendipity comes from outside himself. Perhaps conversely Paul Graham (@paulg) gets serendipity from the chaos of second-hand bookstores.
Is internal mental clutter the actual problem?
We fixate on the external, we blame external conditions. But if we look closer it’s not the external clutter but our internal response to the environment around us that is the big deal.
If Marie Kondo tidied Albert’s office it may look great but we may have less scientific breakthroughs! So it’s clear that Albert had an exceptional ability to focus and mentate with incredible clarity to the exclusion of the surrounding mayhem. Legend is that Nikola Tesla would complete an invention in his mind before making the project manifest in the material world.
So these people are just a snapshot – others love to write books in noisy cafes. So it’s not JUST limited to geniuses.
Creative Clutter Exercise
It’s an observation that is richer than dry mindfulness. Here’s a practice you can try:
- If you are a grub (you like chaos and mess). Get yourself to a library or even more grotesque – a conference room. Something that is as ordered or as sterile as you can find.
- If you are a neat-freak, get yourself to a cafe, a gym, a playground, a food-court in a shopping centre.
- Now get in touch with a sense of “joy”. Write, draw or code something around you that sparks that joy. Feel this inside.
- Can you do this immersed in an environment that you would normally whinge about?
- Do you have enough “self-awareness” to note that the environment is objective but your criticism is just a habitual response?
- Can you take something from this opposite (“can you find beauty in a conference room”?, “can you find stillness in a shopping center”? I assure you I’ve experienced both – I shit you not).
Any benefit?
Is it possible that you’ve now strengthened your creative muscle? That you are a more creative supple athlete?
Does Marie Kondo inspire us to throw out some old mental clutter that has been stifling our creative spirit?
Have we used external circumstances to foster self-doubt and postphone “JUST DO IT”?
We’d love to hear, hit us up!
Postscript: Sense of Completion
Many people love, love, love the thrill of a good tidy-up.
The endorphin’s of an easily achieved goal can be an addictive distraction. We have unread books, messy bedrooms, unwashed plates – they are all awesome tools in getting a “hit” of the good stuff during the day – but don’t let them thieve from your creative schedule.
Make internal space for both.
** Everyone claims "self-awareness" but have no objective proof or realization that its an onion (a topic for another blog post)