Changing the intention changes the outcome

Albert Einstein said, “You cannot solve a problem from the same consciousness that created it.” That means in order to solve a problem, you need to approach it with a different mindset or perspective than the one that led to the problem.

I began this project as I have many times in the past: randomly choosing items to discard or keep. I see the same pattern with many of my clients who struggle with weight loss. They’ll decide Monday morning they’re going to start a diet the same way they have started a diet a thousand times in the past. 

It’s not that the actions are wrong — but when our mindset is not equipped to support those actions, they don’t generate the best results. 

I understood I was reengaging in old (and unsuccessful) patterns, and that’s what prompted me to listen to Marie Kondo’s audiobook, Spark Joy. 

Changing the Intention Changes the Outcome

One thing Marie Kondo does in her book that completely changed the way I approach my material possessions is that she humanizes them. She gives “things” purpose by assigning them the privilege and responsibility to spark joy. She also imputes emotions they may feel when we treat them a certain way. 

At first, this notion seems ridiculous. Inanimate objects couldn’t possibly have feelings! And yet, her detailed descriptions of these things and what they feel changed the way I treated them.  Click here to watch a hilarious video of how this affected my husband also. 

When my clients begin their wellness journey, I teach them to treat themselves and their bodies as something sacred — to be cherished, cared for, and protected. Marie Kondo offers this same perspective shift as it relates to the material world. 

Changing the energy of how I view my possessions allows me to better choose whether I keep, donate, or discard them. I no longer want to keep items tucked away in a box collecting dust because I may use them one day, because they once meant something to me. I’m also working on letting go of things that are connected to expectations rather than reality (more of that below).

Rather, I want to give everything I own the opportunity to fulfill its purpose of sparking joy (if not for me, then for someone else). Likewise, if the item’s time is up, it deserves permission to rest.

I am now treating my house, and all the material things that live in it, with the same sacredness I encourage others to treat their mind, body, and soul. 

That intention, my friend, changes everything.

Spreading Joy

The other day, I stopped at my local library to drop off a few more boxes of books. Amongst them was a gorgeous Harry Potter pop-up book and a Harry Potter spell book. These two were a tough giveaway. Orly had loved reading the Harry Potter series a few years back. I’ve always longed for my kids to be readers, but my other two boys have never shown interest. I remember putting that pop-up book in a bin in the center of our kitchen table to entice them to browse through it. They did — one time. We took the boys to see Harry Potter in the West End in London and thought that might inspire them to read the books. No luck. As we went through our library collection, I’d show them the books and they’d dismissively tell me, “It doesn’t spark joy.” I sadly conceded and removed the books from the “keep” pile. 

The librarian grabbed the paper grocery bag filled to the top with books and gasped when she saw the Harry Potter pop-up book laying at the top.

“Are you a Harry Potter fan?” I asked. 

“My sister is. She has an entire library of Harry Potter things. She would die if she saw these books!”

I immediately grabbed the books out of the bag and handed them back to her.

“Please gift this book to your sister and tell her I hope it brings her a lot of joy!”

The young girl’s ear to ear smile filled my heart with gratitude. 

I could have kept those books in my library untouched and unappreciated to feed the illusion that one day my kids may develop a love of reading. But the reality is those books couldn’t fulfill their true purpose of sparking joy in my home.

When the day comes that my boys find a series they want to read, my home will welcome those books with open arms.

Until then, we’ll carry on and focus on sparking and spreading joy. 

Getting to Clarity

As we go through this process, I am gaining a lot of clarity about myself, my family, and my home. I am paying close attention, for I know there are lessons here. 

And speaking of clarity, tomorrow at 11am Susan Ford Collins and I will be talking about getting to clarity when you’re in a state of BLUR. 

Click here to save a spot and listen in. It’s going to be a fascinating conversation!