Five Japanese concepts to live by
I must admit, I am far from being a Zen master. At 39, living in the midst of a busy life in Manila, “Zen” sometimes feels like that elusive parking spot at the mall on a weekend.
No matter how much I meditate and recalibrate, times of stress and panic still find their way to me. But hey, a girl can dream, right? As I sit through a pile of things to do and articles to finish, I find myself reflecting on five Japanese concepts I learned over the past few years that surprisingly, make a lot of sense in my everyday life.
1. Kintsugi: Embracing my imperfection
Kintsugi is defined as the art of repairing broken pottery with gold. It is like a beautiful metaphor for life. It is about seeing those cracks and imperfections not as flaws, but as part of the story.
Just like my favorite Hello Kitty mug with a broken handle. A friend who was about to have some tea when she came over to my place accidentally dropped the mug from the cupboard and the handle was broken. Instead of throwing it away, I fixed it with some glue, and now it’s even more beautiful with that memory of our bonding. It was a reminder that broken things can become even more valuable.
It is the same with us. Our mistakes, our heartaches, they all add up to make us who we are. And who knows, maybe with a little “gold” (in the form of resilience and self-love), we can all become masterpieces.
2. Ikigai: Finding my purpose
Let’s be honest, some mornings, the only thing motivating me to get out of bed is the need to pee or hunger. But on a deeper level, I’ve been thinking a lot about ikigai or that sweet spot where your passion, your skills, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for all intersect. It is not a guarantee that you will find your ikigai in one shot, but when you do, it’s like hitting the jackpot.
3. Ichi-go Ichi-e: Savoring moments
Ichi-go ichi-e, or “once in a lifetime,” reminds me to appreciate every moment, because it will never happen again. This can be experienced in those simple moments with my family and friends, laughing over silly jokes or traveling to special destinations. Ichi-go ichi-e teaches me to be present, savor the good times, and find the silver lining even in the most annoying or frustrating situations.
4. Kaizen: Small steps, big changes
Kaizen, the philosophy of continuous improvement, is something I’m trying to apply to all areas of my life. It’s about taking small, consistent steps toward a goal, instead of getting overwhelmed by the big picture. Like, for years, I have been meaning to declutter my closet, but the thought of tackling that mountain of clothes always sent me running away to watch a movie or scroll through Instagram. But with kaizen, I started small, just one shelf at a time, and realized that the hack was working.
As the old expression goes, ‘How do you eat an elephant without overwhelming yourself?’ Simple. Just take one bite at a time.
5. Wabi-Sabi: Finding beauty in imperfection
Wabi-sabi, the acceptance of transience and imperfection, is a concept that speaks to my soul.
As I approach my 40s, I’m learning to embrace the wrinkles, the need for eyeglasses, and slower metabolism. Wabi-sabi reminds me that beauty is not about perfection, it is about authenticity. It is about finding joy in the simple things, like a cup of freshly brewed coffee in the morning or the sound of rain falling on a roof. It is about appreciating the beauty of the natural world, even in the midst of the urban jungle.
These may not turn me into a Zen master overnight, but they are definitely adding a little more peace and joy to my everyday existence. I hope learning about them will add the same to yours.
