I first learned of the Japanese terms kintsugi (金繕い) & wabi-sabi (侘寂) from Candace Kumai, an internationally renowned chef & author of the beautifully presented book, Kintsugi Wellness. Appropriately dubbed as “the golden girl of the wellness world,” Candace takes us on an inspirational journey as she explores her Japanese heritage in hopes of nourishing her mind, body, & spirit after a personal loss. In her book, she shares several cultural traditions & practices for cultivating a healthy lifestyle, as well as some of her favorite recipes that uses simple, natural ingredients.

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What Exactly is Kintsugi & Wabi-Sabi?

Kintsugi is a beautiful Japanese art form of repairing broken pottery. It involves joining the pieces together with lacquer & filling the cracks with gold dust. Rather than trying to cover up the flaws, kintsugi encourages us to honor them. In fact, the gold bonding is rather symbolic of their real value. It is a representation of something greater that has emerged out of brokenness. We can incorporate this same principle into our daily lives through the Zen philosophy of ‘wabi-sabi,” which teaches us to celebrate imperfections. Simply translated, wabi means “rustic simplicity” & sabi is “taking pleasure in the imperfect.”

Embrace Your Flaws

Get outdoors & you will find that nature is a prime example of imperfect perfection. Trees can be contorted with their branches bent at odd angles & no signs of symmetry, yet they are still considered beautiful in their own right. Even with aging limbs & lost leaves, they have a lasting impression on those who know how to appreciate them. Everything is more cherished with imperfections as this is what makes them special & unique. The same concept applies to your own flaws as well.

“Holding ourselves up to a perfect standard is ultimately defeating, because perfection is fleeting.”

Candace Kumai, Kintsugi Wellness

Endure With Resilience

When you experience any form of brokenness, find your center calm & cultivate patience to endure the challenging event. Try practicing resilience through meditation or breathing exercises to redirect your focus. Remember that each golden crack is a symbol of courage & represents the admirable scars of a challenge well overcome. Be proud to show off your imperfections by sharing the stories behind them & how you recovered from your struggles.

Become a Better Version of Yourself

From the healing process of kintsugi comes renewed strength & beauty. What was once broken is now bonded together even stronger & considered more valuable because of the golden repair. The difficult challenges you endured & the deepest wounds you have obtained are among the most admirable parts of you. Therefore, as you slowly piece your life back together, you will be able to move beyond the pain to create a new life story & become a source of inspiration for others.

Exercise Self-Love & Forgiveness

In today’s society, there are high expectations for perfection through influences across all types of media. Though in truth, no one will ever be perfect nor reach their fullest potential, as there is always room to achieve greater limits in life. So be kind to yourself & accept who you are. Stop comparing yourself to others & practice self-acceptance. Those unique attributes that make you less than perfect are what defines you as you.

Another essential concept to live by is to simply forgive & let go of things that cannot be helped. Ruminating on the little things that serve no good can waste a lot of your time & energy. Do not dwell on the past, rather redirect yourself to the present & move forward towards a more positive light.

“The world breaks everyone & afterward many are strong at the broken places.”

Ernest Hemingway

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Applying kintsugi & wabi-sabi to our everyday lives can help us acknowledge our true beauty. Whether you are in the process of falling apart or have already become broken, wabi-sabi reminds us that our flaws are really precious adornments. What’s more, our cracks tell a deeper story in our journey & reminds us that life is a continuous improvement process. Trust that the repair will heal us back into a stronger state & our new golden seals prove as a beautiful reminder of a life well lived.