Disruptions are often hard to imagine and even harder to navigate, especially when they appear in our lives. These unexpected disruptions can significantly impact our emotional well-being, strain relationships with loved ones, and disrupt our daily routines, leading to a sense of lost stability. If you are going through any of these disruptions in life, do read on.
Let me introduce you to the concept of wabi-sabi, i.e., if you haven’t already heard it. I fell in love with this concept when I read a book by one of my favourite authors, Beth Kempton. The Japanese aesthetic philosophy of wabi-sabi offers a unique lens through which to view life’s inevitable disruptions. Rooted in the Zen Buddhist tradition, wabi-sabi celebrates the imperfect, the fleeting, and the simple. It encourages us to find beauty in the ordinary and embrace the natural change cycle. The concept of wabi-sabi is not one you can explain with words – it is a state of the heart that lives and accepts life’s perfect imperfections. Wabi-sabi is about how we see – not what we see in our lives.
When faced with unexpected challenges or setbacks, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed or discouraged. However, embracing the wabi-sabi perspective in life through the challenges I faced offered me a sense of peace and acceptance. By understanding that disruptions are a natural part of life, we can learn to embrace them as opportunities for growth and transformation. The most powerful lesson I have learned from embracing a wabi-sabi concept is to understand that the status quo cannot be controlled, and change is inevitable. However, acceptance is not about giving in or giving up but about submitting to the reality of what is happening.
“Wabi-sabi is an acceptance and appreciation of the impermanent, imperfect and incomplete nature of everything.”
(Wabi Sabi by Beth Kempton)
But why are we not comfortable with the impermanent, incomplete and imperfect?
The myth of perfect
In our social media-driven world, we have often been presented with an idealised version of reality, reinforcing the cultural pressure to achieve perfection in all aspects of life. The digital age has amplified our society’s obsession with perfection as we constantly compare ourselves to carefully curated online lives. We are given the idea that imperfection is often the opposite of perfect – often a negative idea that something is lacking or falling short.
But, while our culture often glorifies perfection, nature, in its wisdom, embraces imperfection and change as essential elements of life. Nature, unlike our human-centric ideals, finds beauty in the imperfect. From the weathered rocks to the decaying leaves, every element of the natural world is a testament to the beauty of change and impermanence. Nature’s growth, decay, and renewal cycles are a constant reminder that perfection is fleeting.
The perfect imperfections
From the wisdom of nature, wabi-sabi teaches us that everything is in constant change – nothing can be complete; hence, nothing can be perfect. The idea of imperfection being a state where we lack something needs to be revisited – imperfection is not incompleteness. Rather imperfection is what we go through on our journey towards growth and living.
As nature is always a work in progress, we, too, are a work in progress. Accepting this journey through imperfect moments in life does not mean that is how it will end; it is an acknowledgment that we get to decide the next steps when we are ready. Wabi-sabi helps us embrace this evolution in our life’s journey nourishingly by looking at natural reminders. We are encouraged to be mindful and accept the present moment without judgment or regret.
Embracing Wabi-Sabi wisdom
Are you ready to let go of your pursuit of perfection and embrace the beauty of imperfection? Just as the beauty of a weathered stone lies in its imperfections, so too can the beauty of our lives be found in the challenges we face. Wabi-sabi reminds us that through these experiences, we develop resilience, compassion, and a deeper appreciation for the simple joys of life. Embracing wabi-sabi can lead us to develop a deeper connection with ourselves by acknowledging our natural and authentic state while recognising the shared human experience of imperfection and change. I invite you to reflect on your journey and embrace the wabi-sabi life.
Here’s a question to guide your reflection – How might embracing wabi-sabi transform your perspective on life’s challenges and imperfections?
Resources to further explore:
- Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton
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