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https://theconversation.com/how-the-philosophy-behind-the-japanese-art-form-of-kintsugi-can-help-us-navigate-failure-193487>
"In our 20s and 30s, there can be immense pressure to measure up to the
expectations of society, our families, our friends and even those we have for
ourselves. Many people look back and feel disappointed that they hadn’t taken
the opportunity to travel more. Others might have envisioned that they would be
further along in their careers or personal relationships. In reality, life is
hard and we might face setbacks (big and small) that can shatter our dreams,
leaving us with fragments we perceive as worthless.
Feelings of failure can take a long-lasting mental toll but they don’t have to
stop you in your tracks. There are many teachings, practices and philosophies
that can help you deal with disappointment, embrace imperfection and remain
optimistic.
One such practice is the Japanese art form of
kintsugi, which means joining
with gold. It has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years as both
an art technique, a worldview and metaphor for how we can live life.
Many forms of Japanese art have been influenced by Zen and Mahayana
philosophies, which champion the concepts of acceptance and contemplation of
imperfection, as well as the constant flux and impermanence of all things.
Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery. If a bowl is
broken, rather than discarding the pieces, the fragments are put back together
with a glue-like tree sap and the cracks are adorned with gold. There are no
attempts to hide the damage, instead, it is highlighted. The practice has come
to represent the idea that beauty can be found in imperfection. The breakage is
an opportunity and applying this kind of thinking to instances of failure in
our own lives can be helpful."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
