🌿 Welcome to our first #WabiSabi blog post! 🌿
Introducing #WabiSabiWednesdays—a fresh, weekly series designed to guide you through different wellness themes, all paired with mental health tips and a dedicated blog post. We invite you to explore this journey of healing and self-acceptance, where embracing your imperfections is not just encouraged but celebrated.
Kansha—the art of gratitude—is a simple yet profound practice of being thankful for the people, experiences, and things in your everyday life. Life may not be perfect, but each moment is unfolding exactly as it should, even if we can’t always see the full picture. Just like in Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, we aren’t defined by the ways we break, but by how we come back—stronger, more beautiful, and more complete.
However, in many traditional Asian cultures, we're often taught to be overly critical of ourselves. This mindset may motivate us to strive for better, but it can also create a pattern of chronic negativity, robbing us of the everyday magic that is always there—if only we’re brave enough to look for it.
This is the essence of joy’s paradox—the Yin and Yang of gratitude.
Think back to a time in your life when you faced rejection. Maybe you lost a job, a relationship didn’t work out, or plans you were so sure of fell apart. Remember how defeated you felt? Of course! It’s human to feel crushed when things don’t go as we planned, and it’s easy to think, “Great, I’m right back where I started.”
But here’s the thing— you’re not. Practicing gratitude isn’t just about being thankful when life is going well. True gratitude shines when life throws challenges your way, when you feel like there’s no reason to be joyful.
Now, think back to that situation again. Can you see now how it served a purpose? Maybe you learned something valuable from that experience—something you didn’t know before. Perhaps you gained a new perspective, a piece of wisdom that will guide you next time. That lesson was uniquely shaped by the hardship you faced.
Here’s where I get a little woo-woo, but trust me on this—whether you believe in God, the universe, or some other higher power, I truly believe that you are meant to have what you desire. Sometimes, we’re just not ready for it yet. We need time to grow into the person who can receive and hold on to that dream with wisdom and strength.
In moments of hardship, focus on what you’re learning. This shift in perspective helps you see the bigger picture. You can start by journaling, meditating, talking it out with a trusted friend, or simply letting your emotions wash over you. Trust that, in time, the clarity and wisdom will come.
Remember— this is a practice. Your mind, with its built-in “negativity bias” (a survival instinct from our ancestors meant to protect us from danger like bears, even though there are no bears chasing us now), might resist seeing the good in tough situations. But be patient with yourself. With time, you’ll find the light in the darkness, and you’ll come to understand that every experience, even the difficult ones, is something to be grateful for.
So, take a breath. Lean into the messiness of life. And remember, it’s in the cracks where the light gets in. 💛
By: Ranya I.
Commentaires