13 Mar Wabi sabi – The Joyful Pursuit of Imperfection

What is Wabi sabi?

One of the things I see holding women back in their pursuit of perfection.

Perfection is an invisible wall that keeps us from getting out and doing.

Wabi sabi is a Japanese concept that shows us that the beauty of the fleeting unchangeable and imperfect nature of the world is all around us.

Instead of searching for beauty in perfection, we should look for it in things that are flawed and incomplete.

That’s why for example the Japanese place such value on an irregular or cracked teacup – they will often paint gold speckles into the tiny cracks – to highlight the beauty of the imperfection.

Only things that are imperfect incomplete and ephemeral can truly be beautiful because only those things resemble the natural world.

In the West we‘ve grown accustomed to the strength and permanence of skyscrapers and cathedrals. Greco Roman architecture adores symmetry sharp lines and imposing facades that often outlast centuries.

Japanese architecture, on the other hand, doesn’t try to be imposing or imperfect because it’s built in the spirit of wabi-sabi

The Grand Shrine of Ise- has been rebuilt every 20 years for centuries

The most important thing is not to keep the building standing for generations but to preserve the traditions and customs — things that can withstand the passage of time better than any man-made structure.

The lesson? Embrace wabi sabi – appreciate the beauty of imperfection as an opportunity for growth and don’t let perfection hold you back from pursuing your dreams.