5 Ancient Japanese Philosophies That Help Reduce Stress

Wabi Sabi is the philosophy of appreciating beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete" in nature. It is the striving for excellence not perfection, where excellence is being the best you can be for your level. Here are a few benefits coming from the Wabi Sabi philosophy: 1. Accept things as they are and as you are. 2. Appreciate your life. 3. Strive for excellence, not perfectionism. 4. Live your own life with all its beautiful imperfections.

An inscription which appears on a 17th century stone basin at Ryoanji Temple in Kyoto is a visual pun in which each of four characters shares the same central square component.  It can be read many ways, including *"Ware tada taru wo shiru,"* or, "I know what 'just enough' is", “I only know plenty,” or “I only know contentment.” There is a concept contained within of "I am already complete". And it couples nicely with another Japanese philosophy; Uketamo. The literal translation is *“I humbly accept with an open heart.”, acceptance with no resistance.

Kintsugi is a Japanese art form that is repairing broken objects, often pottery or glass, with gold mixed glue. The word kintsugi translates to "gold repair" or "gold joinery". A metaphor for embracing your flaws and imperfections. Looking at your "worst" trauma and how the healing of said trauma has defined you.

In the Japanese language the word Kaizen is derived from two Kanji, the first 'Kai' , meaning 'change,' and the second 'zen', meaning 'good. ' Hence the literal meaning of the word being 'change for the better'. So we can understand the word as a way to think about self-improvement.

Tsundoku is the concept of acquiring reading materials but letting them pile up in your home without reading them. The word is also used to refer to books ready for reading later when they are on the bookshelf. It is a great reminder to feed the flames of our inquisitive nature and to slow down to satisfy our hunger for knowledge.