Wabisabi

Do you know what this word means? And no, I'm not talking about wasabi, a very spicy Japanese radish from which the typical green cream for sushi is obtained (I tasted it a couple of times, and I felt like I had a fire in my nose, in fact it is also nicknamed namida, that is " tears ", because if used in excessive quantity it can make you weep).

Wabisabi is another Japanese word, referring to a Japanese worldview, or aesthetic, based on the acceptance of the transience and imperfection of things (from Wikipedia).

On episode 5 of the podcast, I talked about perfectionism that could backfire: if on the one hand, it leads to deepening, to taking care of the things, projects or relationships we establish, on the other it becomes a big limit. : if our project is unsuccessful we turn into failures, if in a relationship we make mistakes, we live in feelings of guilt, and shame to the point of abandoning that bond because we feel inadequate.

Trying to accept ourselves and others for who we are is the first step toward a more realistic, understanding and compassionate worldview. the question arises spontaneously in this stream of thoughts: how compassionate are we towards ourselves? That is, how prepared are we, willing to treat ourselves with kindness and sweetness when we make mistakes? If on the one hand, the drive to improve is important, it makes us grow, it helps us to develop our talents and our abilities, on the other hand perfectionism, the idea of ​​having to be successful and to excel without margin of error, risks to lead us to an eternal dissatisfaction, frustration and sense of inadequacy that blocks us, instead of stimulating us. "it will never be perfect, we might as well give up immediately" How many limits we risk imposing on ourselves!

I like the concept of transience and imperfection very much: the first pushes us to live in the here and now, to enjoy what is happening in the present moment, and the second to do it for what it is, not what it could be, without changing it one iota. Just thinking about it is tiring. No? What can be useful for us to accept this imperfection?

1. Acceptance. We work on ourselves, imperfection is part of our human nature

2. Authenticity. We try to replace the idea of ​​perfection with authentic, honest, something that we truly feel is ours.

3. Imagination. Let's try to think about this: if I had started doing that project the first time I thought about it, by now I would have finished it (or I would be well underway!). A new course of study, a career, a change in communication with others etc.

4. Here and now. Let's try, even for the smallest things, to stay with what is happening around us, observing and restraining that irrepressible desire to intervene.

And for you?What method do you use to enjoy imperfection?