A Sense of Appreciation

A Sense of Appreciation

With the help of some Japanese concepts, let's learn to appreciate the different aspects of life in this self-reflection board.

Appreciating the past

Yugen (幽玄) is an appreciation for the profound, mysterious, and subtle aspects of life that evoke a sense of awe and wonder. It encourages embracing the beauty found in the unknown.

Reflect on something that, looking back, turned out to be beneficial in the way it unfolded, even though you may not have appreciated it at the time.

Appreciating oneself

Gaman (我慢) is a philosophy that even the seemingly unbearable burdens of the world should be faced with patience and dignity. The concept represents the idea of maintaining one's dignity through difficult circumstances.

Reflect on when you've put a brave face on even in tough times. Recognize that such strength deserves acknowledgment and appreciation.

Appreciating the imperfection

The Japanese concept of Fukinsei (不均整) is all about appreciating the beauty of asymmetry and irregularity in life. According to the theory, everything - from nature to people - can be seen as unique and special. It's once again a concept linked to Wabi-sabi.

Reflect on the imperfect elements in your life - relationships, things, situations - and find ways to appreciate their presence.

Appreciating the gaps in life

Ma (間) is the concept of negative space or the interval between things. It is often associated with the idea of finding balance, harmony, and meaning in the pauses and gaps of life.

Reflect on the time when nothing significant happened that might've contributed positively to your life.

Appreciating the present

The Japanese concept of shikata ga nai (仕方がない) (or "accepting things you can't change"), is a mindset that teaches people to live in the present moment and focus on what they can control instead of worrying about what's not within their control.

Reflect on the present moment, on what you have and what you can control, and make a note of what you appreciate.

Appreciating the challenge

Kaizen (改善) translates to "continuous improvement" or "change for the better." It emphasizes the idea of making small, incremental changes over time to achieve personal and professional goals.

Reflect on what improvements you could work towards in the near and distant future.

Happy reflection!