1 Thought. 1 Quote. 1 Question.
When life beats upon us and breaks us into pieces, don’t give up. There is beauty and strength that lies in each of life’s challenges. Inspired by the art of Kintsugi, I discovered how we can find strength in life's challenges.
The Japanese art of Kintsugi repairs broken pottery with gold, rendering a new piece that is more exquisite than it was before the break. It literally means “to join with gold”.
This is where the art of kintsugi began.
The kintsugi technique is thought to have been invented around the fifteenth century, when Ashikaga Yoshimasa, a Japanese military leader, broke his favorite tea bowl. He sent it to a village in China to get it repaired. However, when it was returned to him, he was not satisfied with the result. At that time, objects were repaired with metal in unsightly and impractical ways. It seemed to many that the bowl was unrepairable.
However, its owner decided to ask a Japanese craftsman to repair it. Everyone was surprised at Ashikaga’s steadfastness, so the craftsman decided to put in extra effort to transform the bowl into a jewel by filling its cracks with lacquered resin and powdered gold. Ashikaga was very pleased with the result. This story of Kintsugi shows how brokenness can teach us to find strength in life's challenges.
So what can the art of kintsugi teach us when struggles occur?
I am fascinated by this style of art, and all it represents. Rather than trying to hide the damage, kintsugi highlights the repair! The imperfections are what make it beautiful and valuable. A broken piece that is put back together has more of a story, seems more authentic and is stronger and more resilient than something that has stayed pristine. The breaking of what once was, the layered and time-consuming process of putting it back together, and mending it with gold, all contribute to its value. And surprisingly, it becomes more resilient after it has been mended by kintsugi and is even stronger than it was before.
As we test our limits, our potential, and our grit, we often hit breaking points. Sometimes these breaking points are termed, “burnout”, or perhaps a breaking point in our lives is a result of trauma, overscheduling or even a series of mistakes.
There is strength in the mending process. There is beauty that comes as we put in the effort to strengthen our weaknesses. There is wisdom that is granted as we take time to pause in our lives, be patient with ourselves and consider how we might reconstruct our personal life puzzle in a better way.
When we feel broken, run-down or undeserving, don’t give up. Life’s challenges are simply opportunities to grow in wisdom, strength and understanding. The art of Kintsugi reminds us that through mending, we find strength in life's challenges, creating something even more beautiful.
Quote to Ponder
“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.” -Arnold Schwarzenegger
Question to Consider
Are the people you surround yourself with helping you to become who you want to become?
