When studying Positive Psychology, I was introduced to wabi sabi, described by Beth Kempton, author of Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life. Kempton describes wabi sabi as
“…fundamental to the aesthetic sense and gentle nature of the Japanese people, it is a worldview that guides the way they experience life, although it is rarely discussed. Its influence is everywhere, yet it is nowhere to be seen. People instinctively know what the concept of wabi sabi represents, but few can articulate it” (Kempton 2).
Wabi sabi stems from three Buddhist life principles: impermanence, suffering, and
emptiness, priding itself on acceptance of what is and the transience and imperfection of
life. Wabi is about recognizing the beauty in now, and Sabi celebrates the passage of
time, the way things grow and age, and how they manifest beautifully into objects. It is
like an onion; peeling away each layer reveals the true beauty in simplicity.
• “Wabi sabi is an intuitive response to beauty that reflects the true nature of life;
• wabi sabi is an acceptance and appreciation of the impermanent, imperfect, and
incomplete nature of everything;
• wabi sabi is a recognition of the gifts of simple, slow, and natural living”
(Kempton 5).
Wabi sabi, like Positive Psychology, emphasizes the importance of getting out of the maelstrom in your mind, and into your heart space to find a sense of peace and accept yourself for who you are. I have a unique vantage point as both living with bipolar disorder and advocating for the mentally ill who may feel that they do not have a voice. I have experienced both sides from many angles and have found contentment floating comfortably somewhere in the middle of both worlds. Early on as a patient in the throes of a diagnosis coupled with debilitating medication, I found comfort in stories that reflected my experience with mental illness, and camaraderie in knowing that I was not alone.
The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places. - Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell To Arms
Dr. Patricia Lynn Dobkin, Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at McGill University in Montréal, Que, and faculty member of the McGill Programs in Whole Person Care authored a commentary in Vol 68: APRIL 2022 | Canadian Family Physician entitled "Kintsugi mind: How clinicians can be restored rather than broken by the pandemic," exploring kintsugi as a healing mindset. In her poignant reflection, she refers to post-traumatic rebuilding process as a kintsugi-like healing.
"While the harms and losses due to the pandemic are disheartening, it is possible to reintegrate what is broken and emerge from the experience whole. Such is the philosophy behind the ancient Japanese art called kintsugi. When a piece of pottery is broken, the craftsperson repairs it with gold or silver. Thus, it is more beautiful than in its original intact state. Can we engage in kintsugi mind and thereby emerge from the pandemic stronger?"
In her article, Dobkin uses the metaphor of kintsugi mind, to ask the physicians at her institution, “What are the golden cracks of the pandemic." The following are some of their answers:
• Being forced to prioritize and focus on essential meetings, tasks, and activities.
• Everything we have been able to accomplish leading to better care and improvements.
• Getting to know colleagues from other divisions and working together as a team toward a common goal.
• Not sitting on the sidelines of this world crisis!
• Research has been accelerated with unprecedented international cooperation.
She concludes that indeed the human spirit can rekindle and find a new beauty by rebuilding the broken pieces.
The Japanese Art of Kintsugi - Celebrate the Scars and Embrace Healing
Hugh Asher, mental wellness advocate, forest bathing/social crofting practitioner and innovator of An Darach Forest Therapy (means 'the oak' in Scots Gaelic) applies wabi sabi and kintsugi to his mental wellness practice, located on a Highland hillside above a temperate rain forest, a remnant of the ancient Atlantic Oak Woods of Scotland. He describes the word kintsugi as "golden joinery" in Japanese, explaining that the technique is also known as "kintsukuroi"or golden repair. It is a Japanese art form in which broken pottery is repaired with gold or other precious metal, rather than being discarded.

Asher explains that the idea behind kintsugi is that the repair itself is part of the pottery's history and should be celebrated, rather than hidden or concealed. The repaired pottery is often considered even more beautiful and valuable for having been broken and repaired. In addition to being a decorative art form, kintsugi is also seen as a metaphor for the concept of wabi sabi. Wabi sabi is a Japanese aesthetic concept that values the imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. It is often associated with the beauty of natural objects, such as flowers that are wilting or trees that are gnarled and twisted. The idea that flaws should not be hidden but emphasized is a concept fairly unique to Zen practice.
In terms of the benefits that applying the concepts of wabi sabi and kintsugi to our lives can have on our mental health, wabi sabi can be seen as a way of accepting and embracing our imperfections, flaws and vulnerabilities rather than trying to hide them. It is about recognizing that life is unpredictable and sometimes difficult, and that it is okay to be imperfect and to make mistakes. Embracing wabi sabi can help us cultivate a sense of acceptance and compassion towards ourselves and others, which can in turn help to reduce stress and improve our overall well-being. It can also help us to focus on the present moment and appreciate the simple pleasures in life, rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. It is not about ignoring or denying problems or difficulties, but rather about finding a way to deal with them in a healthy and mindful way. It is about finding beauty and meaning in the imperfections and impermanence of life, and learning to appreciate the present moment for what it is.
Wabi Sabi and Nature
Appreciation of nature and the natural beauty that exists that beyond human creation is one of the critical characteristics of wabi sabi. It is about accepting the transience of all things as nature demonstrates on many levels from the annual shedding of leaves to creation of landscapes through wind and water, and the cycles of life. As Beth Kempton writes in her book ‘Wabi Sabi - Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life’, “Wabi is about finding beauty in simplicity, and a spiritual richness and serenity in detaching from the material world. Sabi is more concerned with the passage of time, with the way that all things grow and decay and how aging alters the visual nature of those things." (Kempton (page #)
According to Kempton, Wabi sabi is an intuitive response to beauty that reflects the true nature of life; it is an acceptance and appreciation of the impermanent, imperfect and incomplete nature of everything. It is a recognition of the gifts of simple, slow and natural living.
Just ask the trees.

Kempton emphasizes that forest bathing (Shinrin-Yoku) is a wonderful way to foster an appreciation of wabi sabi, through recognizing and appreciating the beauty of nature, acknowledging the cycles of life, the imperfections and impermanence displayed in nature, and the importance of viewing ourselves as a part of nature rather than separate from it.
“The forest does not care what your hair looks like. The mountains don’t move for any job title. The rivers keep running, regardless of your social media following, your salary or your popularity. The flowers keep on blooming, whether or not you make mistakes. Nature just is, and welcomes you, just as you are.” — Beth Kempton - "Wabi Sabi - Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life"
Nature Play Reflection Exercise - Grab a pen and paper, and find a quiet place.
According to positivepsychology.com, our senses are often underused due to life's many distractions. Tuning out distractions and tuning into sounds in nature can heighten a sense of awareness and promote mindfulness. Try it!
Take a walk outside, away from distractions.
Listen to the sound that your feet make with each step.
Pause and listen between every few steps.
What can you hear that is nearby?
What can you hear that is far away?
What is the loudest sound?
What is the quietest sound?
Can you walk without making a noise?
Find a quiet place, and reflect on your experience. Hold onto the mindful feeling for as long as you can.
Recommended Reading:
Céline Santini. Kintsugi : Finding Strength in Imperfection. Kansas City, Missouri, Andrews Mcmeel Publishing, 2019.
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