Escape the perfectionist trap with the Japanese philosophy of “wabi sabi”
“Perfectionism is on the rise, and its consequences for mental health can be devastating. The Japanese philosophy of "wabi sabi" can help.
The pursuit of the perfect is not synonymous with the pursuit of excellence or even the worthwhile, and whether that drive is self-motivated or foisted on us by a boss, parent, or partner, its cost far outweighs the goal. Research has shown the potential fallout of perfectionism: anxiety, depression, social aversion, lower life satisfaction, reduced self-worth, and difficulties emotionally self-regulating. Perfectionism has been increasing over time. College students and workers in a variety of fields have perfectionist impulses. To escape this self-laid trap, I’ve been exploring the Japanese philosophy of wabi sabi, which doesn’t just ask us to accept that nothing and no one is perfect; it entreats us to go a step further and find the value of the imperfect.
That doesn’t mean wabi sabi eschews self-betterment or the pursuit of excellence. The artistic traditions of Japan are a clear indication that wabi sabi is no excuse for laziness. But like the kintsugi craftsman, we can celebrate and even accentuate the mistakes as part of the history of what makes us singular — rather than shoot for a crack-free but mass-produced version of ourselves.
How do you adopt wabi sabi in your life? As you’ve probably guessed, there’s no methodology. You bring the worldview into your experiences and see if the mindset helps you overcome the many potential ways perfectionism manifests. If your perfectionism leads to procrastination, for example, you may find bringing wabi sabi into the mix helps you get started faster. If you constantly compare yourself to others, it may help you appreciate both your accomplishments alongside failures. And if you feel like you’re never good enough, it may help you move beyond these holdups and see the gold in the cracks.
As Offerman notes: “If you make mistakes, it means you’re out there trying. It means you’re taking a swing at achieving something. And if you’re not making mistakes, it means you’ve given up.”
Read the whole article at Big Think.
#Perfectionism #WabiSabi #Kintsugi
💬 Would you describe yourself as a perfectionist? What do you think about the concept of wabi sabi?
Thanks for sharing this. It's good to know brokenness can be celebrated.
@Creamyyy
It certainly can! The same applies to people - sometimes we need to be first broken in order to start again a new chapter of our life with more strength and in the end we might end up in a better place than before. The mindset is very important.
@globalBraid3744
Ohhh yes, I would certiantly call myself a perfectionist because I strive to be perfect in everything that I do. I loved that concept! Thank you for sharing this article!
@professionalVision2624
Thank you for reading! I am glad you liked the concept. Hopefully, it can help you to be less harsh on yourself and appreciate your effort equally!
@globalBraid3744 I believe no one is perfect and our unique features and flaws make us beautiful. Perfectionism is an unrealistic goal on its own so it makes sense why it can trigger various disorders. Wabi-sabi looks very interesting and it could be a way to help people understand and overcome perfectionism. Thank you for the post!
@calmDew1576
This is right - nobody is perfect this is why it is so important to love ourselves as we are and not to set impossible standards. The role of perfectionism is to keep us motivated to grow and develop. However, we need to learn to recognize when it starts to do more harm.
@globalBraid3744
I would describe myself as a perfectionist!
I think integrating wabi sabi could be very beneficial to me!
Thanks for the post!💛💫
@innateJoy9602
I am glad you see potential in this technique! Thank you for reading.
