In a time where everyone is dedicated to becoming the best version of themselves through growth and healing, when I learned about the Japanese art of Kintsugi, I felt I had to share. Especially during the month of Mental Health Awareness, as a reminder that our mental health is just as important as our physical health. That said, we should be proud of our mental and physical scars, for they tell a story of how far we have all come.
Kintsugi is a form of art that repairs broken pottery by mending the cracks with gold lacquer, often dusted with a combination of silver, gold, or platinum powder to restore the broken object rather than hiding the flaws or discarding it.
Kintsugi has a long-rooted history in Japan, with its origin dating back to the 15th century. Rather than seeing the broken objects as damaged and imperfect, beauty is found in their cracks and breaks, making them part of their story.
Kintsugi celebrates the beauty of broken objects, highlighting their cracks to appreciate the beauty in resilience and strength when navigating life’s challenges.
This art form can serve as a metaphor for our own lives, reminding us to find beauty and resilience in the face of adversity. It encourages us to look for the beauty in the emotional scars that remain after those difficult times.
Being reminded of the beauty behind imperfection was a profound moment for me. When you are raised to strive for perfection by hiding your flaws, this idea was very encouraging as it reminded me of all the broken roads that led me to where I am today.
If we pause to reflect, we can recognize that we have all been broken or are currently facing challenges that make us feel like pieces of our lives have fallen to the ground.
The reality is that no matter who we are or what our life’s circumstances may be, none of us is exempt from those moments when certain aspects of our lives fall apart, leaving us feeling like a broken piece of pottery that although it can be repaired and put back together, will never look and feel the same again.
However, if we apply the Kintsugi philosophy, we can remain resilient and allow the difficult life lessons to polish and refine those broken pieces of our lives, restoring our whole person once again with strength and imperfect beauty.
A complete and new person, whose scars, although they may not be dusted with silver or gold, should not be ignored or hidden as an attempt to appear perfect. They serve as a reminder of the old self who has endured one or several times of adversity.
If you feel like a particular aspect of your life has suddenly fallen apart, allow yourself to go through the experience of the challenging and painful fall. Allow those life lessons to guide you in identifying which aspects of yourself need to be sharpened and polished. No one walks through this world without scars. We need to change the perspective on how we view ourselves and others. We are all beautiful, imperfect pieces of pottery, whose mended pieces tell a story that is part of our collective history.
Imagine, for a moment, that you are a piece of pottery that was once broken but has now been repaired. What lessons and stories would your mended cracks and breaks tell as they celebrate the imperfect and beautiful you?