07 May New Year, Same Me: New Perspectives
As January draws to a close, I’ve been looking back at 2025 with an evaluating eye. Another year has passed, I’m a year older and, hopefully, wiser. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I have a high opinion of Japanese principles, many of which have helped me in my professional and personal lives. Here are 7 that have particularly resonated with me: いち [1] Ikigai: Translated as ‘reason for being’ Finding something that gives me a small, daily reason to rise and shine. に [2] Wabi-sabi: Translated as ‘the beauty of imperfection’ I accept the cracks and potholes of daily life. さん [3] Kaizen: Translated as ‘continuous improvement, small and steady’ This helps me to respect reality and embrace micro wins. よん [4] Ma: Translated as ‘negative space, a gap or pause’ Using the silence in between activities as a chance to catch up with myself. ご [5] Ichigo ichie: Translated as ‘one time, one meeting’ An evergreen reminder to embrace this never-to-be repeated moment in time and be fully present. ろく [6] Omoiyari: Translated as ‘thinking of others, active empathy’ Finding the time in my day to act compassionately to the people around me and anticipate their needs. なな [7] Shoshin: Translated as ‘beginner’s mind’ No matter how much I think I know about something, I do my best to approach it with an attitude of openness and without preconceptions. There are no magic wands in real life, only consistent effort that builds over time into a life worth living, with healthy doses of contentment. Source • vegoutmag.com
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