Alter your thought patterns using this ancient Japanese joy technique

Alter your thought patterns using this ancient Japanese joy technique

Embrace a gold-dipped winter with the Japanese art of Kintsugi! This ancient craft unites broken crockery with glittering lacquer and precious metals, creating an artifact that's even more stunning for its unique imperfections. Let's apply the principles of Kintsugi to the frosty season and revel in its raw beauty.

Life coach and speaker Andrea Jacques believes that Kintsugi stems from the wider philosophy of wabi-sabi, which celebrates the natural imperfections of life. Embracing roughness, simplicity, modesty, and age, this philosophy encourages us to accept exactly what we've got, instead of what we might want or what we think we should have. So, gather up that old coat with the fraying cuffs—it's perfect just the way it is!

The winter season can often feel 'imperfect' to us with its frosty windscreens and long nights. But perhaps we can find our 'gold lacquer' by adopting the Kintsugi mindset during the season. Instead of punishing ourselves for the cold days and waiting for spring, let's embrace the wintertime as it is, with all its rough edges.

Hedgehogs and dormice hibernate during winter, slowing down and taking stock, while the world around them carries on. Yet we chase after the holidays, the parties, and the sparkle, adding even more pressure to our hectic lives. Psychologist Tomáš Navarro suggests focusing on the things that make winter special—the cozy clothes, the anticipation of hot chocolate, the joy of watching fresh snow and curling up with a good book or a favorite TV show. It's all about finding joy in the simple pleasures, instead of chasing after unattainable ideals.

Kintsugi also encourages austerity, which seems a fitting approach for winter. Less is truly more during the frosty months, allowing us to declutter our homes and our minds. So why not go through that crammed cupboard, donate your 'might-be-usefuls-one-day,' and give yourself some space and peace of mind?

As Andrea Jacques points out, embracing the winter season can lead to greater balance and wellbeing. With the darkness, there is light; with the cold, there is warmth. Kintsugi is an invitation to actively seek out and embrace the beauty in imperfection—even in the middle of winter.

So, grab a cup of hot cocoa, cozy up in your favorite slippers, and give Kintsugi a try this winter. You just might find that there's something truly magical about the season, when you view it through the lens of these ancient Japanese principles.

30 Kintsugi Fixes for Winter

1. Keep the twinkling fairy lights year-round for added winter sparkle!
2. Create a unique winter bouquet using leafless stems, berried twigs, and fir cones.
3. Indulge in some winter comfort food and share it with friends.
4. Donate unwanted gifts to charity shops and help someone else find joy in them.
5. Take a winter photo and appreciate the beauty that can be found in the trees, puddles, and frost.
6. Light up your home with scented candles and enjoy the peaceful winter evenings.
7. Swap pictures around your home and add a few fresh plants for an instant refresher.
8. Take a long, relaxing bath and embrace the cold weather from the warm comfort of your bathroom.
9. Play old board games or have a Netflix marathon with friends—old-fashioned fun is still the best kind!
10. Find a beautiful photograph of someone special and frame it for display.
11. Appreciate the simple pleasures of the winter season, such as blackbirds, pigeon flocks, and holly berries.
12. Take up a new craft, such as knitting or quilting, and make something wonderful for yourself or others.
13. Make a delicious winter soup using seasonal ingredients.
14. Explore a new area of your city and look at it with fresh eyes.
15. Organize a potluck party and celebrate the imperfections and quirks in each other.
16. Watch classic movies and appreciate the timeless style and charm.
17. Plant bare-root roses in your garden and look forward to a beautiful summer.
18. Volunteer at your local homeless shelter or school and bring joy to others.
19. Get cozy in your favorite dressing gown, leggings, and slippers and read a good book.
20. Look back on the previous year in your diary and find the moments of joy among the hard times.
21. Repair an old friendship by organizing a meetup and reconnecting over a cup of coffee.
22. Share your time and talents with a lonely elderly neighbor.
23. Wear that clothing item that still makes you feel good, even if it is a bit worn, and remember all the good times you've had in it.
24. Find a way to contribute to your community during the winter months, whether by volunteering or helping out a neighbor.
25. Relax and take it easy. Winter was made for lounging!
26. String up your twinkling fairy lights all year, adding a bit of winter sparkle to your home.
27. Craft a unique winter bouquet from leafless stems, berried twigs, and fir cones, to grace your indoor spaces.
28. Indulge in comforting winter food, and share the warmth with loved ones.
29. Donate unwanted gifts to charity shops, allowing someone else to find joy in them.
30. Appreciate winter's beauty through photography, capturing the trees, puddles, and frost in stunning images.
31. Create a home ambiance with scented candles and bask in the tranquility of winter evenings.
32. Refresh your space by swapping pictures and adding a few houseplants for an instant update.
33. Embrace the cold weather from the warm comfort of your bath, savoring the long, relaxing soaks.
34. Engage in old-fashioned fun with friends, playing board games or binge-watching favorite shows.
35. Frame a photograph of someone special, cherishing the memory and the warmth it brings.
36. Discover the winter scene's simple pleasures, such as blackbirds, pigeon flocks, and holly berries.
37. Learn a new craft, like knitting or quilting, and create something beautiful for yourself or others.
38. Cook a delectable winter soup using fresh seasonal ingredients, nourishing both body and soul.
39. Explore new corners of your city during winter, appreciating the quiet charm that oftengoes unnoticed.
40. Host a potluck party, celebrating each other's unique imperfections and quirks.
41. Revel in the timeless style of classic movies, recalling the fashion trends and stories of yesteryears.
42. Plant bare-root roses in your garden and look forward to a beautiful summer bursting with blooms.
43. Offer your time and talents to those in need, such as volunteering at a shelter or helping a senior citizen.
44. Relax in your favorite loungewear, book in hand, and immerse yourself in a good story.
45. Reflect on the previous year, finding joy in the moments of happiness amidst the hardships.
46. Repair an old friendship by organizing a catch-up and reconnecting over a warm cup of coffee.
47. Show kindness to a lonely elderly neighbor by spending quality time with them.
48. Wear that treasured piece of clothing, even if it's worn, and remember all the wonderful memories associated with it.
49. Find a meaningful way to give back to your community during the winter months, whether through volunteering or offering help to a neighbor.
50. Slow down and revel in the peacefulness that winter brings, taking time to rest and rejuvenate.

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