Japanese society is advanced in terms of technology and yet, it is traditional in many aspects of life. Japanese people follow many practices and philosophies that enhance their quality of life and inspire the rest of the world. Let’s take a look at five of these philosophies and try to implement them to make our own lives better.
Kaizen: The Japanese word ‘kaizen’ means ‘continuous improvement’ or ‘changing for the better’. The Japanese people adopt this philosophy in their personal and business life. It encourages people to take small steps to reach their goal.
Oubaitori: The ancient Japanese idiom ‘oubai-tori’ means ‘we should give ourselves time to grow and bloom at our own pace’. We should not compare ourselves to others as each one of us is different.
Wabi-Sabi: The words ‘wabi-sabi’ mean ‘looking for beauty in imperfect things’. This is a Zen Buddhist philosophy of seeing beauty through imperfections. This philosophy also teaches us that nothing is perfect and nothing lasts forever.
Shikata ga nai: ‘Shikata ga nai’ is a Japanese phrase that means ‘there is nothing to be done’. This teaches us acceptance of things we cannot change. It encourages us to let go of things that we cannot control and focus on what we can change to move forwards in life.
Ikigai: Ikigai is a Japanese concept that refers to a person’s ‘reason for being’ or ‘purpose of life’. Ikigai offers balance in life and makes one’s life more purpose-oriented. Find out what is the purpose of your life with the help of this ikigai diagram and go pursue it!
