Kintsugi, which means “golden joinery,” is the Japanese art of putting broken pottery pieces back together with lacquer dusted powdered gold, silver, or platinum. Weaving together parts with a golden seam, to create the beautiful whole.
As we journey through life, we’ve all experienced breakages and parts of us that were difficult to experience, or that we wish we had done differently. The past is the past and we can’t change it; and the future is the future and is not controllable or known. But in the present, we can reflect on those fragmented pieces, and how they can be put together, to reflect the wholeness of your beautiful you. After all, we wouldn’t be where we are today if we hadn’t journeyed through our past experiences.
To reflect on this, set aside 60 minutes in a quiet spot (maybe even with some scented candles and soft music), and pull out that reflection journal. Ask yourself: “What were the toughest parts of my life?” Write down a handful, or even a dozen. Include even those experiences you would rather not have happened. Pause. Take some deep breaths. Then ask yourself “How did it contribute to who I am today?” and “What did I learn from it?” Jot your thoughts down. Then reflect on the collective thoughts. Consider where there might be gratitude for some element(s) of those experiences. It’s interesting to see how all our past creates who we are today, and who we might become in our future.
Curious to know what you think …
Anna Minto
Founder & CEO, Transformational Change
Executive Coach & Collaborator, You Are Possible
LinkedIn.com/in/annaminto
Anna Minto - Transformational Change 