Counselors are taught to emphasize self-care and make sure we are engaging in hobbies and activities that promote our own positive mental well-being. Several years ago, I found myself without an activity to help me achieve this. I felt overworked and in desperate need of a release. I have always felt that I enjoyed a variety of activities, but I found myself not doing any of them. What I signed up for was a Japanese Watercolor class. What I got, was a way of life.
Wabi Sabi is a Japanese philosphy that the beauty is found in the imperfections. “Wabi” is said to be defined as “rustic simplicity” or “understated elegance” with a focus on a less-is-more mentality. “Sabi” is translated to “taking pleasure in the imperfect.” It’s about accepting the flaws and learning how to see beyond them. The idea is that if I have 100 tea cups, the most beautiful, is the one that is chipped.
We often emphasize that no one is perfect and life can get messy. Change is inevitable and if we do not know how to accept that and our own choices, we are often left feeling less than capable and inadequate. Embracing a Wabi Sabi lifestyle means, accepting that I will make mistakes, but I am also capable of learning from them and finding a way to make choices that are positive for myself and those around me. It is about accepting that some days I will try to control more than I am capable of and to care for more people than I am capable of. It is about accepting that some days, I will not be perfect, but tomorrow is a new day, and today, I can accept my imperfections. Finding one small thing that you feel is beautiful or positive in every day, can create the largest ripple effect in your overall life.
According to Mental Health America.net, more than 44 million American’s suffer from a mental health disorder. Our youth’s reports of major depression have increased from 11.93% to 12.63%; however, that is only reported episodes. Over 29% of North Carolina’s high school students report a depressive episode (MH1). In teaching and supporting a new way of thinking, we allow people to embrace their imperfections, learn how to cope with daily life, and find hope in an otherwise dark mental state.
Wabi Sabi is about accepting your mental health symptoms and learning to manage in a way that promotes positivity. It is about finding acceptance when faced with adversity. I joined a watercolor class and what I found was a hobby to last me a lifetime, and a mindset to challenge the idea of “perfect.”
Data Source:
MH1High school data are from: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). 1991-2017 High School Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System data. Retrieved June 20, 2018, from https://nccd.cdc.gov/Youthonline/App/Default.aspx
Wabi Sabi Counseling 