Welcome to the latest episode of Unlocking Your Greatness with Wendy Bjork. As an international bestselling author, nationally syndicated columnist, inspirational speaker and founder of heartsofwellness.com, it is my mission to empower women to build a strong Foundation of Wellbeing: One Whole-istic™ Step at a Time. To feel HOPE: harmony, options, peace and empowerment to help others along the way.
Kintsugi and Healing Your Body
The ancient Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold is more than just a beautiful technique—it’s a metaphor for healing your body and accepting flaws. Whether you’re reeling from the loss of a loved one, battling mental illness or recovering from an injury, we can learn from this practice to reframe our hardships and come out stronger on the other side.
Kintsugi is one of the elements of a larger worldview called wabi-sabi—a Japanese philosophy that embraces imperfection and celebrates the beauty of things that have been damaged or worn down over time. It’s a belief that what makes you unique and beautiful is your scars, your story—and how you choose to heal from them.
To repair ceramics with kintsugi, artisans first clean the broken object before applying a thin layer of urushi (a sticky resin extracted from a flowering tree) over the cracks and chips. Then they use a mixture of gold lacquer, kiln-fired yakinaoshi clay powder, or other gilding materials to fill the fractures and make them appear as though the piece never broke in the first place.
This process is repeated for each crack, chip or missing piece until the broken object reaches its final form. The pieces are then sanded down and polished to a high shine. The piece is then set aside to dry and harden for a week to two months, with the process sometimes overseen by family members who wish to see how the piece will turn out.
As sculptors and artisans use the kintsugi technique to teach their students, they also encourage them to take the same approach to their lives. To be aware of what is happening to us or around us, to recognize our own cracks and imperfections and to accept them is to be healed. Taking time to heal yourself and leaning on your support system—whether that’s therapy, friends or a close circle of family—is crucial for mental well-being. Likewise, fueling your body with a balanced diet full of vegetables, low-fat ingredients and lots of whole foods will ensure that you’re repairing your physical health from the inside out.
When we take ownership of our health and healing, it can seem like an uphill journey that is too daunting and overwhelming to continue. But having a high level of self belief with plenty of self compassion in ourselves can be the foundation needed to become our own advocate.
It all begins with our decision, and allowing ourselves to take one step at a time on this journey. You may refer back to my helpful article: Are Your Prepared To Advocate for Yourself?
To support you in creating a path to your dream life, download your copy of the Hearts of Wellness 30-Day Journal + Blueprint Bundle Towards Living Your Best Life at heartsofwellness.com/you. It will support you in keeping your desired outcomes all in one place along with the Blueprint which will help you take small steps daily towards a better view of yourself. Benefit from improved self-talk, as well as writing your weekly gratitude list and celebrating your weekly wins. Discovering and living by your personalized playbook are important steps we can create together!
If you feel a self-paced approach with Wendy’s support would be helpful in reaching your goals, you can head over to the Hearts of Wellness Membership Collective and begin your journey back to simplicity, freedom and wholeness!
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