I learnt about the philosophy of kintsugi earlier this year. The message of this phislopshy is that no matter the damage or imperfections in something, you don't throw it away. You repair it, seal its blemishes with care and love and cherish it in whole.
At first it resonated with me, and then for a while it did not. :)
But last weekend, I watched Inside Out 2...and I noticed a variation of kintsugi in the message of the movie. The movie deals with the anxiety and growing pains of transitioning from a kid to a teenager/young adult. It shows how the psyche tries to hide painful experiences, protecting us and hoping that it will keep us stronger and feeling good about ourselves. At the end, due reconciliation comes and we realize how accepting both bad and good experiences will bring out the best in a person.
In life, we talk about inclusion at work, in society and all places in between, but we rarely talk about inclusion of the self i.e. accepting both your good and bad sides. Being kind to yourself about the short comings you have is the first step towards accepting others' shortcomings. First, be at peace with yourself and then your peace will shine on others and show them kindness.
As I apply kintsugi to myself and outwards to my relationships in life, I appreciate how the Japanese philosophies are simple, yet powerful. Just like the movie Inside Out ( both 1 and 2) itself. In case you haven't watched it, check it out!
