How to face adversity?

7 japanese concepts that will help you to transform your life

Throughout our lives we will always face difficult moments, overcoming them is a necessity and an obligation to avoid drowning in an ocean of sadness. Now, we all have the capacity to defeat these difficult moments and acquire valuable lessons to face the future with better resources.

Japanese culture is ancient and full of wisdom, which is why I would like to share 7 concepts that they use, full of teachings that will help change our perspective.

IKIGAI

The IKIGAI is hidden inside us, and it is our duty to find it and let it out. But what is it about? to locate your reason for being, your passion, your vocation, your mission and your profession. Once you find it, put it in the center of your life and enjoy it, it will give meaning to your life.

SHIKATA GA NAI

One way to translate it is when we say "it is what it is". We always seek to control everything in our lives and it is under this concept that we must accept and recognize that some things are out of our control.

I do not want to say with this that we should not have goals or plan our lives, only that sometimes there will be circumstances in which we must let go and focus our energy on what we can change.

WABI-SABI

This philosophy focuses on 3 keys: nothing is perfect, nothing is complete and nothing is forever with the ideal of accepting the beauty of imperfection.

Finding joy and peace in imperfections makes us focus on how beautiful life is and opens the way to a deep connection with oneself, with others and with the world by accepting that we are vulnerable.

GAMAN

This concept can be understood as the posture that is adopted of patience and perseverance in difficult or unexpected situations and likewise implies a certain degree of self-control where confrontations are avoided as a sign of maturity.

A clear example of this philosophy in Japan is the great ability they have to organize after natural disasters.

OUBAITORI

I consider that this is one of the most important and that we should all definitely work on it, because I know that it happens to all of us at some point in our lives. The OUBAITORI teaches us to accept our own value and not to compare ourselves with anyone else. There is no time or an equal path for anyone. Each one progresses and grows at their own time.

KAIZEN

Perhaps many are familiar with this concept, have studied it or have worked in a company that uses the 5S of KAIZEN. Basically what it is about is continuous improvement, from our work culture to the formation of daily habits. Any task, no matter how difficult or complicated, can be accomplished in small, continuous steps. So, it is a very important principle when looking for a great impact in your life.

GANBATTE

Understanding its meaning goes far beyond the literal, however we could say that it is "strive", "give the best of yourself", "improve yourself personally or professionally", would be some of the close meanings of this principle.

The Japanese see this philosophy as the search for excellence but not perfection, it is always to focus on giving your best version and committing yourself in everything you do, so that your thoughts, words and actions are in sync.

“When we encounter real tragedy in life, we can react in one of two ways: by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength”

Dalai Lama

Now, it's time to put them into practice, will it be difficult? Yes, I do not doubt it, when we want to create changes our mind is usually our biggest obstacle, but this is good, because it is in these situations that we put ourselves to the test, so overcoming them will help us grow as a person and develop emotional health that allows us to enjoy life.

---

I would like to encourage you to read a book which I consider every person should read, and if you have already read it, read it again and get much more out of it