Lifestyle Pick (Wabi Sabi)

Wabi Sabi: A Way of Life to Spot Real & Unconventional Beauty

Wabi Sabi discovers and reimagines beauty in imperfect, impermanent and incomplete things.

Image Courtesy: Pexels.com

BY PRAMITA BOSE

A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Quoting this opening line from English romantic poet John Keats’s immortal poem Endymion, one can easily fathom that beauty sprinkles delight and bliss till eternity. It evokes the force to tide over life’s hurdles and overcome any crisis with a smiling face. Hence, praising beauty in imperfection, impermanence and incompleteness and seeking pleasure from the same provides a purpose to live on, helps tread the path of progress and keeps the flame of inspiration burning in the heart. It’s like a cushion to cling to against all odds.

Sustainable Living

“When green nature beckons you, you must respond to its call. The air quality in the lap of nature is very pure. So, inhaling cleaner oxygen on the beaches, up in the mountains or farther down in dense forests will possibly act as a detox of the mind, body and soul. This helps one heal, rejuvenate and bounce back in all respects,” claims wellness coach and author Deanne Pandey.

Staying in the Moment

Many believe that it is important to make the most of the present situation or grab the opportunities at hand instead of dilly-dallying because it’s one life and one chance to die for. However, a majority tends to ignore and overlook the current period and defer things to set sky-high ambitions for the unpredictable future.

Being Comfortable in Own Skin

Whether there are marks, cuts, cracks or asymmetry, it’s vital not to dodge our faults but happily embrace them in style and with sheer confidence. “Well, you do not require any validation from the society or the general public. You are what you are after all. Aiming for fitness is important but following extreme diets and a rigorous training could be harmful in the long run. You can’t change your body type and the shape you are born with, can you? But what you need to do immediately is to get fitter and grow healthier inside out and strike an apt balance overall,” opines Pandey.

Less is More

Prioritising our agenda of wants, we must always practise prudence and ponder the point whether to be content with what we already have or crave for more on the road ahead by pursuing unrealistic dreams during our life’s journey.

“Gratitude and satisfaction go hand in hand as it involves acknowledging the positive aspects of our life and reining in our desires. Directing our energies and efforts to what we presently possess can deter us from getting caught in a vicious cycle that provokes us to yearn for more, eventually triggering disappointment, frustration and a loss of mental peace. Thus, gravitating towards implausible goals relentlessly thwarts us from experiencing ecstasy in the present moment,” asserts life coach Vasudha Jha.

Sorting and Unclogging Life

One must adopt a mindful approach to daily consumption and refrain from unnecessarily buying and hoarding things in bulk than the required capacity.

“Anything that we hoard or pile up blocks the vital energy in our homes and the surrounding atmosphere. We also use more resources than we need and unduly burden the environment. It will be therefore more sensible for us to add clarity to our needs, keep our space clean and let that optimistic vibe flow to achieve calm and gaiety,” notes Jha, who’s a deep transformation coach and a family constellations therapist.

Stable Bonding

Abusive and fractured relationships are on the rise. Can compatibility and giving each other personal space save and steady the equation? “Personal space is paramount. One must set boundaries and respect one another’s private zones to create parity and chemistry in relationships. The labour of love should continue to retain the paradise in a couple’s nest,” suggests Jha.

True Beauty

The glamour industry is now aggressively hunting for raw supplies that will help manufacture a menu of eco-friendly products devoid of harsh and damaging chemicals. It is hell-bent on propagating the idea that organic beauty is more valuable and treasurable than artificial beauty enhancements. Natural beauty is real and enduring with its firm foundation.

“Well, organic beauty is certainly cruelty-free and puts less pressure on the environment, thereby curbing carbon footprint. Green beauty items use renewable resources, biodegradable packaging and responsibly-obtained raw ingredients. Products made from natural elements are crafted with antioxidants and vitamins, thus nourishing and benefitting the skin as well as the body,” informs Jha.

Meekness Over Materialism

Some people are consciously going off grid or taking the spiritual route to relinquish all extravagance and luxuries in life. They feel it’s morally liberating to find solace in humbleness in lieu of decadent pleasures.

“The minimal unpretentious joys of life have a profound essence to elevate and enrich one’s inner voice. Holding the minutest things in high regard and valuing no-frills or fancy-free objects with basic functionality promote a more gratifying life. This attitude also reduces the constant bother of comparison between the haves and the have-nots and the consequent urge to seek a sounding board via material possessions,” volunteers Jha.

Smooth Skin or Sensitive Heart?

Being charitable is a rare quality after all, which should be instilled right from the start. “A human with a heart of gold and touching a chord in a fellow human heart is the real man or a woman with the Midas touch,” aromatherapist and author Blossom Kochhar shares her philosophy.

Celebrating God’s Creation

It is always advisable to wear your natural self and remain in your own skin, thus accepting its deficiencies instead of concealing those spots, freckles, bunions, calluses, warts and all. Should then one flaunt and promote her natural beauty, thereby abstaining from going under the knife for cosmetic treatments and plastic surgeries?

“It’s highly commendable to admit your flaws instead of hiding the same. But then there are natural processes to mend or conceal certain skin issues if you choose to. Personally, I don’t believe in artificial treatments or a cosmetic surgery. I count every individual as beautiful the way he/she is. This is the basic principle of Wabi Sabi,” infers Kochhar.

“Frankly speaking, there are so many natural alternatives available in the market to upgrade one’s look by using natural skincare products, practising gua sha, performing facial yoga or aligning with other organic beauty rituals on offer to be able to look and feel dazzling without drastically changing who you are,” reports Kochhar.

In her view, real confidence comes from “embracing your natural self and nurturing your beauty the holistic way. We’re also seeing a global shift, even among the celebrities, where many are moving away from fillers and cosmetic procedures for the sake of more natural methods. So ultimately, it’s a personal choice and there's no one-size-fits-all answer to this,” she concludes.

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