The art of repair: Weaving mindfulness into the fabric of our lives
There is always a way to fix something, no matter how broken it looks at first glance.
The point is that things can be repaired... that they are even more beautiful for having been repaired.
Somewhere in the teachings of every wisdom tradition on earth is the admonition to “make whole that which is broken.
In Judaism, it is tikkun olam, “repair of the world.”
It is said that in the eyes of God, an object that has been repaired is more holy than one that is new.
This is the meaning of tikkun olam.
Olam, or “world,” comes from the same root as hidden, and so the repair we are asked to accomplish requires that we see the sacred hidden within the ordinary — the wholeness that exists in all things, everywhere.
In Japan, they fix pottery with gold, It's called kintsugi.
When a piece of ceramic pottery breaks, rather than trying to restore it to its original condition, the artisan accentuates the fault by using gold to fill the crack.
This beautifully draws attention to where the work was broken, creating a golden vein. The gold fills the gaps and turns the flaw into a feature, something to adore. The piece is stronger, with a story to tell, of resilience and beauty, of fragility and renewal.
“Kintsugi - The art of repair could be described as how things blossom or mature, and how a thing will age or become itself, with time and repairs - it teaches you to develop a way of looking, to see a deeper kind of beauty -that is hidden from those who don’t look closely enough.”
Mindfulness is like that.
It’s a way of repairing the way we think and feel.
It's a continuous process of stitching reminders to ourselves of the deeper truths that fortify us- kindness, inspiration, faith, and hope in ourselves and in our future selves.
It’s about loving ourselves as we are, and the willingness to improve.
The practice is akin to weaving a thread through the fabric of our being, until the patch becomes an integral part of the cloth, strengthening the entire garment.
Through this kind of practice, we cultivate a sweet and gentle equanimity that enables us to remain steadfast and composed, even in the face of life's challenges.
Learning mindfulness presents a profoundly important principle, that a fulfilling life is not just about moving the pieces around on the board, (external stuff) but also about taking care of your spiritual software (internal stuff) so you can find the right balance between outer success and inner happiness.
Mindfulness can be thought of as a state of receptivity.
This is, in a sense, it’s great value. We go off to a remote place, or stare out over the ocean as the night is coming on, and feel a deep longing and sadness that this beautiful day is over.
Then we smile and look up at the stars coming out and feel a powerful resonance with nature, the universe, and all things large and small.
In that moment we open and relax and settle.
We reach a certain kind of peace and become receptive.
It's a powerful tool that empowers us to persevere and thrive, no matter what the world throws our way.
Like any good fairy tale, consider your life is not a definitive task of finding the right direction…but letting the quest and journey shape you into the kind of person who knows which way to go.
Explore my gentle 21-day guided mindfulness journey
7 curated exercises that are heart-centred, poetic, and quietly radical in their simplicity.
Together we’ll explore mindfulness as a way to help you microdose mindful integration in your daily life. Give these gentle practices a try from wherever you are and let us know how they feel.
It is a pay-by-donation course.
I’m David, a Vancouver life coach and mindfulness teacher.
I create personalized coaching programs for my clients, designed to encourage, inspire, challenge and delight you.
People flourish.
Problems get solved.
Opportunities & goals come to life.
If this appeals to you, book a complimentary discovery session.