When things break down, it can feel disorienting, painful, or even like failure. But breakdown also carries within it the possibility of rebuilding into something stronger and more resilient. We see this in simple ways: when we exercise, muscles “break down,” sometimes to the point of shaking, and yet it’s precisely this process that allows them to rebuild stronger than before.
Embracing imperfection, change, and transformation
This philosophy is beautifully illustrated in Kintsugi —the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold-tinted lacquer. What was once considered broken or flawed becomes even more beautiful and more valuable, carrying a history that includes both fracture and repair. The deeper lesson is about embracing imperfection, change, and transformation.
Of course, when we’re inside the experience of loss, the metaphor feels much harder to hold. Whether it’s the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, a home, or a career opportunity, these moments often demand that we release the way we thought life was supposed to unfold. There is grief in that—real and necessary grief. And yet, alongside the pain, there can also emerge new possibilities we couldn’t have seen before. Not immediate comfort, but perhaps over time, the chance to rebuild a life that carries more depth, beauty, and resilience than we could have imagined.
Notice where life may feel cracked: Pause there.
I invite you to notice where life may feel cracked, strained, or uncertain. Instead of rushing past it, pause and ask: What might be breaking open for me? What possibility, strength, or unexpected beauty could emerge from this place?
Just as gold traces the seams in Kintsugi, your own healing and resilience may become part of the story that makes you whole.