#053 — Let Yourself Be
A Japanese philosophy of acceptance, a thousand questions to deepen self-reflection, and why wisdom is the gift that keeps on giving.
Welcome back!
From nanoscale pasta fibers to the genetics behind ginger cats, this week’s discoveries remind us that even the most familiar things can surprise us with their hidden complexities. But amidst all these technological and scientific breakthroughs, we find ourselves drawn to a simpler, more profound truth – the beauty of letting things be.
So in this issue, we’re exploring an ancient Japanese philosophy that feels remarkably relevant to our modern lives. It’s a perspective that might just change how you see the world around you, from the cracks in your favorite mug to the imperfect moments that make life uniquely beautiful. Along the way, we’ll also share a fascinating project that poses 1000 questions designed to preserve wisdom in our digital age – because sometimes the deepest insights come not from having all the answers, but from learning to ask the right questions.
So find a quiet moment (ideally in one of Earth’s last naturally quiet places – but more on that later), and join us as we discover the transformative power of embracing things exactly as they are.
Ready for a deep dive into your own mind? Let’s begin…
DISCOVER NEW STUFF
Your dose of curiosity
✻ Scientists have created the “nanopasta” – pasta fibers 200 times thinner than human hair, opening new possibilities for biodegradable materials.
✻ It’s Spotify Wrapped time. If you want even more stats, transform your Spotify listening data into stunning artwork with this tool. From DNA-style breakdowns to beautiful visualizations, see your music in a whole new way. Who ruled your Wrapped this year? Let us know!
✻ The search for silence: discover how Quiet Parks International is preserving Earth’s last naturally quiet places, from Taiwan to Namibia. To learn more about the silent travel trend, read one of our previous issues:
✻ Time to expand your mind. Get inspired by this collection of 100 little ideas that offers fascinating insights into how the world really works.
✻ History has some dark corners. Did you know about the tragic story behind Big Ben’s designer, who went insane shortly after completing his masterpiece, and was not even credited for it?
✻ Scientists have finally discovered why some cats are ginger and why most orange cats are male. This discovery solves a 60-year-old mystery and reveals a completely new mechanism for how genes influence hair color.
“The mind is sharper and keener in seclusion and uninterrupted solitude. Originality thrives in seclusion free of outside influences beating upon us to cripple the creative mind. Be alone—that is the secret of invention: be alone, that is when ideas are born.”
– Nikola Tesla
GET INSPIRED
The Art of Letting Things Happen
“Things are either devolving toward or evolving from nothingness”, writes Leonard Koren, capturing an essential truth about existence that many of us struggle to accept. In our relentless pursuit of perfection, we often forget that life itself is inherently imperfect, transient, and incomplete.
The Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi offers a profound antidote to this mindset. It invites us to embrace life as it is: flawed, impermanent, yet inherently beautiful.
Rooted in Zen Buddhism, wabi-sabi teaches us that the cracks in our lives are not blemishes to be concealed, but truths to be celebrated. Practices like Kintsugi – repairing broken pottery with gold – embody this ethos.
Kintsugi is a traditional Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics by joining pieces with lacquer mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. The word “kintsugi” combines the Japanese words “kin” (gold) and “tsugi” (repair). Instead of hiding damage, it transforms it into something more meaningful, where every imperfection tells a story of resilience and grace.
Similarly, Raku pottery, a form of Japanese ceramics shaped by hand and cooled in open air, emphasizes simplicity and individuality over mechanical precision. These art forms remind us that imperfections make things unique, fostering deeper connections with the objects and stories that surround us.
The essence of wabi-sabi itself can be summarized by three realities:
Nothing lasts.
Nothing is finished.
Nothing is perfect.
Finding Beauty in the Broken
“Beauty,” writes artist Leonard Koren, “can be coaxed out of ugliness”. Wabi-sabi challenges our binary thinking about beauty and ugliness, suggesting instead that beauty is a dynamic event occurring between observer and observed. It’s not about the perfect sunrise – it’s about finding wonder in the cloudy day, beauty in the withered flower, wisdom in the weathered face. This perspective invites us to reconsider our relationship with imperfection, both in our environment and within ourselves.
When we begin to view life through this lens, something remarkable happens. The pressure to achieve perfection begins to dissolve, replaced by a gentler, more compassionate way of being. We start to notice beauty in unexpected places – the asymmetry of a handmade ceramic cup, the worn pages of a well-loved book, the laugh lines that mark a life well-lived. These aren’t flaws to be fixed, but rather characteristics to be celebrated!
Letting Go of Perfection and Embracing Impermanence
As you see, perfection often feels like an unattainable standard that weighs us down, masking the beauty of the journey with an obsession for results. Wabi-sabi reminds us that the quest for perfection is not only unnecessary, but also misaligned with the nature of existence itself. Just as a tree’s twisted branches or the shifting sands of a beach remain beautiful despite – or maybe because of – their irregularities, so too can we embrace our imperfections as a source of uniqueness and strength.
“In nature, nothing is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful.”
– Alice Walker
And nature itself is the perfect teacher of impermanence as well. Consider the changing seasons: the fleeting bloom of cherry blossoms, the vibrant decay of autumn leaves, or the quiet dormancy of winter. Each phase is transient, yet complete in its own right. Wabi-sabi encourages us to mirror this rhythm in our lives, finding joy in fleeting moments and solace in the cycles of change.
In practicing wabi-sabi, we learn that true presence doesn’t require perfect circumstances. Those are rarely ever perfect. Instead, it asks us to fully inhabit whatever moment we find ourselves in, with all its imperfections and uncertainties. This might mean sitting with uncomfortable emotions rather than trying to fix them, or accepting a challenging situation rather than immediately trying to change it.
Wisdom in Questions: The Save Wisdom Project
In our journey toward acceptance and letting things be, we discovered a remarkable initiative that perfectly complements the ancient wisdom of wabi-sabi. The Save Wisdom Project, with its collection of 1000 thoughtfully crafted questions, offers a modern approach to cultivating self-awareness and embracing life’s inherent imperfections.
The project emerges at a crucial time. In our digital age, where information is abundant but wisdom often seems scarce, it serves as a powerful reminder that true wisdom comes not from having all the answers, but from learning to ask the right questions. As its creator, Brian Roemmele, notes:
“Information has the power to inform, but it is wisdom that has the power to transform.”
What makes this project particularly fascinating is its approach to preserving wisdom. Instead of providing ready-made answers or prescriptive advice, it offers questions that prompt deep reflection. Questions like: “What mistakes or failures were the best lessons for you in life?” or “When did you first realize your own mortality?” invite us to examine our relationship with imperfection, impermanence, and growth – themes that resonate deeply with wabi-sabi philosophy.
Among the thousand questions, several particularly resonate with our exploration of letting things be. Consider these three powerful inquiries:
“How have you learned to integrate and harmonize the different aspects of who you are?”
This question invites us to embrace our whole selves – our strengths and weaknesses, our certainties and doubts, our light and shadow. It reminds us that true authenticity comes not from achieving perfection, but from accepting and integrating all aspects of our being.
“What changed when you fully accepted what could not be changed with compassion instead of resentment?”
Here we find an echo of wabi-sabi wisdom – the transformative power of acceptance. Often, our greatest peace comes not from changing circumstances, but from changing our relationship to them.
“How has recognizing life’s uncertainty softened your judgment about simple explanations or one-sided views?”
This question speaks to the beauty of embracing life’s complexity and mystery, rather than seeking absolute certainty or perfect understanding.
The project suggests using simple voice recordings to capture responses to these questions, creating a personal archive of wisdom that evolves over time. This practice itself embodies wabi-sabi principles – it’s not about crafting perfect answers but about embracing the natural flow of thoughts and insights, allowing them to change and deepen with time.
We encourage you to take a moment with these questions. Perhaps find a quiet space, free from distractions, and let them sink in. You might want to journal your thoughts, record voice notes, or simply sit in contemplation. There are no right or wrong answers – the value lies in the journey of self-discovery itself. Notice what emotions arise, what memories surface, what insights emerge. You might be surprised by the wisdom that unfolds when you give yourself permission to explore without seeking perfection.
As you reflect, remember that like the practice of wabi-sabi, this isn’t about reaching a final destination or achieving a perfect state of understanding. It’s about engaging in an ongoing dialogue with yourself, allowing your perspectives to evolve and deepen over time. We’d love to hear your thoughts and insights in the comments below – what revelations did these questions spark for you?
Let Yourself Be
Reflecting on wabi-sabi, consider how letting go of control can bring you some unexpected joy. For instance, leaving room for spontaneity in our schedules or allowing relationships to develop organically, instead of striving for rigid ideals, may lead to more fulfilling connections and experiences.
By finding balance in impermanence, we align ourselves with the natural rhythms of life – a constant dance of growth and decay, joy and sorrow. Wabi-sabi asks us to honor each stage, trusting that even in brokenness there is always some profound beauty waiting to be discovered.
As David Foster Wallace suggests:
“(…) if you really learn how to pay attention, then you will know there are other options. It will actually be within your power to experience situations as not only meaningful but sacred (…)”.
When we let go of control and allow things to unfold, we create space for grace and wisdom. Wabi-sabi’s lesson is simple yet transformative: embrace what is, rather than resist what isn’t.
So let yourself be, and see what emerges when you stop resisting…
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Beautiful philosophy and well-explained