I used to struggle with perfectionist tendencies, and it stopped me from enjoying parts of my life that could have been fun. If only I had stumbled across the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi back then. So take this as a sign: if anyone reading this struggles with perfectionism, then this article is for you.
What Is Wabi-sabi
Yes, we’re returning to Japan for another lesson on how to live life, where this time we have wabi-sabi. Wabi-sabi is one of Japan’s core aesthetic principles (Black, 2024). But it’s so much more than that. It’s also a philosophy and a way of life.
In the modern world, there’s an obsession with perfection. For example, we want a perfect body, and we curate our social media feeds to present our best side. But wabi-sabi is the exact opposite of that, as it embraces simplicity, transience, and the imperfect (Tang, 2025).
I don’t know when it started, but perfectionism has become this desirable trait (Kumar, 2022), one that weighs us down. As I always say, unless you’re working for NASA, we don’t need to be perfect. Good enough is more than good enough.
The Japanese philosophy that is wabi-sabi celebrates beauty in imperfection. Something we often forget. It reminds us that growth, change, and even a little wear and tear are all part of life’s charm. It teaches us to embrace the present moment and find peace in the flaws that make things real. The way I like to think of it in simple terms is how in fashion, beauty often comes down to symmetry, but perfect symmetry is seen as odd. That little bit of imperfection is what creates beauty.
The Wabi-Sabi Philosophy
Although the wabi-sabi philosophy is finding appreciation in the West, there are distinct differences in how it’s understood when compared to Japan (Black, 2024).
Acceptant imperfection
According to Yelenda (2025), the first principle of wabi-sabi is to accept imperfection in all its forms, both in ourselves and in the world around us. Wabi-sabi teaches us to appreciate the cracks, wear and tear, and flaws in all things, seeing them as part of their unique history.
When we apply this to ourselves, it means accepting our own imperfections and mistakes. Instead of striving for unattainable perfection, we can embrace our personal journey, seeing our “flaws” as part of what makes us uniquely us. They are what make our stories.
This is because unrealistic expectations and a fear of failure often fuel perfectionism. This overwhelming pressure to succeed or to be seen as perfect can result in a range of mental wellbeing issues (Cerebral, 2023). For example, anxiety and depression are strongly linked with the pursuit of perfection.
Simplicity
Wabi-sabi values voluntary simplicity and minimalism. It encourages us to find beauty in the small, unassuming aspects of our lives. This can be a powerful antidote to a world that often values complexity and excess.
Appreciation of transience
Because wabi-sabi is about appreciating transience, the imperfect, and the impermanent, it embraces the natural cycle of growth and decay (Ito, n.d.). Everything is fleeting, and nothing stays perfect forever, and that’s ok. That’s the nature of all things (Yelenda, 2025).
When applied to us as living beings, we’re in a constant, continuous state of physical and mental change and adaptation (Allen, 2025). Whether from an injury, exercise, or our bodies just regenerating new cells, replacing every single cell over seven years. Change is unavoidable (Tang, 2025).
By accepting the impermanence of life it helps reduce stress and anxiety (Ito, n.d.). If we talked to people who truly encapsulate the philosophy of wabi-Sabi, they’d all likely say the same thing: that it’s about appreciating the cycle of life, from birth to death (Kumar, 2022). The same can be applied to things that aren’t alive as well. Geology is built on understanding the history of the Earth as it’s gone through its cycle of existence.
The Benefits Of Adopting A Wabi-Sabi Worldview
Increased productivity
By letting go of the need to be perfect, we become more productive, as the pressure to perform harms us (Cerebral, 2023). Thus, embracing the idea of the imperfect can lessen stress, depression, anxiety, and reduce the risks of burnout. Without perfection, we’re also less likely to procrastinate.
Accepting imperfection
Wabi-sabi, as a Japanese aesthetic and worldview that finds beauty in imperfection, transience, and simplicity, can be a powerful tool for improving mental wellbeing. It does this by helping us shift our perspective on ourselves and the world around us. This can significantly reduce anxiety, self-criticism, and the pressure to be perfect.
Acceptance of imperfection
When we apply wabi-sabi to ourselves, it means we accept our imperfections and mistakes (Cerebral, 2023). This can help avoid rumination on things we can’t change. It also helps reduce the need for unattainable perfection, reducing anxiety, the pressure to be perfect, and self-criticism.
Resilience
The ability to bounce back from adversity is closely tied to how we perceive and respond to difficulties. Wabi-sabi promotes the acceptance of loss, the passage of time, and embracing change, which are unavoidable in life (Tang, 2025). This can help us to bounce back as it changes how we perceive things and respond to difficulties, because bad things will pass, as all things do with time.
Embracing transience
A core, if not the core, tenet of wabi-sabi is the knowledge that nothing is permanent (Ito, n.d.). Everything changes all the time. The intense anger we might feel will pass. That intense sadness we feel will also pass. By accepting this simple fact, we can become better able to cope with difficult emotions and situations. It’s all just moments in our tapestry of life.
Increased happiness
When we focus on what truly matters, accepting imperfections, we can experience increased happiness and satisfaction (Cerebral, 2023). With wabi-sabi, unrealistic expectations are replaced by being fine with imperfection, and life is imperfect.
How We Can Embrace Wabi-Sabi
Mindful observation
We can try paying attention to a simple object, like a single flower or a stone, and notice its unique details and imperfections.
Cherish meaningful objects
Another way to embrace wabi-sabi is to cherish the meaningful objects in our lives that embody its principles (Yelenda, 2025) or have a special meaning to us. A lot of the time, the story of an object is valued more than the object itself.
Embrace our personal story
We’re all different, and although our stories might have similarities to others, our story is ours alone. So reflect on the journey we’ve been on, warts and all, but bring attention to the fleeting moments of joy, learning, and transformation we’ve experienced (Kumar, 2022).
We don’t have to deny the negative parts of our story, as they also made us who we are. But at the same time, it can be a useful exercise to explore these experiences for neutral or positive takeaways. For example, what we might have learnt, or how we were able to get through that difficult time. This is called cognitive reappraisal.
Also, give love to our scars (Kumar, 2022), not just in a literal sense. Although I give love to my scars in a literal sense, referring to them as my tiger scars. My self-harm stopped me from attempting to take my own life, so in a way, at the time, they saved me, and I don’t feel I should be ashamed of them. Hence the name.
Connect with nature
Cultivating a connection to nature, both within and in our surroundings (Yelenda, 2025). Nature, such as green spaces (potted plants, parks, etc.) and blue spaces (rivers, seas, etc.), naturally improves our mental wellbeing.
Enjoy life
Wabi-sabi is about ageing gracefully and enjoying the journey that is life, about coming to terms with the process of being alive (Kumar, 2022). Too many of us, especially those in the public eye, feel the pressure to defy ageing, and often that comes with consequences that can’t be undone.
Some people might find my scars ugly, but to me, they mean life, and they’re beautiful to me. They’re an important part of my life story.
Practice mindfulness
According to Tang (2025), studies have demonstrated that mindfulness reduces stress and enhances resilience, and by observing things with a wabi-sabi lens, we can see the beauty in hidden things. For example, the life cycle of a leaf or a snowflake, or a grand old oak door.
Decluttering
Simplifying our living or workspace can help to reduce visual noise and promote a sense of calm. I know I often feel better after I’ve tidied an area. I just wish it’d stay that way.
Simple routines
Find beauty and peace in everyday rituals, such as savouring a cup of tea or taking a brief walk. Mindfulness eating is a simple way to make this part of our day.
Forgetting perfection
This is the paradox of perfectionism. At its heart, it’s counterproductive (Kumar, 2022). We believe it’ll give us peace if we can just be perfect, but perfection is impossible. And so, we pay a massive price for trying to be perfect.
There’s nothing more harmful to our self-esteem and self-image than believing our achievements are never good enough, and that just breeds feelings of low self-worth and inadequacy (Cerebral, 2023).
Stepping away from the trap that is perfectionism will help us avoid the associated depression, anxiety, and low self-worth that come with trying to achieve perfection (Tang, 2025). Learning to become comfortable with doing a good job, rather than a perfect job, reduces the risk of burnout, as perfectionism can become all-consuming (Cerebral, 2023).
Embrace the values of wabi-sabi, and see the beauty in the imperfection in everyday objects (Ito, n.d.). Think about the times when good enough actually was good enough, and how much time we waste striving for perfection when it’s not called for.
Repairing things
The wabi-sabi philosophy provides a coping mechanism to accept the transience of all things (Black, 2024) and how imperfections don’t devalue things. There’s a Japanese art form, kintsugi, that utilises the teaching of wabi-sabi, whereby a cracked piece of pottery can be repaired with lacquer and gold powder to bring an object back together (Allen, 2025). This repair then becomes a beautiful part of the object’s story.
So never think we’re too damaged to be saved or to be useful. Because it’s never too late for any of us to work on ourselves and become a beautiful new version of ourselves.
Summary
Wabi-sabi is more than just an aesthetic choice; it’s a way of life. This philosophy can teach us how to comfortably live in the world as it is, rather than through the lens of perfectionism. By following wabi-sabi, we can cultivate a more accepting, resilient, and peaceful mindset, which are all vital components of good mental wellbeing. Embrace the imperfect, live in the moment, and see the beauty in things that are often seen as damaged and unwanted.
As always, leave your feedback in the comments section below. Also, please share your experiences with wabi-sabi and embracing the imperfect in the comments section below as well. Don’t forget, if you want to stay up-to-date with my blog, you can sign up for my newsletter below. Alternatively, click the red bell icon in the bottom right corner to get push notifications for new articles.
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References
Allen, M. (2025, June). Perfectly imperfect: Embracing Wabi-Sabi in everyday life. Wellness Insights. Retrieved from https://wellnessinsights.com/blog/2024/10/4/perfectly-imperfectnbsp-embracing-wabi-sabi-in-everyday-life.
Black, A. (2024, May). Wabi-Sabi: The Japanese philosophy of embracing imperfection. Japanese Taste. Retrieved from https://japanesetaste.co.uk/blogs/japanese-taste-blog/wabi-sabi-the-japanese-philosophy-of-embracing-imperfection.
Cerebral. (2023, February). How embracing imperfections can improve your life. Cerebral. Retrieved from https://www.resiliencelab.us/thought-lab/how-embracing-imperfections-can-improve-your-life.
Ito, H. (n.d). The Role of Wabi-Sabi in Stress Reduction. Astrid Auxier. Retrieved from https://astridauxier.com/wabi-sabi-stress-reduction.
Kumar, S. (2022). Japanese philosophy and knowledge: Insights into Ikigai and Wabi-Sabi. In The Routledge companion to knowledge management (pp. 98-111). Routledge. Retrieved from https://opac.atmaluhur.ac.id/uploaded_files/temporary/DigitalCollection/M2FlMTAwNDk0ODgzNGRiZjU3ZjkzNDkyNjQzOWVmNTVlOWNlNjEyYg==.pdf#page=117.
Tang, S. (2025, June). Embracing Imperfection: The Psychology of Wabi Sabi and the Beauty in the Imperfect. MindForest. Retrieved from https://mindforest.ai/post/wabi-sabi-imperfect.
Yelenda. (2025, June). The three principles of Wabi-Sabi: How to let go of perfection and find peace in your home. 9 Creation. Retrieved from https://9creation.com.sg/wabi-sabi-the-three-principles-of-wabi-sabi.
Truly something to appreciate and too, embrace.
Exactly
This wabi-sabi stuff sounds lovely, like telling your messy room its imperfectly charming. Who doesnt want to embrace their flaws, especially when it means we can finally stop procrastinating? Reducing the need for unattainable perfection sounds like a win-win, unless your definition of good enough is suddenly throwing everything in the trash. Still, who doesnt love a philosophy that encourages us to appreciate our own unique story, even the parts where we might have, say, accidentally set off the fire alarm? And mindfulness eating? Brilliant! Lets savour that extra slice of cake, its all just moments in the tapestry of our beautifully imperfect lives, right?
This piece deeply resonated with me, especially the part about appreciating our scars and the journey, not just the destination. It’s so true how the relentless pursuit of perfection is exhausting and often detrimental to mental health. The concept of wabi-sabi offers a gentle reminder to find beauty in imperfection and transience, which feels like a much more sustainable way to live. I particularly liked the practical suggestions, like mindful observation or cherishing meaningful objects – these are simple yet powerful ways to shift perspective. It’s comforting to know there’s a philosophy that celebrates the imperfectly perfect essence of life.
This wabi-sabi stuff sounds lovely, like telling your to-do list that it doesnt need to be perfect and maybe just *exists*. Who wouldnt want to appreciate their slightly wonky flower pot or the beauty in things that are not quite right? Its like mindfulness but with less om and more oh, look, a crack in the pottery, perfect! I particularly enjoyed the part about cherishing scars – my battle-scarred coffee mug is finally getting the love it deserves. Letting go of the need for perfection definitely sounds like a recipe for less stress and more happiness, though finding the time to declutter might be my biggest challenge yet. Highly appreciate this insightful read!
This is the first time I heard of wabi-sabi. Everything that you said in this post fascinates me. I used to struggle with perfectionism during my younger days. I wanted people to see me as a person who is good at every thing. I know … my bad 😛 Now, I’m unlearning trying to be perfect. Discovering my quirky imperfect side makes me love myself. Alhamdulillah ^_^