Into 2025 with a few ancient principles
Even though we’re already a couple weeks into 2025, I’m still feeling the heightened energy that surrounds a New Year.
My parents were teachers and both worked second jobs. Dad was a night manager at the Roses in Asheville and Mom spent evenings organizing and sorting Avon inventory, and this was in addition to our practices and other activities.
With our schedules so busy, it was often during winter break when we finally slowed down and enjoyed one another. Looking back, I now see the span of weeks surrounding Christmas and New Year’s was one of the few times our entire family truly relaxed, unencumbered by external expectations.
As we moved into this new year, I thought how wonderful it was back then to take a break from the frenetic pace of life and just be. Instead of grandiose resolutions and extensive goals, my plan for 2025 is to simply navigate life more intentionally with a focus on changing daily habits.
I like metaphors related to sailing. Ships are massive vessels driven by strong winds, but they are turned by a small rudder steered by the pilot. In my mind, I’m the pilot, my daily habits are the rudder and my life is the ship. Additionally, you can only steer a moving ship. If we never start moving in the direction of our dreams, we can’t steer our lives in a way we’re proud of and excited about. Also, consider how one degree of change can alter the ship’s course. If a pilot adjusts the rudder one degree, it seems like a minimal shift at first but over a span of time, the ship will end up in an entirely new destination. In our lives, small significant changes will guide us where we want to go without feeling overwhelmed or unprepared.
Not every country and culture encourages a hustle mentality and we Americans don’t have to succumb to the status quo. Over the past couple of years, I’ve learned about Japanese principles that enhance all levels of wellness and strength. It’s not simply the Japanese way of eating and movement that leads to longevity, it’s also their spiritual practices. By “spiritual,” I don’t necessarily mean their attachment to a higher power, although that is also helpful. I’m talking about guiding principles that all cultures can benefit from. There are a number of these principles, but five of them ring true for me and are relevant to not only a New Year but to any phase of life.
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Misogi is an ancient Japanese practice involving purifying the mind, body and spirit through physical and mental challenges. For some, this may be a physical challenge like running a race, taking an adventurous trip or hiking the AT. For others, it may be writing a novel, learning a new language or instrument, launching a business or tackling a home improvement project. The goal of any misogi is to build strength, resilience and self-confidence. Some folks like to embrace a misogi experience every 365 days so that it defines their year. In doing this, each year has something of a crowning achievement and also prevents all the years from blurring together as they so often do, especially the older we get.
Kaizen is a Japanese word that loosely translates to “improvement” but when defined fully it means continuous improvement. The philosophy is that one improvement builds upon the previous improvement until over time, huge gains are made. The Kaizen philosophy is heavily used in industry. For instance, one of the 14 guiding principles of The Toyota Way states, “Become a learning organization through relentless reflection and continuous improvement (kaizen).” While kaizen often used in the business world, it’s relevant to all parts of life.
Wabi-sabi is centered around the acceptance of imperfection and the fact that change is inevitable. It’s finding the beauty in not only the ebb and flow of life but also the parts of life that are impermanent, incomplete or imperfect. I appreciate this principle because so much of life feels fleeting or unexpected and instead of letting it derail us, I like the thought of embracing the uncertainty.
Ikigai may be one of the more well-known Japanese principles as I often hear of it when reading or watching material about the Blue Zones. The term blends two words: “iki” which means “to live” and “gai” which means “reason.” When put together, you have “a reason to live.” This principle encourages people to discover what truly matters to them and live a life full of joy and purpose. Research has shown that finding one’s ikigai greatly enhances happiness and longevity.
Finally, we have shinrin-yoku, also known as “forest bathing,” but can pertain to any time spent in and with nature. This practice refers to intentional moments in a natural setting, being fully present in your surroundings and allowing your mind, body and nervous system to relax. There are numerous health benefits related to time spent outdoors and when living in a beautiful place like Western North Carolina, we have little excuse to stay inside.
With all this being said, I love the momentum surrounding a New Year and am excited to see what’s in store for 2025. Whether you want to embrace some of these Japanese principles or you’ve created traditional resolutions, I hope you are feeling energized for what’s to come.
(Susanna Barbee is a writer, editor and digital media specialist. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..)
