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Six Japanese Concepts To Help Us Appreciate Life
#6 Yugen —An appreciation for the profound and mysterious
Japan is renowned for many things, including its natural landscapes, strong work ethic, rich culture, and anime, among other highlights. Their culture has been preserved and handed down through generations and remains vividly present in the streets of Japan. Their vast knowledge is also encapsulated and shared through various concepts. In this self-reflection post, let’s explore some of these Japanese concepts to appreciate aspects of life better.
6) Appreciating the past
Yugen (幽玄) is an appreciation for life's profound, mysterious, and subtle aspects that evoke awe and wonder. It encourages embracing the beauty found in the unknown.
Many times life works in mysterious ways, too. Things happen for a reason and it’s only in retrospect when you connect the dots you realize that it couldn’t have happened any other way.
Reflect on something that, looking back, turned out to be beneficial in the way it unfolded, even though you may not have appreciated it at the time.
