Life lessons to live by

FROM DOING LESS TO OWNING LESS, GLOBAL LIFE PHILOSOPHIES CAN GIVE US FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Always busy? Try niksen. Afraid of failure? Time to harness your inner sisu. There’s much more to these concepts than just another wellness trend. You don’t have to apply them all to your life but taking inspiration from different cultures and ways of living where we feel we need it most can help to ease us out of old ways of thinking and perhaps start the year with a new perspective.

Ikigai

Finding your purpose Try if... you’re feeling a bit lost or are looking for a new direction

A Japanese concept that translates as ‘reason for being’ and is about discovering your passions and talents and harnessing these both in the work that you do and the way you contribute to the world around you. A helpful way to discover your ikigai is to draw a Venn diagram with four circles – what you love, what the world needs, what you can be paid for and what you’re good at. Put ideas into each circle and where these different elements converge is your ikigai.

Finding your ikigai will help give you purpose, a reason to get out of bed in the morning and inspiration to follow your passions. Read: Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles (Hutchinson)

Nunchi

Tuning into others’ emotions Try if... you tend to speak before you think or get anxious in social situations

A Korean concept, nunchi is situational awareness, or having an understanding of what other people are thinking and feeling. From a young age, Korean children are taught the importance of having nunchi – considering others, reading a situation and behaving appropriately. That person who always seems to know what to say in a situation and can fit in to any environment has quick nunchi. It’s a desirable quality but not an elusive gift – one of the key elements to reading a situation and understanding others is to stay quiet, listen carefully and observe others before speaking. In her book, Euny Hong says nunchi can be a superpower for introverts who will find it easier to hang back and consider what they’re going to say or do without steaming in. Read: The Power of Nunchi: The Korean Secret to Happiness and Success by Euny Hong (Hutchinson)

FINDING YOUR IKIGAI WILL HELP GIVE YOU PURPOSE AND INSPIRATION

Niksen

The art of doing nothing Try if... you’re always on the go and think resting is for losers

A Dutch concept, niksen is about letting go of the busyness that so many of us live with and easing the pressure we put on ourselves to perform at a high level in every area of life. Niksen directly translates as doing nothing, but it’s more about doing something without a purpose, giving yourself a break and aspiring to a simpler, less pressurised lifestyle. It’s about allowing yourself to do something, just because. Think listening to music, staring out of a window or cuddling up with your pet. Allowing yourself to be idle, and just be present with your thoughts. It’s like Sundays used to be when you were growing up when you had enforced rest and time to reflect and recharge your batteries for the week ahead. Read: Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing by Olga Mecking (Piatkus)

NIKSEN IS LIKE SUNDAYS USED TO BE WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP

Wabi-sabi

Embracing the imperfect Try if... when it’s not Insta-worthy it’s not good enough for you

Retaining the imperfect, repairing the broken, and learning to find beauty in flaws form the basis of the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi.

Many Japanese artists use wabi-sabi in their work, highlighting cracks and imperfections in pottery with gold lacquer, for example, rather than trying to disguise them. While it is most used to refer to the aesthetic (pottery, gardens, buildings, etc) the concept of wabi-sabi is far-reaching and reminds us that striving for perfection in any area of life is unachievable and misguided. By accepting flaws and fallibility we can enjoy and appreciate the impermanence of things and others as they grow, change and age. Read: Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life, by Beth Kempton (Piatkus) »

BY ACCEPTING FLAWS WE ENJOY THE IMPERMANENCE OF THINGS

Maitri

Being kind to yourself and others Try if... you’ve a tendency to bear grudges or are a harsh self-critic

The Buddhist philosophy of loving kindness means showing unconditional friendliness to others. It’s about training yourself to overcome patterns of selfishness and feelings of resentment or aggression and developing more patience, sympathy and empathy with others. Maitri also involves showing kindness to yourself, through self-care, self-compassion, yoga and breathing. You can practise a loving kindness (or metta) meditation by repeating the following sequence, while bringing to mind first yourself, then a loved one, somebody you have neutral feelings about, and then someone you find annoying. With each person in mind, repeat the following good wishes. May you be safe

May you be happy

May you be healthy

May you be at ease. Read: A Monk’s Guide to Happiness: Meditation in the 21st Century by Gelong Thubten (Yellow Kite)

Sisu

Your inner strength Try if... you tend to give up easily and play it safe

Known as the Finnish art of courage, sisu is about harnessing the strong, determined, brave person within you that might get pushed down by fear or self-doubt. From the Finnish word sisus, which translates as guts, the concept goes back to Finland’s history and the country’s long fight for independence from Russia. Finnish people often pride themselves on their strength and resilience and thrive on a challenge. You can harness your own sisu by carrying on even when you feel afraid of what the outcome might be and embracing a bit of hardship (think back to basic wild camping, or setting yourself a physical challenge). The theory is that when we push ourselves out of our comfort zone, we get stronger and more confident and resilient. If that sounds scary, remember the biggest obstacle standing in your way is usually yourself. Read: Sisu: The Finnish Art of Courage by Joanna Nylund (Octopus) THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE STANDING IN YOUR WAY IS USUALLY YOURSELF

Lagom

Enough is enough Try if... you’re feeling dissatisfied or frequently compare yourself with others

Not too little, not too much, just the right amount. That’s the way of lagom, a term used in Sweden and Norway to describe their philosophy of moderation. The word comes from the phrase laget om, which means ‘around the team’ and dates back to the Viking era when communal horns filled with mead would be passed around and everyone had to sip their own share and no more. The antidote to greed, consumerism and boastfulness and a poignant concept in this world of constant comparison, lagom pushes us to find our own individual levels of contentment and inner peace. Not to be confused with indifference, lagom is more about finding your optimum level and being content with it. Read: Lagom: The Swedish Art of Balanced Living by Linnea Dunne (Gaia)