1. OUBAITORI

Never compare yourself.

Everyone blossoms in their own time in different ways. Don’t judge yourself by someone else’s path.

2. KAIZEN

Continuously improve.

Constantly strive to improve across all areas of your life. Small changes accumulate and make all the difference.

3. WABI-SABI

Embrace Imperfection.

Nothing lasts, nothing is complete. Accept your own flaws and those of others. Find beauty in imperfection.

4. GAMAN

Have dignity during duress.

Hard times need to b e met with emotional maturity and self-control. We need patience, perseverance, tolerance.

5. IKIGAI

Know your reason for being.

Define the reason you get up in the morning. Make it something you are good at passionate about, and that the world needs. THIS is meaning.

6. SHIKITA GA NAI

Accept and let go.

Some things simply aren’t within our control. Accept what you cannot change, and move on.

7. SHU-HA-RI

Learn, Experiment, Innovate.

“When the student is ready the teacher will appear.

When the student is truly ready… The teacher will Disappear”

– Tao Te Ching

It is a way of thinking about how to learn and master a technique. There are 3 stages to acquiring knowledge:

Shu: Learn the basics by following the teaching of one master. Imitating the work of great masters also falls in this stage.

Ha: Start experimenting, learn from masters, and integrate the learning into the practice.

Ri: This stage focuses on innovation and adapting the learning to different situations.