Passion Struck with John R. Miles
Own Your Cracks: Embrace Wabi-Sabi to Grow Into What Matters | EP 555
03 Jan 2025
Chapter 1: What is Wabi-Sabi and why is it important?
Coming up next on PassionStruck, as we step into 2025, I want to ask you something. What if the goals you didn't reach, the plans that didn't unfold, and the cracks in your year aren't failures at all? What if they're part of something deeper, an opportunity to see life in a whole new way?
In this episode, we're exploring the ancient philosophy of wabi-sabi, a perspective that challenges us to embrace imperfection, appreciate the fleeting nature of life, and find meaning in the unfinished. If you've ever felt weighed down by the pressure to be perfect, this conversation is for you. Welcome to Passion Struck.
Hi, I'm your host, John R. Miles, and on the show, we decipher the secrets, tips, and guidance of the world's most inspiring people and turn their wisdom into practical advice for you and those around you. Our mission is to help you unlock the power of intentionality so that you can become the best version of yourself.
If you're new to the show, I offer advice and answer listener questions on Fridays. We have long-form interviews the rest of the week with guests ranging from astronauts to authors, CEOs, creators, innovators, scientists, military leaders, visionaries, and athletes. Now, let's go out there and become passion struck. Welcome back everyone to another Momentum Friday in episode 555.
Whether you're a longtime listener or brand new to the show, I'm thrilled to have you here as we kick off this first Momentum Friday of 2025. This is the place where we challenge conventional thinking, dive into intentional living, and explore what it means to lead a life of purpose and impact.
And what better way to start the new year than by reflecting on the lessons, insights, and opportunities that lie ahead. Before we dive into today's episode, let's take a moment to recap this week's incredible guests. On Tuesday, I spoke with Shira Gill, who shared practical strategies for decluttering your life, not just your physical spaces, but your mental and emotional ones too.
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Chapter 2: How can I embrace imperfection in my life?
If you're looking to start the year lighter, more focused, and more intentional, Her episode is a must-listen. Then, on Thursday, Carrie Lebowitz joined me to discuss how cultivating a mindset of resilience and positivity can profoundly impact your well-being. Her insights into reframing challenges and embracing optimism provide powerful tools for navigating the year ahead.
If you missed either of these episodes, I highly encourage you to go back and check them out. They set the stage perfectly for today's discussion. For anyone new to the show, navigating through over 550 episodes might feel overwhelming, but we've got you covered.
Visit passionstruck.com slash starter packs or check out our Spotify playlist to find curated themes like mindset, personal growth, alternative health, and resilience. It's the perfect way to jumpstart your journey with Passion Struck. And don't forget to sign up for my Live Intentionally newsletter at passionstruck.com.
Every week, I share actionable insights, tools, and strategies to help you thrive. Plus, subscribe to our YouTube channels for episode highlights and engaging content that helps you live with intention. Now, let's dive into today's episode. Here we are.
It's 2025, another year, another round of obsessing over what we did wrong, what we didn't do enough of, and why we're still not the perfectly polished version of ourselves that Instagram says we should be. Sound familiar? Yeah. Same here.
But before you dive headfirst into another January filled with guilt-driven resolutions and toxic productivity hacks, let's take a breath, because here's the thing. Perfection is a lie, and chasing it will only leave you exhausted, disappointed, and still scrolling TikTok at 2 a.m., wondering why your life doesn't look like everyone else's highlight reel.
In our last episode, I talked about A Christmas Carol. You know, that story with the ghost of Christmas past, present, and future, and how it's really about one thing, mattering. It's about realizing that your life has meaning, even if it's messy, complicated, or full of screw-ups. It's about the small ways you show up for people, and how those moments ripple outward.
Now, I want to build on that idea with something the Japanese figured out centuries ago, wabi-sabi. It's a philosophy that says, hey,
life is imperfect things fall apart and guess what that's actually beautiful it's about embracing the cracks instead of trying to plaster over them finding meaning in the fleeting moments and learning to see the value in what's unfinished so as we kick off 2025 let's not waste time pretending we're going to be perfect this year Instead, let's try something better.
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Chapter 3: What lessons can I learn from the cracks in my life?
I wanted to learn Spanish, but my consistency wavered. I told myself I'd attend Toastmasters regularly, but other priorities took over. My exercise routine started strong and then slowly fell apart. These cracks weren't inevitable. They were moments where I could have done better, but didn't. At first, these cracks, whether imposed on me or created by my own actions, looked like failures.
But as I reflect, I see something different. I see resilience in the way I navigated what I couldn't control. I see effort in the plans I attempted, even if they didn't unfold perfectly. And I see lessons in the imperfections, reminders that growth doesn't require perfection. It requires showing up, trying, and caring.
Whether the cracks were forced upon me or the result of my own choices, they all taught me something valuable. Your cracks are not something to fix or hide. They're golden seams that give your life depth, authenticity, and meaning. Wabi Sabi gets this. It's about stepping back and saying, okay, this isn't what I planned. It's not perfect, but maybe it doesn't need to be.
It's about finding beauty in the cracks, in the mess and chaos, because that's where the growth happens. Think about it. When was the last time you grew as a person because everything was easy and perfect? Probably never. Take a moment and reflect on the hardest parts of 2024. The mistakes, the things that didn't go as planned, the moments when you thought,
What the hell is even happening right now? Now, ask yourself, what did those moments teach me? How did they shape me? What did they reveal about who I am and what matters most to me? The truth is, we matter not because we're perfect, but because we're real. The cracks in our lives are proof that we've lived, that we've tried, and that we've cared.
And that's worth more than any picture-perfect version of success. So as we move into 2025, I'm challenging you and myself to stop chasing this idea of perfection. Instead, let's own our cracks. Let's embrace the fact that life is messy and unpredictable. Let's find meaning in the chaos and beauty in the imperfection.
Because when you stop trying to make everything perfect, you free yourself to focus on what really matters. growth, connection, and living with purpose. The cracks aren't flaws, they're features. They're what make you human. And in a world obsessed with perfection, that's a damn good thing. All right, so we've reflected on the cracks of the past, the moments that shaped us despite their messiness.
Now let's turn to the future. It's 2025, and you probably have goals, dreams, and things you want to achieve. How do you approach them without falling back into the same old trap of chasing perfection? Here's the key. Set imperfect goals, goals that are rooted in purpose and intention, not improving something to yourself or worse to other people. Think about it. How often have you set a goal?
Not because it was meaningful, but because it looked good on paper. Maybe it was losing a certain amount of weight, hitting a specific income milestone or landing that promotion. But halfway through the year, you realize you didn't actually care about the goal itself. What you really wanted was to feel confident, secure, or fulfilled. The goal was just a placeholder for something deeper.
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Chapter 4: How do I set meaningful and imperfect goals?
It was about creating a book that would resonate for years to come. Wabi Sabi reminds us that life's beauty isn't in its perfection, but in its impermanence, its incompleteness. and its cracks. So here's what you can do. Make a list of things you're ready to let go of, whether it's old goals, habits, or expectations.
Consider how letting go of these attachments can make space for something new and more aligned with who you are now. And then third, find meaning in incompleteness. Life is a work in progress, and so are you. Wabi Sabi reminds us that incompleteness isn't failure, it's an opportunity. When you stop obsessing over tying up every loose end, you start appreciating the journey itself.
Ask yourself, what areas of my life feel incomplete, and how can I appreciate them for what they are? For me, marketing my book wasn't about achieving some perfect endpoint. It was about connecting with readers, sharing the message, and trusting the process. Every conversation, every new reader, every small win, it's all mattered. even if the end wasn't neatly tied up. So here's what you can do.
Look at the areas of your life that feel unfinished. Instead of striving for perfection, focus on making small, intentional steps forward. Progress over perfection. Reflect on how these unfinished chapters contribute to your larger story. When you start to see your imperfections, the impermanence of life, and the incompleteness of your journey as features, not flaws, you unlock a
whole new way of looking at the year ahead. Wabi Sabi isn't about pretending everything's fine or letting yourself off the hook. It's about working with the mess, finding meaning in it, and realizing that the cracks are what make the picture whole. And here's the best part. Those cracks, those messy, imperfect moments aren't just about your own growth.
They're also how you show others they matter, how you create connection. foster understanding, and leave an impact that goes far beyond yourself. As you move into 2025, remember this. You don't have to fix every crack or smooth over every imperfection. The cracks aren't flaws. They're proof of life, of effort, of progress. They're where the light gets in and where the connections happen.
Because in the end, it's not about perfection. It's about showing up, embracing your humanity, and living a life that truly matters. And if you want to take these lessons and apply them in a bigger way, I've created a guide for you that goes with this episode. You can find it at the end of the episode show notes.
So throughout this episode, we've explored how Wabi Sabi helps us reflect on the past, embrace the present, and set intentions for the future. But the cracks in your life aren't just about personal growth. They're also where you create meaning and connection with others. Wabi Sabi teaches us that we matter not because we're perfect, but because we're human.
It's in the imperfect, unpolished moments that we forge the deepest bonds and leave the most lasting impact. The truth is, you don't need to fix every crack or smooth over every imperfection to matter. You just need to show up as you are.
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Chapter 5: What are practical strategies for applying Wabi-Sabi?
It's one of the most impactful ways to help others discover the show and join us on this journey of intentional living and growth. If you know someone who might benefit from this episode, maybe someone striving for perfection or struggling to embrace life's imperfections, please share it with them. Together we can spread these transformative ideas and create a ripple effect of positive change.
As we kick off this new year, I'm excited to continue bringing you content that inspires, challenges, and equips you to live a life of intention and impact. If you're looking to bring these principles into your team, organization, or community, I'd love to partner with you on keynote speeches, workshops, or events.
Visit johnrmiles.com slash speaking to learn more about how we can work together to ignite purpose and growth in 2025. For links, resources, and exercises from today's discussion, head to the show notes at passionstruck.com. Don't forget to watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube channels. And while you're there, hit subscribe so you'll never miss an episode or highlight.
Supporting the show is easy. Check out our sponsors and exclusive deals at passionstruck.com slash deals. It's a great way to support those who support us and keep this content coming to you every week. Before we go, here's a preview of next week's episode. I'll be joined by Max Lugavere, a leading voice in nutrition and brain health.
Max will share his groundbreaking insights on optimizing your mind and body for the year ahead. And we also get into his new documentary on Alzheimer's disease.
You don't want to miss it. The fact that I could start to implement
whether dietary or lifestyle interventions in my own life that might not with a hundred percent certainty prevent me from ever developing a condition like alzheimer's disease or parkinson's disease but could according to the best available evidence lower or minimize my risk for these conditions well that was a really powerful call to action for me what if i could get this information out to the public at large that hey these conditions which we tend to assume are
inevitable, dare I say natural aspects of aging or inherited, if none of those are in fact the case and we can actually take steps today to improve our odds 10, 20, 30 years down the line, well then that was something that I felt really inspired to do.
Thank you for choosing to spend your time with me today. Your commitment to learning, growing, and living a life that matters inspires me every single day. I hope this episode has added value to your journey and reminded you that mattering isn't something to wait for. It's something you create. And remember, the fee for the show is simple.
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