Ichigoichi

 

This Japanese mindset will make you love your life again. Have you ever felt like life is slipping through your fingers, like you're rushing from one task to the next, one achievement to another? But, somehow it all feels empty. You might scroll through your phone, binge, watch a show or check off goals on your to-do list. But deep down, is this lingering question -  Is this all there is? It's a heavy thought, isn't it? But what if the problem isn't life itself. But the way we're living it.

 Today, I want to share with you a Japanese mindset that could completely transform how you experience life. It's called Ichigoichi, which roughly translates to one time, one meeting at its core. 

This philosophy teaches us that every single moment we live is unique,  fleeting and unrepeatable. Think about that for a second. Every interaction you have, every sunset you watch, every cup of coffee you drink is all happening for the first and last time. 

But here's the question. Do you live like that's actually true, or do you take these moments for granted? We've all been there. We're sitting with someone we care about, but instead of being present, we're scrolling through our phones or thinking about, what's next? We eat meals without tasting them, walk through beautiful places without noticing them and talk to people without really listening. We live as though Life is infinite, as though we'll have endless chances to experience the same moment again. But the truth is, we won't. This is where Ichigoichi comes in. It's a reminder to treat every moment as if it's the only one you'll ever have. Because it is.  It's about being fully present, fully alive and fully aware of the beauty and impermanence of what's happening right now. But let's be honest, living this way isn't easy, We live in a world that constantly pulls us out of the present moment. We're bombarded with notifications, deadlines and distractions. We're trying to think about the future, our goals, our plans, our problems or dwell on the past, replaying, regrets and mistakes. And in the process we missed the only thing that's real -  this moment. So, let me ask you, when was the last time you truly lived in the present? When was the last time you felt fully alive fully, connected, fully immersed in the Here. And now here's something profound. Ichigoachi, doesn't just make life more beautiful. It makes life more meaningful. When you embrace this mindset, you start to realise that even the smallest moments have value. A conversation with a stranger. The sound of rain on your window, morning light filtering through the trees. These aren't just random occurrences. They're once in a lifetime experiences. But here's the paradox, the more you try to hold on to these moments, the more they slip away. Ichigoichi isn't about clinging to the present, it's about appreciating it as it flows. It's about letting go of the need to control time and instead surrendering to the flow of Life. And this brings us to the heart of the philosophy of  impermanence. In Japanese culture impermanence isn't something to fear. It's something to embrace. The cherry blossoms that bloom for only a few weeks each year aren't less beautiful because they're fleeting. They're more beautiful because they're fleeting, Their impermanence makes us treasure them. What if,  we saw our own lives that way? What if, instead of fearing the passage of time, we saw it as a gift. What if instead of rushing through life, we slowed down and appreciated the moment. We can no matter how small or ordinary they seem.

Sit back and explore why we resist living in the present.  How our obsession with control and permanence pulls us out of the moment and how Ichigoichi offers a profound antidote to the anxiety and dissatisfaction of modern life? 

PS

Go n explore yourself. I  followed it to the T n it changed my life. Bhagwad Gita taught me the nuance of impermanence. It has stuck with me since. Living each moment fully provides me more moments to live. Recently, in Germany, I treasured basking in the sunlight. The German winters are extreme. I  am from a tropical nation. Everyday, in the morning in India,  I would offer my Namaste to the Sun. Without fail. And, how much I valued those moments in Germany,  when the Sun was out and we were bathed in its warmth around the Dresden countryside.  I am making a conscious choice of extending my lifespan by living in awareness. The moment my mind jumps to the past or the future, I pull it back to the now. This brings me back and makes the moment alive. Otherwise what use is it to let a moment go by dead. My life now is a series of such ordinary moments full of life. I dont know how long I will live but I know how to live in each moment. By being alive in many such moments added up together, I extend my own life span. No medicine required. That's the key 🔑 

Ashutosh Tewari