In Japanese pottery, there’s an artful form of repair called kingsugi. When a piece of ceramic pottery breaks, rather than trying to restore it to its original condition, the artisan accenuates the fault by using gold to fill the crack. This beautifully draws attention to where the work was broken, creating a golden vein. Instead of the flaw diminishing the work, it becomes a focal point, an area of both physical and aesthetic strength. The scar also tells the story of the piece, chronicaling its past experience.

We can apply this same technique to ourselves and embrace our imperfections. Whatever insecurities we have can be reframed as a guiding force in our creativity.