Ichigo Ichie can be translated from Japanese (一期一会) as, “for this time only,” and “once in a lifetime.” It also can be translated “one time, one meeting”. It roughly translates to the idea that we live “each moment, only once” and that the value of each encounter is that it happens only once in a lifetime.
Ichigo Ichie means what is happening now will never happen again. We should value every moment of life as a treasure. This means that every meeting in our life, all our experiences are unique events that will never happen again. And if we live life without enjoying it, if we don’t pay attention to the simple little things our lives are made of we miss these moments forever.
The practice of Ichigo Ichie helps us find meaning in every insignificant moment of our life, appreciate the time spent with loved ones, and remember that our family and friends deserve our full presence and attention.
Then every moment of life will become more valuable, and life itself will be easier and happier-without regret about the past and anxiety about the future.
In this article, we want to share with you the 10 main principles of Japanese Ichigo Ichie philosophy.
10 Ichigo Ichie Principles
1. Don’t postpone special moments
Don’t put anything off for later or for a special occasion. Every moment in life is special. If you don’t live it completely, you will lose it forever. Life is a question of now or never.
2. Live as if this were going to happen only once in your life
Ichigo Ichie teaches us to be aware of the unique and once-in-a-lifetime nature of each meeting. Live as if every meeting with your loved ones is your last and may never happen again. Human nature is that we only value what we can lose. All quarrels and disagreements take time, which is known to be fleeting. Instead of reproaches, say important words to your loved ones when meeting them. You never know when the last meeting will come.
3. Dwell in the present
Be present in the now moment. The past gives rise to regret. The future gives rise to anxiety. In any case, you can’t change what has already happened or predict what will happen. But here in this moment, all the possibilities in the world are alive.
4. Do something you’ve never done before
As Einstein said, you can’t do the same thing over and over and expect different results. Therefore, if you want to change your life and become a happier person you should make a new habit – every day do something you’ve never done before. Every day allow something new to blossom inside you.
5. Practice meditation
It allows you to stop the wheel of daily routine, start observing life as if from the outside and remember that you are much more than your social statuses. After all, meditation will help you to calm down and open the doors to well-being.
6. Mindfully use your five senses
Train yourself in the art of listening, watching, touching, tasting, and smelling to give each moment the richness of human perception. This will help you live in the present, appreciate what you have, and better understand yourself and other people. And don’t forget to put the phone aside.
7. Notice coincidences
Accidents are not accidental! Trust your intuition and learn to see the signs that the universe sends your way. Writing a journal will help you track all the signs from the Universe and their meanings.
8. Make each day a celebration
Don’t wait for the right moment – a vacation, a trip, a birthday – to experience extraordinary things. Make each day special! Every day can be a celebration if you allow yourself to join it!
9. If you don’t like your reality, change it
We all have the strength, ability, and potential to live the way we want and be who we want to be. Aren’t we? We are transformative by nature and have the power to reinvent ourselves as many times as it takes. If your reality is too negative, dull, and boring you have all the resources to create another one! You are the creator of your own reality. Start changing it by changing your thoughts! Become more positive. Remember that you can manifest anything you choose for yourself. So choose well!
10. Be a hunter of special moments
Train yourself to “zoom in” every moment of your life and make it special. Focus on the positivity! Every cup of tea, every meeting, every walk can be special. Just add some special details to them so that every moment becomes memorable. As with any activity, the more you practice, the better and more abundant the results will be.
The Bottom Line
Ichigo Ichie philosophy helps us remember that we can make each day of our lives special. And every special day is a sum of special moments. It’s in our power to make a moment special. All we need to do is to be present and treat every moment of our lives as the most special one. Then each day will be special.