Wabi Sabi Love - Book Giveaway! | Care2 Healthy Living

We are giving away a copy of Wabi Sabi Love: The Ancient Art of Finding Perfect Love in Imperfect Relationships by Arielle Ford. Check out this Q&A with the author, then leave a comment for your chance to win the book!

What is Wabi Sabi?

It is an ancient Japanese art form that honors all things old, weathered, worn, imperfect, and impermanent by finding the beauty in the imperfections. For instance, if you had a large vase with a big crack down the middle of it, a Japanese art museum would put the vase on a pedestal and shine a light on the crack, or they might fill the crack with 24k gold!

Wabi Sabi Love is devoted to exploring the simple, fun, and effective ways to apply this concept to our love relationships through stories and exercises that demonstrate how to attain groundbreaking shifts in perception so that you can embrace and find the beauty and perfection in each other’s imperfections. I call this “going from annoyed to enjoyed”!

Why did you write this book?

My previous book, The Soulmate Secret, unveiled the principles for attracting love. I found that my married friends were asking me for a book that would “turn my mate back into my soulmate.” One of the greatest myths in our society is that once we find our soulmate, our relationship will be effortless. If only! According to psychologist and researcher Dr. John Gottman, nearly every happily married couple has around ten irreconcilable differences. The top two are money and kids. The other biggies are sex, in-laws, housework, communication, balance between home and work, and political views. Wabi Sabi Love is a book that offers ways to turn conflict into compassion and create a more loving relationship. It shows you how to cultivate love for yourself and your partner, especially on the days when one of you is acting out, refusing to listen, or shutting down.

What is the benefit of Wabi Sabi Love?

Here are the sad but true facts about marriage today: 50 percent of first marriages, 67 percent of second marriages, and 74 percent of third marriages all end in divorce. Modern-day society has conditioned us to seek perfection, which leads to an ongoing state of frustration and dissatisfaction. In truth, we all know that perfection is not possible. But with Wabi Sabi Love, we can come to appreciate our own and the other’s imperfection, and can actually experience a more natural state of grace than we thought possible.

By practicing Wabi Sabi Love, you learn to accept the flaws, imperfections, and limitations—as well as the gifts and blessings—that form your shared history as a couple. Acceptance and its counterpart, under- standing, are crucial to achieving relationship harmony. It’s the highest form of love, and, like most things worth striving for in life, it requires patience, commitment, personal responsibility, and practice. Imagine how great you will feel when you know your partner loves all of you all the time—the good, the bad, and everything in between!

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Lucero A.

8:48AM PST on Jan 16, 2012

I want to learn to love the wabi sabi way in me fisrt of all so I can learn to love the wabi sabi way in all...

send a green star

Melonie M.

6:33AM PST on Jan 16, 2012

I would enjoy a little help with my new love. Relationships take constant work. It is hard to understand when our society pushes, and even still expects, the 'princess' love story.

Christina K.

12:47PM PST on Jan 15, 2012

Can't wait to read it!

Betty P.

2:28PM PST on Jan 14, 2012

This would be a test of unconditional love and total acceptance of your partner and yourself. I'm always open to read books that help me understand a better way of living in harmony.

Kelly D.

1:12PM PST on Jan 14, 2012

This book sounds like a realistic, non-judgmental approach to making relationships enjoyable again, instead of work.

Erin G.

10:01AM PST on Jan 14, 2012

I love this idea. Shift your perceptions to realize that the most annoying habits of your partner help to shape that beautiful, unique, wonderful person you fell in love with. A fulfilling relationship is possible with love, commitment, and humor.

Let's stop to realize that we are different. Let's stop to realize that our differences are fantastic.

Treasure your partners differences as quirks, don't punish them as flaws.

Liliana F.

2:10PM PST on Jan 13, 2012

This would be a great addition to my bookshelf :)

Brian M.

10:53AM PST on Jan 13, 2012

It would make my heart so happy to win a copy of "Wabi Sabi Love" book. How do I enter?

Amy S.

2:15PM PST on Jan 12, 2012

this book sounds like just what I need in my life. I am 38 years old and am still clinging to the hope of finding true love...at least a true healthy companion. I have learned the hard way that I have trouble seeing people with 'my eyes wide open' for who they truely are, not who I wish they would be or for the potential that I see in them to be, but with clear perception. Sadly, people have a way of being on their best behavior for quite some time and show us who they can be, then somehow metamorph into something else completely once the relationship reaps its rewards. Maybe this book can give me the much needed insight I am searching for to start a new chapter in my life. Blessings to all looking for love...at least we can see it simply looking into the mirror. Namaste. ~Amy

Ana G.

5:17PM PST on Jan 11, 2012

Love is really about finding perfection in imperfection, or accepting the flaws... Great insight to compare wabi sabi aesthetics with love ... Eager to read how this approach was ellaborated in the book.