Kintsugi mind

Abstract

While the harms and losses due to the pandemic are disheartening, it is possible to reintegrate what is broken and emerge from the experience whole. Such is the philosophy behind the ancient Japanese art called kintsugi. When a piece of pottery is broken, the craftsperson repairs it with gold or silver. Thus, it is more beautiful than in its original intact state. Can we engage in kintsugi mind and thereby emerge from the pandemic stronger? How to do so is the crux of this commentary (Box 1). 1,2 This article has been peer reviewed.

Kintsugi

“…Moving beyond the pandemic and recognizing the losses and abrupt changes that occurred in education and the decreased confidence when new nurses begin to practice, 1 it is essential for nursing leaders, managers, and educators to identify the losses faced during the pandemic and foster the emergence from the pandemic focusing on the positive lessons learned. As Dobkin 2 notes, although the harms and losses from the pandemic are disheartening, it is possible to emerge from this experience as a whole. Whereas many studies note the deleterious effects of the pandemic, others encourage acknowledging the tragedy, 3 focusing on optimism, 4 and setting the goal of resilience 5 as ways to move forward in a positive manner.…”