© Shutterstock

Origins in tea ceremonies -

The term can be traced back to a 16th century tea master who advised that the participants as well as the service itself be respected as though it were a meeting that could occur only once in your lifetime.

© Shutterstock

Linked with Zen Buddhism -

Ichigo is a Buddhist term meaning "from one's birth to death," AKA one's lifetime. The entire concept of ichigo ichie also stems from the embrace of transience.

© Shutterstock

Used in martial arts training -

The term was reportedly sometimes used to discipline students who became careless, reasoning that in a life-or-death situation, there is no chance to just try again.

© Shutterstock

Applied in theater as well -

In noh theater, a form of classical Japanese dance-drama from the 14th century, performances are typically only rehearsed together once, a few days before the show, rather than the many times typical in the West, honoring the transience of a given show.

© Shutterstock

Acquainting yourself with loss -

By recognizing the transience of every moment–how you will lose this moment when the next arrives–you can learn to effectively manage that loss in a positive way.

© Shutterstock

But the key is taking action -

They don’t have to be huge actions, but the point is that once you focus on the transience, like that of childhood, you’ll take better care of the present.

© Shutterstock

Transforming even your unfavorable moments -

Every Monday morning, every chore day, every ride you take on the metro—everything you don’t typically enjoy can have a brighter light when you realize it will never happen again exactly the same way.

© Shutterstock

Consider the butterfly effect -

The theory is that any small change can trigger completely different and unforeseeable effects, and from that we can learn the value of a moment: though we’ll never know the final consequences of our actions, we know every moment holds the potential to affect a lot more.

© Shutterstock

Slowing down -

The biggest reason we need ichigo ichie in our lives is because we’re all moving much too fast these days. There’s constant information and endless to-do lists, and we’re rarely appreciating the small, everyday things that in fact make up our lives.

© Shutterstock

Less anxiety, more happiness -

These are things we can all strive for, so keep clicking to see the principles of ichigo ichie that will lead you to a more fulfilled life.

© Shutterstock

Don't postpone special moments -

Think of putting off special moments as denying your present self happiness for something that may not ever happen. The best moment is always now.

© Shutterstock

Don’t postpone special moments -

Instead, plan more immediate occasions, or make use of opportunities you have right now, like telling someone you love them or making someone laugh.

© Shutterstock

Meet people as if it’s the only time -

You know how we think hard about what we’d say to our idols if we had the chance to meet them? We should apply this level of care to everyone we meet. Ask thoughtful questions, give compliments, and don’t leave your connection for another time.

© Shutterstock

Stop living in the past -

We often carry with us heavy emotions from the past: grudges, traumas, regrets, and great memories we miss. But we can’t change the past, or return to it, so don't let it hinder you from experiencing the present.

© Shutterstock

Stop living in the future -

In the same vein, you can’t know what’s going to happen in the future, and if you’re living for (or, more commonly, stressing about) something that hasn’t yet happened, then you’re not really living for that much.

© Shutterstock

Do something new -

We get so settled in our habits and routines that we imagine moments repeat themselves. The best way to show yourself that this is false is by trying new things, new hobbies, taking a new route home, or even using new words. Only new strategies yield new results!

© Shutterstock

Celebrate imperfection -

When you approach each moment as if it’s the last, you might feel stressed to get every moment “right,” but that would be defeating the purpose of ichigo ichie! It’s all about celebrating the imperfection that every moment naturally brings.

© Shutterstock

Practice meditation -

Get in a comfortable seated position and observe the way your mind travels, bringing your attention back to your breath when you get too distracted. By seeing the mechanisms of your mind that are stopping you from being in the moment, you can start to change them.

© Shutterstock

Practice meditation -

It can be as easy as 10 minutes in the morning, and you’ll find that during the rest of the day you're more in tune with the present, and more fascinated with yourself.

© Shutterstock

Pay attention to your five senses -

It seems simple enough, but training yourself to listen, watch, touch, taste, and smell with full lucidity is difficult. When you alert your senses, however, you enrich the moment using the magic of your own perception, which will also make you more receptive to other people.

© Shutterstock 

Avoid distractions -

A Japanese proverb says that a hunter who aims at two prey at once will kill none, and the same is true for when you try to read a book while checking your phone, for example.

© Shutterstock

One thing at a time -

Focus on doing one thing at a time, as if it were the most important thing in the world, and you’ll get so much more out of it.

© Shutterstock

Notice coincidences -

People who feel in tune with the universe can seem blessed with some greater spirituality—but this is not the case! Feeling in tune takes a great amount of attention to details.

© Shutterstock

Notice coincidences -

Keep a journal where you note these moments of daily magic, whether they’re certain repeating numbers, a new word you read that you heard someone else say soon after, a song you were thinking of that suddenly started playing on the radio. Magic will only appear if you notice it.

© Shutterstock

Make every gathering a party -

Most people wait for birthdays, vacations, and other occasions to celebrate life, but why restrict celebration to these few days? With the right frame of mind, every gathering can be an extraordinary party. 

© Shutterstock

If you don’t like what you notice, change it -

One of the greatest parts about paying attention to the moment is that you can clearly identify the things you like and don’t like. If you’re bored of what you’re seeing, change it.

© Shutterstock

If you don’t like what you notice, change it -

While it can be great to have a strong sense of self, it can be equally as harmful to box yourself into some outline you perceive for yourself. Don’t forget that humans are transformative by nature, and you can reinvent yourself whenever you'd like. 

© Shutterstock

Free yourself from things that aren’t essential -

Physical items can keep us weighed down in the past, and expectations for more can anchor our attention in an unreal future. Let go of what you don’t need to tread more lightly in the present.

© Shutterstock

Hunt for special moments -

Every moment you don’t seek out will lose all of its potential. The more you practice seeking out and creating special moments, the better and more abundant the results will be.

See also: Get rid of these habits to be happier.

© Shutterstock