Live the moment, maximise it

For a mindful approach to 2024, the Japanese concept of ichi-go ichi-e offers enlightening insights

The New Year always triggers new thoughts —and new resolutions.

For 2024, I decided to pick myself a very uniquely Japanese concept — ichi-go ichi-e, a four-character idiom from The Land of the Rising Sun that describes treasuring the unrepeatable nature of a moment. The term has been roughly translated as “for this time only”, and “once in a life-time”, but the English versions don’t do justice to the Japanese original. Literally translated ichi (one) go (time) ichi (one) e meeting/ encounter), means one opportunity, one encounter. Ichi-go ichi-e embodies the philosophy that every moment spent in an encounter should be treasured, because it will never ever occur again.

In accordance with Japanese philosophy, no one encounter can ever be recreated. Each moment and each convergence of time, space, light, mood, thought, and circumstance is singular and unrepeatable. As such, every encounter should be met with one’s fully attuned senses and a wide-open mind. Some encounters, the Japanese say, plant seeds that take root over time, while others change the course of one’s life in a single moment. So the moment is not just a moment — it is really a moment of reckoning.

Ichi-go ichi-e is a potent reminder that the beauty of the journey is in how we approach the present. Giving our full attention to each interaction allows us to learn deeply from a wide variety of people and occasions. Everyone has the power to bring value into our lives, even those we might not meet again. Hence, the need to be fully “present” and “alive” in every moment. Ichi-go-ichi-e was coined by Li Naosuke, a Japanese tea master who lived from 1815-1860. He embraced and revered the impermanence of life.

Interestingly, ichi-go-ichi-e has a very profound connect to calligraphy, which I, as an advertising person, find very inspiring. Calligraphy is often called “meditation in action” and it’s easy to see why sho do (the way of writing) is one of the treasured Japanese art forms still practised today. At the beginning of a tea ceremony, the participants are asked to admire and meditate on a calligraphy piece, usually hung in the centre of the room accompanied by a delicate flower arrangement. The absorbed meditation is said to clear one’s mind and allow the participants to be present and enjoy the experience. Nothing happens the same way twice — especially in calligraphy. No two pieces are identical and once you’ve touched ink to paper, there’s no going back, no undo or erase. It simply is. So what is there to learn from ichi-go-ichi-e?

• Don’t postpone special moments. Life is a question of now or never.

• Each opportunity presents itself only once. If you don't embrace it, it’s lost forever.

• Dwell in the present. Journeys into the past and the future are often painful and nearly always useless. You can’t change what happened. You can't know what will happen. But here in this moment, all the possibilities in the world are alive.

• Do something you’ve never done before. You can't do the same thing over and over and expect different results. The only way of achieving an unforgettable moment is by giving yourself over, and allowing something new to blossom inside you.

• Meditate. Observe the miracle of life. The simple fact of stepping away from the daily whirlwind of hurry and obligations will open the doors to well-being.

• Apply mindfulness to 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 also allow you to be more alert to others and increase your level of empathy and influence.

• Notice coincidences. Being aware of coincidences helps us get better at reading signs sent by the universe. It is suggested to keep a journal to note these moments of daily magic to increase our ability to follow the invisible threads of reality.

• Make every gathering a party. Don’t wait for the right circumstances — a vacation, a trip, a birthday — to experience extraordinary things. With the right frame of mind, every day can be a celebration.

• If you don't like what there is, make something different. Human beings are transformative by nature and have the power to reinvent themselves as many times as it takes.

• Treasure special moments. They happen all the time. Notice them. Cherish them.

In 2024, I hope I can ichi-go-ichi-e. And cherish, and maximise every moment.

The writer is Chairman of Rediffusion