The crux of the problem is that the term “self-improvement'' inherently means that we’re not good enough. And this subconscious criticism wears us down over time, so no matter what “highs” we get from our success, it’s never satisfying. A Sisyphean quest, indeed!
But if our goal for “self-improvement” is to truly care for ourselves, we need an alternative approach.
So what’s a better solution?
The Bao Yang (保養) Mindset
A mindset that can provide genuine self-care is bao yang (保養). In Mandarin Chinese, Bao (保) means to protect or treasure, and yang (養) means to look after or nourish. Together, bao yang means to treasure and nourish ourselves. It implies that we are a gem that is fundamentally worth preserving, rather than someone that needs to be improved.
Nothing Out of the Ordinary
Culturally in Asia, bao yang is nothing out of the ordinary. There’s no secret here. It’s just part of everyday life, such as enjoying tasty teas, soups or desserts, that are also nourishing according to Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Because within the context of bao yang, you don’t need to change.
You just have to appreciate yourself for what you are, and treasure the health you have.
But this mindset is challenging to adopt, especially in the modern world. Our brains are wired to reward short-term thinking, and are naturally inclined towards grasping for more, rather than looking after what we have. And we tend to seek novelty, so “ordinary” activities don’t have the same luster.
Bao Yang as Gratitude in Practice
One way to think about bao yang that can alleviate the “more and now” mentality is to recognize its commonality with gratitude practices, such as journaling or prayer.
Bao yang is a practice-based form of gratitude.
With bao yang, we make a statement: that we take care of what we are grateful for.
In practice, what one does to bao yang can be quite wide and varied—essentially, anything one does to look after oneself can count as bao yang. This is why bao yang is a mindset—it may look still look like self-improvement on the surface, but the difference is why we do them. We can abandon self-criticism as motivation, and instead, treasure ourselves for who we are.
With all this said, honeyritual, is based upon the principles of bao yang. My co-founder and I think a lot about the self-improvement treadmill, as we constantly find ourselves on it! Our offerings are teas that are kind to both the body and the mind, through a fusion of traditional asian remedies, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness practice. And we treasure you just the way you are. 💎 ~Christin