Kodawari (こだわり)

I find it very interesting when one word can describe a whole paragraph of meaning. When one word can describe a personal movement and personal journey in its entirety. Kodawari and its translation is one such word. You feel the beginnings of the path for Kodawari when you begin a journey that will lead somewhere meaningful. At the beginning of that journey, you have beautiful emotional sparks to motivate you. These sparks are not enough to fuel you forever. Kodawari is the mental model, the disciple, that you can lean into when the emotional fuel wanes.

Kodawari means the pursuit of perfection. It is focusing on attention to detail. It is showing persistence in the face of adversity. It is showing commitment above all else. It is letting passion lead your life. It is an entire concept that has a definition that could span multiple paragraphs. It is beautiful because in one word, one mantra, it defines a lifetime of journeys. It is beautiful because once you are connected to the idea of Kodawari, this one word and perspective can be used to describe your entire view on life. Kodawari, the pursuit of perfection.

This view is personal in nature. It is rooted in personal pride. The type of personal pride you feel when you are alone working towards a goal and you know you gave your best effort. Kodawari is an inner being that knows your every move. It is alive within you. It knows when you cut corners, but also knows when you give your all. When you fuel the fires of Kodawari you feel stronger but when you ignore it, your stature grows weaker.

You are not looking to impress anyone or seek external validation when under the guidance of Kodawari. It is a personal standard, a personal oath and testament. It is a path to finding the highest form of self-respect. The energy of Kodawari is a leap of faith that how you hold yourself today, that the effort and commitment to perfection today, will lead to a better tomorrow. It is an endless cycle of chasing perfection with the goal of improvement along the way.

Embedded in the Kodawari perspective is the knowledge that perfection is impossible. But with this knowledge, you pursue it anyways. It is optimism mixed with the knowledge that you must work hard. The combination of these two ideals yields enormous potential. Kodawari is acceptance that life is about the journey, not the destination. Fall in love with the process and see how much you grow along the way. That is what it means to live life filled with the discipline of Kodawari.