On brokenness and breakthroughs
Shattered. Fragmented. Wrecked. Brokenness, in both spiritual and psychological contexts, is often viewed not as an end, but is best described as a necessary catalyst for change—for a breakthrough. When life’s challenges break our self-reliance or old behavioral patterns, they create the space and pliability needed for a deeper, more resilient version of ourselves to emerge. In many spiritual traditions, brokenness is seen as a divine prerequisite for transformation and greater impact.
There is the seed metaphor for brokenness and breakthroughs: Just a grain of wheat must die and break open in the ground to produce a harvest, a person must often experience the breaking of their ego or pride to bear spiritual fruit. The biblical passage that mentions “God is close to the brokenhearted” invites individuals into a more intimate and authentic relationship with the divine.
Numerous biblical character examples are cited as having reached their greatest potential only after significant seasons of brokenness: For Joseph, David, and Paul, brokenness served as the missing ingredient that allowed them to move from self-sufficiency to a deep reliance on God. Each of them experienced a unique form of breaking—through betrayal, moral failure, and spiritual confrontation—to become vessels for divine purpose.
Psychologically, the concept of a breakthrough involves shifting from a state of breakdown to a state of higher functioning and resilience. It becomes a process of profound internal reorganization. Individuals who face deep hardships and extreme tribulations experience remarkable internal growth—including a greater appreciation for life and a clearer purpose in life. In times of intense emotional struggle, neurologists suggest that the brain literally rewires itself to become more adaptable and empathetic. Thus, the ability to tolerate discomfort becomes a key predictor of whether a period of brokenness will lead to a successful breakthrough.
A breakthrough is rarely a single, sudden event. It consists of a multi-process season of preparation. It involves a shift from a state of posturing to that of authenticity–from pretending to living honestly and vulnerably. It encompasses using one’s own hurts, pains, and scars to provide healing or connection to others experiencing similar pain. It includes the shedding of old ways of living which no longer fit, of practices which are no longer necessary or appropriate. Achieving breakthrough requires combining intense, focused time and energy (with ample strategic rest) to foster creativity and overcome challenges. A breakthrough is all about advancement, expansion, and innovation using the core strategies of deciding and committing, planning and acting, managing and caring for oneself, and embracing discomfort as integral to growth.
Are there symbolic analogies to brokenness and breakthroughs? The Japanese art of Kintsugi and the Indian art of Rafugari are both revered, slow-craft traditions dedicated to repairing damaged beloved items, but differ in their origin, medium, and aesthetic philosophy. Kintsugi (meaning “joining with gold”) involves the art of repairing pottery with the sap of a tree (lacquer) mixed with precious metals like gold, silver, or platinum. It celebrates the break–the cracks in the pottery that highlight its history and beauty, deeply rooted in the wabi-sabi philosophy of embracing imperfection and finding beauty in the broken.
Rafugari refers to the art of repairing or darning textiles (i.e. delicate fabrics like wool or silk) to make them look as good as new. It is the Indian art of invisible mending, where the artisan’s goal is to make the damage completely undetectable, thereby restoring the honor and continuity of the fabric. While Kintsugi celebrates the flaw in pottery, traditional Rafugari seeks to hide the flaw though it still honors the original textile (e.g. pashmina shawls, silk sarees, etc.) through meticulous care. Both practices share a reverence for the object and the artisan’s skill, emphasizing the “waste not, want not” mindset (known in Japan as mottainai*). It embodies a deep-seated cultural philosophy of respect for resources and the environment.
As a metaphor, Kintsugi suggests that we are more beautiful and resilient because we have been broken. Our physical or emotional scars become golden lines of wisdom and strength that make us unique individuals, unique masterpieces. Rafugari suggests that brokenness is a quiet, internal process of reweaving one’s identity. It seeks to erase flagrant flaws by merging them seamlessly and invisibly into the fabric (i.e. the original self) to focus on honoring continuity and survival. Kintsugi and Rafugari represent aesthetic philosophies centered on repairing brokenness rather than discarding it, transforming damage into a breakthrough of new, often superior, value.
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Dr. Joel Tiu Maquiling may be reached at jmaquiling@ateneo.edu
