Chronic illness asks you to endure what cannot be cured. Gaman teaches: (1) endure honestly — you do not need to perform bravery or pretend everything is fine, (2) pace yourself — hara hachi bu applies to energy as well as food — don't spend 100% today if it means you have nothing tomorrow, and (3) know that gaman has limits — asking for help is not a failure of endurance. It is a sign that you know where the line is.

Going Deeper

Explore this concept further in The Japanese Art of Endurance by Takeshi Mori.

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