Candice Kumai, a Japanese Polish American wellness influencer, chef, and author, discusses the transformative power of embracing our brokenness. She introduces the concept of kintsugi, highlighting how flaws can become beautiful. Candice shares personal stories of overcoming racism and the journey from modeling to wellness, emphasizing the importance of resilience and self-acceptance. The conversation also touches on the interplay between emotional healing and nutrition, advocating for authenticity in a challenging industry.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Childhood Teasing And Historical Pain
She recalled childhood teasing for being Japanese and learned about Japanese internment's generational scars.
Those experiences shaped her desire to honor her heritage and resilience.
insights INSIGHT
Resilience Over Resentment
Japanese culture emphasizes showing resilience rather than dwelling on past trauma.
Candice credits concepts like gaman for shaping a forward-focused, honorable response to suffering.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Healing Trip To Japan
After a painful breakup Candice stopped wearing makeup, avoided alcohol, and traveled to Japan to grieve.
Time with family and caregiving for her grandmother initiated her healing process.
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“The ones I’m attracted to the most have grit and grace all over them.” - Candice Kumai
I’m sure you’ve had times in your life where you’ve felt broken. You may even be feeling that way now.
In those moments you may feel like you’ve lost the ability to be perfect. You may even feel like there’s no point, that the boat has sailed.
That’s not true.
You have the chance to come out more beautiful of a person than you were before.
In Japanese culture there is something called kintsugi, or golden repair. When someone would break something, especially of value, it would be repaired and finished with gold dust.
These golden cracks were revered, and objects were considered to be even more beautiful than when they were brand new. These golden cracks gave it personality and a new life it wouldn’t have had before.
On this episode of The School of Greatness I bring you a truly inspirational person with so much knowledge and love of applying this concept to ourselves: Candice Kumai.
Candice is a Japanese Polish American who struggled with racism growing up because she was different. She persevered and saw the beauty in herself that made her different from others in her school and used it to become a professional model.
From there Candice made a pivot to become a great chef, where she faced even more scrutiny in her new community for having been a former model.
Candice has developed the unique ability of emotional kintsugi, where she can turn emotional turmoil, racism, and negative situations into golden opportunities. I really appreciated her energy and passion for sharing this idea with as many people as possible.
Beyond being a well-known wellness influencer and chef, Candice has decided it’s time for her to tell the whole story of how wellness can come back into our lives after we experience being broken.
Learn how you too can create beauty from your own personal darkness, on Episode 623.
Some questions I ask:
What was the hardest thing for you to reflect on? (10:16)
Why is it that despite everything America has put them through, the Japanese still love us? (13:03)
You had a relationship for a long time, is that right? (17:13)
How long did you stay in Japan after the breakup? (23:08)
Why did you want to do this type of book? (25:02)
How do you think being broken makes us stronger? (28:47)
What is the biggest problem a lot of Americans face with food and nutrition? (33:05)
How closely related is food to our emotional stability? (41:04)
In this episode you will learn:
How things that were broken can become more beautiful than when they were perfect (6:25)
What Candice experienced as an Asian kid growing up in Southern California (11:44)
Candice’s experience of a breakup and losing a family member at the same time (18:18)
Why Candice was always afraid to be successful (24:11)
The biggest lesson Candice has learned about herself over the last few years (26:37)
Principles we should be thinking about to have wellness all around (30:06)
Why so many of us are afraid to be who we really are (36:48)
Plus much more...
The School of Greatness 
