We were born into this era, for better or for worse. While goods and information continue to flood the world, making it increasingly convenient, many people are unsure of what to believe in and how to live. Isn't this a growing problem? Humans are fundamentally creatures that pursue inner satisfaction. No matter how materially wealthy we become, our hearts are never truly fulfilled. Does "living" simply mean having a beating heart? Or does it mean being filled with hope, challenging our limitless potential, with sparkling eyes, a joyful heart, and fully utilizing all the emotions we possess—joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure?
Looking around, I see a tremendous number of people whose hearts are beating, but who aren't truly "alive" in the real sense of the word. We only live once. We absolutely don't want to waste it. Instead of seeking spiritual fulfillment in material possessions or comfort, let's fill ourselves with excitement for the future. It's only when we find something we can be passionate about that we truly experience "satisfaction of the heart." Everyone wants to live a meaningful life.
Life presents many challenges: work, relationships, self-realization, money, and so on. But life is like a quiz. Once you've solved any problem, it becomes easy the second time around. I'd like to try writing about each of these themes in detail.
The first theme is "myself."
In my twenties, I challenged myself with various jobs and attended seminars and read books that I thought would be helpful. While those experiences have been incredibly valuable, most of them are based on sheer willpower and contain difficult concepts that aren't really applicable to real life. After all, wouldn't a life where you have to constantly psych yourself up every single day be exhausting?
So, I'd like to simplify and modernize those things a bit, and based on my own experiences, I'll try to put them together in an easy-to-understand way so that they can be used more simply in everyday life.
Most people will continue to struggle with the theme of "self" throughout their lives.
"What was I born for?"
"What am I suited for?"
"What value do I have?"
The possibilities with this problem are endless. When I solve a problem, there's always one thing I consider: Is this something that can be solved by worrying about it, or not? If something can be changed by worrying, then it's worth thinking hard about it, but there's no point in worrying about things that can't be changed. However, most people don't think too deeply about things that can be changed by worrying, and instead focus only on things that can't be changed. Isn't that strange?
For example, I wish that hadn't happened.
⇒The facts of what happened remain unchanged.
If only I had more time, if only I had more money, things would go well.
⇒Thinking about it won't increase anything.
I would be so much happier if that person were kinder.
⇒ You cannot change a person's personality.
And so on.
First, you need to accept that some things simply cannot be changed. Think, "Oh well." That's perfectly fine. Then, focus your attention on the things you can change.
Now, let's move on to the question: Can you change who you are?
That's impossible.
This means that, for better or for worse, you'll have to live with yourself for the rest of your life. So, think of it this way: I have plenty of flaws, but this is the character I started this life game with. "Oh well." I'll go with this character! That's right, everything starts with loving yourself. Because if you hate yourself when you'll have to live with yourself for the rest of your life, it's going to be miserable for the rest of your life, isn't it? Love yourself to the fullest.
Next, try to recall past events. And think the same way: "Oh well, that's just how things are."
Now, things are getting exciting! Surprisingly, once you overcome these two challenges, the rest will be a breeze. That's because everything else in your life is something you can change from now on...
No matter how hard you try, you cannot change the limits of your physical abilities and the facts of past events. However, you can change everything else as you wish. Your personality, talents, hobbies, emotions, surroundings, and future events—it's all up to you.
Yes, please think about it again carefully.
"What am I suited for?"
"What was I born for?"
Thinking about it won't help you figure it out. It's pointless to think about it. On the contrary, we can do anything. No matter what we do or think, we can manipulate our lives as much as we want. You can't change everything tomorrow. But with five or ten years, you can do almost anything you can imagine. It's up to you. The only question is whether you do it or not. Whether you want to or not. That's all there is to it. Life is very simple. We were born to do what we want to do. When you're doing what you want to do, you become engrossed in it, right?
Who is stronger: someone who works hard, or someone who is passionate about something? Those who feel they "have to" will never surpass those who "want" to do something. When you are passionate about something you want to do without putting in effort, you will eventually create works of art. That is the greatest contribution to society. Everyone who has left their mark on history has achieved success in this way.
Let's memorize this equation.
Start doing what you want to do → Become engrossed in it → Complete a work of art → Gain recognition from the world
If you feel that most of your life consists of things you don't want to do, that's a pretty serious problem. First, let's eliminate the things you don't want to do.
There are two ways to turn something you don't want to do into something you do want to do.
One thing to do is to simply stop doing things you don't want to do. This is relatively easy. All you need is a little courage. Think carefully about why you're doing it, and if there's no good reason, just stop. It's a waste of your life.
The second type is doing something out of necessity in order to do what you want to do. For example, you want money but don't want to work. You want to lose weight but don't want to cut back on food. You want to see the view from the top of Mount Fuji but don't want to climb it. This is a bit tricky.
The easiest solution is to give up. If you tell yourself that you don't need it, you'll be freed from the tedious task immediately. If you absolutely cannot give up, then that future is already unchangeable. In other words, you have no choice but to do it. Brace yourself.
What becomes important here is a methodology for transforming things you don't want to do into things you do want to do.
There are two patterns for this as well.
One is "changing the method."
Another one is "changing your emotions."
First, let's think of alternative ways to satisfy that desire. In the previous example, this could be earning money through a different job, losing weight through exercise, or taking a helicopter instead of walking up the mountain—in other words, a change of perspective. If even that is difficult, then you have no choice but to overcome it with your emotions. You need to control your emotions. Controlling your emotions simply means changing "I have to do it" to "I want to do it." If you have to do it anyway, wouldn't it be better to do it in a fun way? The spirit is to enjoy it to the fullest once you've decided to do it.
Life isn't simply divided into good and bad times; it's just that some people find it enjoyable, while others find it difficult. Everything that happens in life guides you towards your best future. This kind of thinking can make things a little easier for you.
Finally, let me share a story that might give you a little bit of courage.
I always enjoy life as if it were a game. A game that will eventually end. A super convenient game where you decide whether you win or lose. There is only one rule to win: have fun. Anyone can win if they can do that. But most people have forgotten how to win this game. Think about it for a moment. Aren't there people around you who have forgotten that rule?
The important thing is whether you enjoy the task or not. That's all. If you enjoy it, you win. You don't need a deep reason. You're doing it because it's fun. And you've already won this game. What do you think? Isn't that interesting? Are you winning or losing this game? There's no use crying over spilled milk. You only live once. You only live once.
"Can do" / "Cannot do"
These are just excuses that losers who have given up on the future have conveniently made up to suit themselves.
It's not about "can do" or "cannot do." It's simply about "will you do it" or "won't you do it," "do you want to do it" or "do you not want to do it." The keywords for success are "now" and "yourself." Try to focus your awareness there. Try to concentrate so much that you can't hear the noise around you. I'm sure you'll see a wonderful life unfolding before you.
