A Journey through My Diverse Perspectives

  It is often said that changing the way we think will change our behavior, and this is certainly true. However, changing our way of thinking is not always easy, because our thought patterns tend to be rigid. In such cases, another approach is to begin by changing our behavior. By doing so, we can gradually influence the thought processes in our brain and, over time, reshape our patterns of thinking. For example, just as it is difficult to feel sad while skipping or angry while smiling, repeatedly expressing positive words, especially those of gratitude, can shift our mindset toward positivity. This change in thinking then influences our behavior and habits, eventually leading to better outcomes. Of course, no matter how sound these theories or principles may be, we can truly understand and benefit from them only by putting them into practice, again and again.

  Before I retired, my life revolved around work. I was constantly focused on future results, comparing myself with others, and measuring my value by how I was evaluated and positioned in relation to them. After retirement, however, I began to feel the winds of late autumn in my life and to look back on myself more objectively. In doing so, I could no longer find meaning in such comparisons. Instead, my values gradually shifted toward living fully in the present, paying close attention to my five senses. It is said that a life grounded in sensory awareness nurtures creativity and sensitivity, harmonizes mind and body, and supports spiritual growth. For this reason, whether retired or not, I encourage you to pause from time to time, become conscious of your five senses, and live a balanced life that allows your true self to emerge.

  Camellias bloom in abundance, their vibrant reds, soft pinks, and pure whites standing out against the bleak backdrop of winter. Their quiet warmth and vitality gently open hearts long closed by the cold, offering comfort and calm in the harsh season. If we look carefully around us, we will notice people who, like camellias, bring warmth and reassurance simply by being there.

  When we impose ourselves on an activity, vague expectations—often unconsciously shaped by our image of success—can easily cause problems if they are set too high or too low from the outset, much like poorly chosen goals. If our expectations are too high, we are likely to give up halfway, as the distance to the goal feels overwhelming and progress seems insufficient. Conversely, if expectations are too low, we may feel a brief sense of satisfaction upon reaching them, but our growth will stagnate and meaningful progress will remain unlikely. For this reason, expectations should be neither overly ambitious nor overly modest, but set at a level that can be achieved through reasonable effort and ingenuity—what might be called “just right.” Once this initial expectation is met, it can serve as a baseline from which we gradually raise the bar. By incrementally increasing our expectations, we sustain growth, build self-esteem, and steadily move closer to the image of success we original...

  Over the three and a half years since I retired, I have written many short essays reflecting on my life and work, looking back on the past, engaging with the present, and imagining the future. Reading them again, I mainly sense a shared, multifaceted wisdom: the importance of learning to govern our own minds and thoughts in order to live in harmony with the laws of nature. Of course, this is easier said than done. Much wisdom gradually slips from conscious awareness into the subconscious, where it lies dormant, and there are many moments when we struggle to draw upon it to guide ourselves well. This realization has reaffirmed for me that living in harmony with the laws of nature is not only essential to strengthening my practical life, but will also remain a central theme of my future essays.

  I enjoy long-distance road trips, and when I reflect on why, several reasons come to mind. They free me from the routines of everyday life and awaken my curiosity and sense of adventure as I head toward unfamiliar places. Driving roads I have never traveled before gives me a vivid sense of being alive—a balance of freedom and gentle tension. There is also a quiet satisfaction in covering long distances according to a loose plan, whether made in advance or on the morning of departure, and in broadening my horizons through experiences in unfamiliar settings. In this way, long-distance road trips liberate and stimulate the brain, increasing feelings of happiness and fulfillment. Yet even something I deeply enjoy would lose its power if it became routine. If long-distance driving were an everyday activity rather than an extraordinary one, my brain would eventually treat it as just another task, and I would instinctively seek a new way to reawaken it. Just as every journey has an end,...