A Journey through My Diverse Perspectives

  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,...

  Most of the time, I write an essay in one sitting, guided by a spark of inspiration. If it doesn’t feel quite right, however, I set it aside for a while. Later, a new idea may surface unexpectedly, and when I realize it can deepen or reshape an essay I had put away, I return to it and rewrite until I’m satisfied. In this way, even ideas that initially feel incomplete can be reborn into something better simply by being left to rest. Discarding them would be a loss, so I recommend keeping a note of them.

  It has been about three and a half years since I retired, and I have come to realize that I still have much to learn as a person. While dwelling on this too much can lead to unnecessary concern, retirement offers a valuable opportunity to pursue personal and spiritual growth alongside daily responsibilities and the activities I enjoy. With this in mind, I hope to continue growing through honest self-reflection and by nurturing meaningful relationships with others. Perhaps this stage of life is a quiet period of preparation for someday becoming one with the universe—no one can truly know.

  When solving a problem, gathering too much information from many angles can create too many possible solutions without prioritizing importance, making it difficult to choose an effective one. If we first identify the essence of the problem—by defining it correctly—and then collect only the information truly necessary to solve it, we reduce unnecessary data. This narrows our choices to a small number of meaningful options and makes it easier to reach an effective solution.

  Many people in Japan—especially young people, though this is not limited to them—find themselves in a job without knowing what they truly enjoy or what kind of work suits them. For such people, the first step is to fully commit to their current role: deepen their knowledge, refine their skills, and continuously improve through steady effort. Over time, this process often leads to a turning point, where the work becomes more engaging, results begin to appear, and genuine interest—or even fondness for the job — naturally emerges. Of course, if sincere effort still does not lead to satisfaction, seeking a different profession is also a valid choice.

  People who are highly ambitious and set very high standards for themselves often hold equally high expectations of how things should be. As a result, they tend to judge not only their own words, actions, and outcomes strictly, but also those of the people around them. This mindset can dull sensitivity to others’ kindness and quietly suppress feelings of gratitude. In most everyday situations—apart from a few where strict standards are truly necessary—lowering expectations while increasing satisfaction helps build healthier relationships. When expectations remain too high, these opportunities are easily missed, creating unseen losses in human connection. Lower expectations naturally shift our attention to the “thankful aspects” of daily events, allowing us to appreciate even small gestures and moments, which in turn raises our sense of satisfaction. By contrast, excessively high expectations draw attention to shortcomings. This leads to dissatisfaction over minor matters, strains ...

  I once imagined retirement as a leisurely and comfortable stage of life. In reality, however, we continue to face problems—both large and small—though less frequently than before. As long as our cognitive and mental capacities remain intact, these are challenges we must address ourselves; they cannot simply be left to others. With age, energy and cognitive function naturally decline, and many people find problem-solving increasingly burdensome, leading them to postpone decisions. Through this realization, I have come to believe that cultivating the habit, from a young age, of facing everyday problems proactively—rather than avoiding them out of anxiety or irritation—offers lasting benefits. Such a habit sharpens our ability to grasp the essence of issues while steadily strengthening intuition and problem-solving skills. Taking on challenges early in life not only supports career growth, but also becomes a valuable asset in navigating daily life after retirement.

  When we face too many options, choosing just one can feel overwhelming. Yet when our choices are limited, adding even a few meaningful ones can greatly enrich our lives. This contrast reminds us why knowing what is “enough” — understanding sufficiency — is so valuable when navigating the range of options before us.

  When we face worries or concerns, we often see ourselves as a single, isolated self. But if we learn to recognize the positive presence within us—the inner voice that offers wisdom, confidence, and encouragement—we can draw strength from it. By listening to this quiet but reliable cheerleader, we begin to notice real and lasting positive effects in our lives.

  Everyone experiences both success and failure throughout life. While failures offer lessons we can carry into the future, successes teach us something equally important: the power of confidence. The positive feelings that come from succeeding can lift our mindset in ways that failures cannot. Instead of holding on to the bitterness of past mistakes, allowing ourselves to fully embrace the momentum of success strengthens our belief in what we can achieve. By doing so, we gradually build the habit of overcoming our own self-doubt—one of the biggest obstacles standing between us and our goals.

  In any ambitious challenge, the stages before reaching the goal are often the most difficult. One key secret to success is maintaining focus until the goal is achieved. And when you finally push through that last stretch, the sense of fulfillment makes every effort worthwhile.

  The animations we watched as children often shape us long into adulthood. In my case, I learned about justice, hard work, perseverance, morality, harmony, and peace not through logic, but through the emotional, instinctive lessons conveyed by the main characters. Looking back, I realize that animation can be seen as a small yet powerful microcosm of life itself.

  A late, renowned film director who began his career as an actor once said that becoming a top performer requires more than physical discipline. It also demands the ability to read between the lines of a script, to absorb it with deep insight, and to imagine in ways that enrich each performance. He further emphasized that an actor’s way of life—shaped by solid values and a guiding philosophy—is just as essential. Reflecting on his words, I realize that similar principles apply to excellence in any profession. The more we cultivate our inner qualities, the more our words and actions take on depth, purpose, and meaning.

  Many proverbs come in pairs with opposite meanings, reminding us that every situation has more than one perspective. In other words, there is rarely a single correct answer; what is “right” often depends on timing and circumstance. This is why it is essential to cultivate our own awareness and judgment to discern which wisdom applies in a given moment. In Japan, for example, there are contrasting proverbs such as “Slow and steady wins the race (or Haste makes waste)” and “Do good things quickly (or Never hesitate to do good).” The first warns that rushing increases the chances of failure and that taking the longer, more reliable path is often wiser. The second teaches that good deeds should be done immediately, without missing the opportunity. These examples show that in the practice of life, insight and judgment matter far more than simply memorizing proverbs.