Walk Your Own Path! A Guide to Becoming Free from "Everyone"
☆ In this noto, I share teachings from my 13 years of experience mentoring over 2,000 women who are seeking their true career direction.
Hello, I am Yoshio Asano, representative of the Asano Juku for women's soul growth.
"Everyone says I am XX," or "Everyone else is doing YY, but I can't." These are words I often hear when consulting with my students.
We are often influenced by the idea of "what everyone thinks." as a concept.
Various "eyes of others," such as social roles, the opinions of family and friends, and workplace pressures, influence our actions and choices.
However, in reality, who exactly is "everyone"?
How many people are there?
And what kind of impact does being conscious of that "everyone" have on us?
When the word "everyone" pops up from a student, I ask them the questions above.
■ Identify the "everyone" within yourself
When we think about "what everyone thinks," in reality, that "everyone" is often just a very small, specific group of people.
For example, a few close friends, family members, or colleagues at work.
I recommend identifying and writing down the "everyone" inside your own mind.
In many cases, it becomes clear that the "everyone" we are conscious of is a very limited number of people.
You can realize that you have been swayed by the joys and sorrows of just a few people's words and values.
■ Becoming free from the influence of "everyone"
Once you recognize that the "everyone" inside you is actually just a very limited group of people, it becomes easier to make choices that are true to yourself without being swayed by the opinions or evaluations of others.
We are often influenced by the opinions of a majority who are not actually interested in us, or who do not even exist.
However, what is truly important is your own thinking.
What do you want to do?
What do you want to become?
I will say it again: the "everyone" we usually worry about is not actually as numerous as we think.
By understanding this fact, you will be able to live based on your own values and opinions without being swayed by the evaluations or expectations of others.
I am also constantly mindful of this myself.
There are few people who live or work the way I do, and there is no one like that around me.
Even if I wanted to use someone else's way of life as a reference, there is no one whose upbringing, personality, knowledge, skills, and values are exactly the same as mine.
There is no way to use them as a reference.
By listening only to the opinions of people who are important to you, rather than being trapped by the opinions and actions of others, you can lead a more fulfilling life that is true to yourself.
The important people referred to here are those who share your values and give you heartfelt support.
I myself am always listening to the words of my students, thinking about what I am lacking and what I need to learn to provide what they need.
And if you are serious about facing yourself, the experience in the Asano Juku course might be of help.
By exploring our own inner selves, we can discern what is truly important.
Please see the website below for details. Let's learn together to cultivate the power to make choices that are true to yourself.
■ Bonus
Well, it looks like I will be heading to Okayama Prefecture several more times this year.
I might end up going there for a day trip or an overnight stay this week as well.
This month is packed with online sessions and advanced course lectures, so I would have preferred to avoid it, but...
However, opportunities usually arrive at inconvenient times.
Good luck also tends to roll in at times like that, doesn't it?
Alright, I'll put my heart into it and race through 2023!
See you later.
Asano