SYSTEM NOTICE

Auto translation by AI. Be sure, accuracy, nuances and authorial intent may not be fully reflected.

A Re-introduction | A Note on a Flexible Way of Living That Starts with Self-Acceptance

伊藤ようこ| 強み×IT×AIで女性起業家をサポート| 自己受容から始まるしなやかな生き方note

2025年6月10日 11:30

Nice to meet you, I am Yoko Ito.

During my 38 years as a corporate employee, I spent many days struggling with self-denial and self-sacrifice.

By encountering CliftonStrengths and learning about my own strengths, the burden on my heart gradually lightened, and a path opened up for me to live as my authentic self.

In this note, I gently provide tips to help you realize your own strengths and move forward without comparing yourself to others.

Thank you for always reading "shizuka / A Note on a Flexible Way of Living That Starts with Self-Acceptance".
Thank you very much.

Since I started this note on April 17, 2025, I have been blessed with many connections, and thanks to you, as of July 2026, I have over 12,000 followers.

Initially, I continued posting under a handle name, but at the milestone of 2,000 followers, I decided to start sharing under my real name.

The reason is that I have come to truly feel that I want to live straightforwardly as my true self.

Spinning words under my real name feels as if the soft morning light shining through the curtains is gently illuminating my own contours.

By taking responsibility for my own words and thoughts, I feel that each post will reach someone's heart more deeply and more sincerely.

I also feel that this is deeply connected to the themes of my note: "self-acceptance" and "living as one's authentic self."

From now on, I believe I will be able to choose my own life more than ever and share my learnings and realizations generously. I genuinely feel that way.

By walking with my honest feelings, I have a premonition that new encounters and unexpected opportunities will surely come my way.

Once again, my name is Yoko Ito.

I am changing my handle name from "shizuka" to "Yoko Ito."

I would be happy if you could call me "Yoko" from now on.

I look forward to your continued support.

Two full years have passed since I left my corporate job to start my own business.

Currently, I work as a dedicated manager for female solo entrepreneurs, providing strength discovery using CliftonStrengths and IT support.

For many years while working at a company, I spent my days struggling with self-sacrifice and self-denial.

In 2023, at the recommendation of a friend, I experienced a CliftonStrengths session, which became a major turning point for me to realize my strengths and my true feelings.

Triggered by that experience, I began to study professionally and started offering interpretation sessions, and thanks to everyone, I have gradually expanded the scope of my support by utilizing my own experiences and learning.

Now, I am helping others by walking alongside them so that as many people as possible can live their own lives by utilizing their strengths.

The "way of life true to myself" that I finally found after 38 years of life as a company employee

It feels like a miracle that I, who walked through a fog of feelings of worthlessness and self-denial for so long, can now talk about myself with such a calm heart.

In this note, I would like to gently share with you the importance of knowing your own strengths and the comfort of accepting yourself just as you are.

Days spent living while suppressing my own voice

Looking back, my 38 years of life as a company employee were like days under a sky covered in thick clouds.

I thought I was skillfully managing work, childcare, and housework, but a small voice was always whispering deep in my heart.

"This isn't really how I wanted to live..."

But I didn't have the luxury of listening to that voice.

Myself was always second.

I was convinced that meeting the expectations of those around me was my reason for being.

Indecisive, unable to decide anything for myself.

Going around in circles thinking about the same things, getting lost in a maze of negative thoughts.

And yet, I couldn't express my own opinions...

I spent those days soothing myself with the words, "Just a little more patience."

The small SOS signals sent by my mind and body

While working as a company employee, I was convinced that doing work, childcare, and housework "properly for the sake of someone else" was the natural thing to do.
Myself was always second.
Before I knew it, I had accumulated stress, and both my mind and body were falling apart.

Myself was always second.

Before I knew it, I had accumulated stress, and both my mind and body were falling apart.

Around the time I passed 35 years of continuous service, my body began to scream for help.

An intractable disease called eosinophilic sinusitis, severe bronchial asthma, a wrist fracture, lumbar spinal stenosis...

When an asthma attack started, I couldn't breathe, I couldn't move; I spent my days like that.

Even so, I kept ignoring my own feelings, telling myself, 'If I just endure a little longer, I'll reach retirement.'

Although I truly wanted to quit my job, I hated myself for not being able to say it.

Under a boss who was close to abusive, every day was depressing, and going to work was truly painful.

I asked myself many times, 'What am I living for?'

Especially during bronchial asthma attacks, I couldn't do something as basic as breathing.

That was when I realized it for the first time.

'How wonderful it is just to be alive.'

My heart trembled at the brilliance of life that I had overlooked until then.

After that, thanks to being blessed with appropriate treatment, I was able to overcome my illnesses. I am truly grateful from the bottom of my heart.

The moment a ray of light shone in

A soft light began to shine into my life in October 2023, when I was off work due to a wrist fracture.

A friend who was worried about me reached out gently.

'Why don't you take a CliftonStrengths session? It will be a turning point in your life. I want you to be happy, Yoko.'

The warm feelings of that friend quietly opened the door to my heart, which I had kept tightly shut.

Meeting my true self

When I took the CliftonStrengths debriefing session, something clicked inside my heart and changed.

'So that's why I felt so out of place in corporate life.'

When the coach explained the results of my diagnostic test, I couldn't stop the tears.

My life experiences up until now suddenly made sense, as if puzzle pieces were falling into place one by one.

I will live my own true life.

Such a calm determination slowly welled up from deep within my heart.

It was the moment I was able to affirm myself for the first time, thinking, "I have these kinds of strengths," and "I just didn't fit into the mold of being a corporate employee."

After that, I decided to resign.

The day after I resigned, my heart felt light and clear. It was a sensation as if the heavy weight deep in my chest was simply fading away.

I was able to take a deep breath naturally, and I realized once again, "Ah, breathing was this easy." The moment I thought, "Ah, I don't have to go to that company anymore," a sense of relief spread from the bottom of my heart, and I was enveloped in silence.

In that moment, I realized for the first time just how much stress I had been carrying.

Gratitude overflowed for being able to breathe deeply. It is thanks to the CliftonStrengths assessment my best friend told me about that I have become able to affirm myself in this way. I am truly grateful from the bottom of my heart. By knowing my own strengths, I have gradually become able to think, "It's okay to just be myself."

And now, I want to share this happiness with someone else.

Such a feeling quietly sprouted within me.

I want to gently stand by and encourage those who are suffering from stress and worries.

With that thought in mind, I began to think that I, too, would like to be able to conduct CliftonStrengths interpretation sessions.

Having deepened my learning in a coach training course, I hope that from now on, I can use that knowledge to gently nudge as many people as possible so they can discover their own strengths and increase their self-esteem...

That is my heartfelt wish. I would like to continue walking forward while sharing a gentle light.

A new life seen by cherishing myself

Now, I can think that the pain and tears from that time were all a catalyst for "cherishing myself."

I feel it is my mission to support those who are suffering from self-sacrifice and self-denial so that they can affirm themselves and live in their own way.

My transformation seen through before and after

Before: My days as a corporate employee, desperately trying to meet others' expectations, suppressing my emotions, and putting myself last.
After: Now, knowing my strengths and valuing my emotions, I have begun to walk a life that is uniquely my own.

By knowing yourself, you become able to accept yourself, and life can truly change to be more flexible and light.

I have experienced this change myself.

Things I like and my hobbies

Reading: I enjoy self-help books, psychology books, and novels. It is fun to encounter new perspectives and ways of thinking, so I pick up any book that catches my interest right away.
Walking and nature: I love walking while feeling the changing of the seasons. Being in nature makes my heart feel lighter.
Hand knitting and meditation: Knitting allows me to immerse myself in my own world. Meditation time is a precious time for me to center myself.
Self-dialogue through planners and notebooks: By writing down my daily realizations and emotions in a notebook, I value the habit of deeply facing myself.

📍 Start here! Recommended articles by reader type

💛 For those of you who are "tired of comparing yourself to others"

🌱 For those of you who "want to know your strengths and take action"

38 years as a corporate employee → Redesigning life through strengths. Start here.

Your strengths are surely lying dormant within you, too.

🌼 List of All Articles (Support/Site Map)

Click here if you would like to see a list of all articles👇

💫 For those who want to take the next step

👉Free Business Organization Assessment & Workbook Bonus to understand your current position in 3 minutes

🎁 Information on the 3-minute assessment test to understand your current position
For those of you who find yourself thinking, "I tend to push myself too hard" or "Where do my strengths lie?"
I have prepared a free assessment test that will help you understand your current state and how to create space to lighten your heart in just 3 minutes.
Please try it out via this
link. 🎁 The bonus [Completely Free] workbook can be received immediately after registering for the official LINE account by sending the two characters "整理" (Organization) in the chat screen!

👉Portfolio

Workshop being held! Held regularly!

Click here to apply

"AI Practice: Take a Step Forward" Study Session! Held regularly!

Click here to apply

StrengthsFinder explanation sessions are now accepting applications at any time!!

Click here to apply

👉 SNS (Posts & Daily Insights)

🍀 Finally

I am always cheering for you so that you can take a step that is true to yourself.

If there are any articles that catch your interest, please feel free to read them.

If there is anyone out there who is stuck due to worries or stress, just like I once was, I want to help cheer them up!

In particular, I have a strong desire to provide support for the strengths of female solo entrepreneurs and accompany them with IT.

Moving forward, I will continue to value "accepting myself as I am" and aim for a world where everyone can feel that "it is okay to be yourself."

May your daily life become a little softer and warmer.

Let's be kind to ourselves, believe in ourselves, and live flexibly together.

May my experience be a glimmer of hope for you, even if just a little.

Thank you for reading.

If you'd like, please follow, like, or leave a comment to connect with me!

先ほどの動画と新たに動画を作って、CanvaでつなげてBGMと字幕をいれてみました！
なんと14秒の動画に☺️
自分としては初大作！

女性ひとり起業家の自己紹介動画に使えるんじゃないかなって夢は膨らみます✨#NanoBananaPro #polloai #Canva @itsPolloAI @PolloAIJP @haru_note_book https://t.co/JnTKfZLJw6 pic.twitter.com/ul6eSBamRF
— 伊藤ようこ| 女性ひとり起業家のための専属マネージャー (@tesigoto_myself) February 26, 2026

Knowing your strengths is the starting line.

Why not start by organizing how you can actually put them to use?

➡︎ [Free]Business Organization Assessment: Find Your Current Position in 3 Minutes

I hope this reaches those who need it.