How to be happy: 'Being serious makes you nervous'

The flower in the top image is the 'Sawafutagi' (Symplocos sawafutagi).
Its flower language is 'tension'.

When early summer arrives,
it blooms with small white flowers covering its branches.

Each individual flower is delicate,
but its long, extended stamens spread out sharply,
giving an impression of being somewhat taut.

The other day, a colleague was preparing to report to a company executive.
'I hate this.'
'I'm so nervous.'
They kept saying things like that over and over.
That person is usually rather easygoing.
They tell jokes and seem carefree to those around them.

So, I was a little surprised.
But seeing them like that, I thought:
Ah, this person is serious.

If it were an unimportant report,
they wouldn't be that nervous.

If they didn't care about failing,
they wouldn't be restless from the day before.

The reason they are nervous is
because they really want to convey their message.
Because they don't want to waste the other person's time.
Because they take responsibility for their work.

I think it's because of that seriousness and sincerity.

I felt like I caught a glimpse of their integrity,
something you can't tell just from their appearance or usual demeanor.

And I realized that being nervous when you are serious
applies to me as well.

I don't really like speaking in front of people.
I get very nervous when reporting at work,
and I'm afraid of my mind going blank.
If I could, I wouldn't want to be nervous at all.

I want my heart to be calm,
and I want to sleep soundly the night before.

But from seeing my colleague's state,
I stopped disliking being nervous so much.
Because nervousness is the flip side of being serious.

When you take on a challenge seriously, you get nervous.
When you care for someone seriously, you get nervous.
When you try to convey something seriously, you get nervous.

In other words, nervousness is
a sign that tells you
what you truly value.

Of course, nervousness is not a pleasant feeling.
I would avoid it if I could.

Even so, beyond that nervousness
lies growth and a sense of accomplishment.

Looking back,
many of the events that left an impression on my life
were moments when I was a little nervous.

That is why I prefer
a life with a little nervousness
over a life without any.

The fact that my heart is pounding
is proof that I still value something.
It is proof that I am still living seriously.

I think I will continue to move forward,
even while feeling nervous from time to time.

That is my own way of being happy.

A book that influenced me in writing this article

'Taro Okamoto: Have Poison Within Yourself' by Taro Okamoto

Taro Okamoto recommended moving toward what makes your heart tremble rather than staying in a safe place. I gained the perspective that there is value not in eliminating anxiety and nervousness, but in living while carrying them with you.

You get nervous because you are serious.

Instead of avoiding that pounding heart, try accepting it as proof of what you value.

It is a book that gives you that kind of courage.
Please, take a look.

I have also compiled other 'ways to be happy' flowers
at the link below.
Please take as many as you need 🍀

Thank you for reading until the end.
I hope to see you in another article.
🍀 May you be happy 🍀

Wikimedia Commons (Qwert1234, CC BY-SA 3.0)