Prescriptions for the Heart ①: Before the Heart, Start with XX
I used to be someone who took working weekends for granted, where working over 100 hours of overtime was the norm
(I even took pride in it), and I was
too tense, constantly thinking, "I have to do this!" or "I must manage somehow!!"
I was like Anpanman, tearing off a piece of my own head to give to others, even though there was no Uncle Jam to bake me a new one.
When things are going well, that might be fine, but
the moment things go wrong,
your mind and body will wear out.
You become a bundle of victim mentality.
If you're just feeling heartbroken, that's still better, but
in the end, you become listless and numb,
losing all sense of being alive.
I think I was on the verge of depression.
As for me now, I serve as the head advisor for two clubs,
manage events for 10,000 people as the student council director,
and even when given the heavy responsibility of creating entrance exam questions,
I don't find it burdensome,
and above all, by receiving energy from the children through classes and student activities,
I am filled with gratitude,
and I am able to do my job as a teacher in a good mood.
Anpanman doesn't
necessarily have to give away his bread.
He just needs to be by the side of those in trouble,
and just stay in a good mood.
That has been my motto lately.
Now, this time,
I will introduce concrete know-how
for staying in a good mood,
things I learned from many mentors
and found effective through practice.
I would be happy if even one of these helps you.
So, the big premise.
When approaching the realm of the heart,
the "order" is super important.
If you try to heal your heart by focusing only on your heart,
things will get complicated.
If you want to heal your heart,
first and foremost, you must take care of your "body"!
Focus entirely on what your "body" is asking for,
and on satisfying the needs of your "body".
In my case, that started with food.
Furofuki daikon (simmered daikon radish) was just so delicious (laughs).
When I put a piping hot piece of daikon,
soaked in plenty of dashi broth,
topped with yuzu miso into my mouth,
I felt a warmth spreading from my throat into my stomach,
a sensation that was healing.
It was so delicious it made my head spin!
Miso soup with seaweed and tofu made with the furofuki daikon broth
was also the best for me at the time,
and when my heart felt dead,
I made it a habit to go to the supermarket, look at the vegetables,
and choose and eat what I wanted to eat right then.
It's fine even if it's junk food.
Eating what I wanted to eat as much as I wanted was
good for me.
But do it without guilt.
I'm healing my body, I'm bringing moisture back to my parched heart, and for that reason, I want to eat this now!
The ingredients you choose that way
will definitely satisfy your body and heart.
And then, of course, there is "sleeping".
Even if I wasn't sleepy or couldn't sleep,
I would cover myself with a blanket and warm my body.
If you can't sleep, exercise is also recommended.
I got hooked on jogging.
Walking one station's distance on the way home, getting lightly sweaty,
I enjoyed that comfort to the fullest.
If you move well, you sleep well.
And listening to my favorite music or audio content while jogging or walking
was also fun!
When I was on the verge of depression,
I was into rakugo (traditional Japanese comic storytelling).
Things that made me chuckle or grin while listening were my favorites at the time,
and I loved listening to Ryota Yamasato's or OgiYahagi's radio shows. Of course, that's up to your preference...
In short,
you are reclaiming the sensations of joy, comfort, and a sense of safety
from the realm of the "body".
I think it's best to always start with the "body".
That's all for this column.
Thank you for reading until the end. I hope this leads to even one realization or action for you.