A New World Expands Through Writing

I slacked off a bit last week, but I find that once I start writing on note, it's actually quite fun.
I suddenly realized that this is because writing on note always helps me discover a new 'self'.

The 'Open Window' that expands through writing

Are you familiar with the Johari Window?

I imagine many of you know it as part of self-analysis.
I understand it as a framework for understanding the gap in perception between oneself and others in communication.

I thought this diagram was easy to understand, so I'm quoting it as is.

We think that 'I know myself,' but in reality, we have many aspects of 'the self I don't know.' If the self seen by others (for example, when someone says, 'Momomi-chan, you're this kind of person') matches the self I know, I respond with, 'Oh, yeah. That's right' (= Open Window). However, if someone mentions something about me that they have noticed but I haven't, I might react with, 'No, that's not true! (angry)' (= Blind Spot Window).

Regarding the Blind Spot Window, I feel it's easier to notice when flaws are pointed out. Of course, the Blind Spot Window also exists for strengths, but we often end up brushing them off, thinking, 'Oh, really? I don't think so.'

The act of writing, the act of stringing words together, feels like it expands this Open Window.

This is because writing requires us to dig one level deeper into our thoughts, and when I reread what I've written, I often think, 'Wait? Did I write this?'
This makes me think that I am unknowingly opening the 'Blind Spot Window,' and by telling acquaintances and friends that I'm doing note, I am opening the 'Hidden Window' that others aren't aware of, which ultimately expands my self-awareness and leads to self-disclosure.

The Unknown Window will surely get smaller little by little.

Writing and exposing it to the public is a battle with shame, but I think this is a fun and worthwhile theme to tackle.

New connections sparked by note

Writing on note allows me to catch a glimpse of a world I couldn't easily encounter as a company employee—a world filled with working moms who are trying so hard, and people who are starting or have started their second life in their own way.

And knowing that I'm not alone makes me feel a bit relieved, and I find myself gaining courage, thinking, 'I'll do my best!'
To all note creators, thank you always!

Since I quit my job, my daily communication has decreased significantly, so when I read your posts, a sense of camaraderie naturally sprouts, and I secretly press the 'Like' button because I want to support you.

In the midst of this, while browsing note, I found someone who clearly had a lot in common with me and even felt like they lived in my neighborhood. When I reached out to them, it led to a new connection, and we were able to have a fun conversation on Zoom the other day.

It's Eikorian-san, who is about the same age as me, a fellow science-major graduate mom raising a boy, and who quit the stable company she had worked at for nearly 20 years since graduation just three months apart from when I did.

When we talked, it turned out we had so much in common, even things I hadn't published on note, and our conversation really took off.
Things like our family situations, our mothers' professions... wow, I was truly surprised.

This year, I've been experiencing so many surprising synchronicities that I had decided not to be shocked by anything anymore, but I was still surprised.
We talked about going to lunch after the new year, so I definitely want to make that happen!

So, having discovered the joy of learning about myself and making connections that I never would have known if I hadn't been writing on note, I've decided to continue at my own pace.

I can't write as well as I'd like, but writing is still fun!

I have written a few articles about writing in the past as well.

Thank you for reading.