Humanity is not a talent—the way you live is made up of daily choices.

The essence that changes your life. Chapter 1

How do I want to live?

People will not follow you based on ability alone.

Life is made up of choices.

So, what remains after you have accumulated those choices?

I believe that is humanity.

When I was young, I didn't really like the word 'humanity'.

I understood that it was important.

But it felt somewhat vague.

Does it mean being kind?

Does it mean being polite?

Does it mean being compassionate?

The answer differs from person to person.

That is why it sometimes sounded like empty platitudes.

More than that, I believed in ability.

If you have ability, you will be evaluated.

If you have ability, you will get results.

If you have ability, people will acknowledge you.

I truly believed that.

However, after meeting many people and experiencing many failures, there is one thing I have become convinced of.

Ability impresses people.

But,

Humanity puts people at ease.

This difference is very significant.

This time, I would like to write about "humanity."

What is humanity?

"Humanity is important."

Since becoming a working adult, I have heard this phrase many times.

However, for a long time, I could not quite grasp its meaning.

What is humanity?

That is because no one ever clearly taught me.

Does it mean being a kind person?

Does it mean being a cheerful person?

Does it mean being a polite person?

Does it mean being a person who is easy to get along with?

Of course, I think those things are important too.

But that alone is not enough.

Even if someone seems kind, there are those who run away when things get tough.

Even if someone seems polite, there are those who hurt others behind their backs.

Even if someone is easy to get along with, there are those who will not take responsibility when they are at a disadvantage.

Conversely, there are those who speak little but protect others until the very end.

There are those who are clumsy but keep their promises.

There are those who are strict but genuinely care about the other person's future.

Therefore, humanity cannot be judged by superficial impressions alone.

Humanity reveals itself during difficult times.

It reveals itself when you are at a disadvantage.

It reveals itself when no one is watching.

Do you protect yourself?

Do you protect others?

Do you run away?

Do you take responsibility?

That is where a person's true way of living is revealed.

The kind of person others follow

People do not follow you based on ability alone.

In the end, the person others follow is...

"I can trust this person."

Someone you can think that about.

No matter how smart you are.

No matter how good you are at your job.

No matter how correct the things you say are.

Being around that person makes you feel uneasy.

When you leave things to that person, someone gets hurt.

When that person is in charge, those around them become exhausted.

People will not follow such a person to the end.

Since becoming a manager, I have misjudged people many times.

They have ability.

They are smart.

They are good at their job.

So, I thought I could surely entrust them with tasks.

That is what I thought.

But I was wrong.

Having high ability and being someone you can entrust people to are not the same thing.

Being able to produce results and being able to nurture people are not the same thing.

Being able to say the right thing and being able to move people are not the same thing.

As a result of entrusting tasks based only on ability, my subordinates have suffered.

The organization has also been exhausted.

The person themselves suffered, and those around them suffered too.

It was then that I realized for the first time.

What I had been looking at was ability.

But what I really should have been looking at was

How that person lives their life.

That was it.

My criteria for judging people changed

Since then, my criteria for judging people have changed.

Now, the people I want to work with are not just those with high ability.

People who, if they see someone in trouble, will stop what they are doing to help.

People who keep their promises even if it means a loss for themselves.

People who can accept the values of others.

People who can admit when they have lost.

People who do not hide their weaknesses and can face things as they are.

And finally, people who take responsibility.

In the past, I might have looked at such people and

"They are good people"

and left it at that.

Now it is different.

I see humanity in that.

Humanity is not about the beauty of words.

It is not just about having a good attitude.

It is about what you choose when things are difficult.

It is about how you behave when you are at a disadvantage.

When you are at a disadvantage, what do you protect?

When someone is in trouble, do you look the other way?

Or do you take a step forward?

That is where a person's way of life is revealed.

And people are watching that way of life.

More than words.

More than results.

More than titles.

Humanity is made up of daily choices.

So, is humanity something we are born with?

I do not think so.

Humanity is not a talent.

It is a daily choice.

Do you protect yourself?

Do you protect others?

Do you make excuses?

Do you take responsibility?

Do you act based on profit and loss?

Do you act based on conviction?

Do you look the other way?

Will you take a step forward?

Will you celebrate the success of others?

Will you be consumed by jealousy?

Will you cast aside the weak?

Will you be the one to offer support?

Each and every one of those choices shapes your humanity.

It is not just about the big decisions.

Humanity reveals itself in the small, daily behaviors.

Greeting others.

Expressing gratitude.

Apologizing.

Keeping promises.

Listening to others.

Reaching out to those in need.

Not running away from inconvenient situations.

Each one might seem like a small thing.

But the accumulation of these things is what builds a person.

Therefore, humanity is not a finished personality.

I believe it is the very attitude of continuing to refine oneself.

I want to be someone who gives first.

I value the concept of "GIVE".

Do not seek anything in return.

Do what makes the other person happy first.

Help if they are in trouble.

Take initiative before you are needed.

This is not just about work.

I believe it is about life itself.

"You are losing out."

Sometimes people say that to me.

But I have never thought of it as a loss.

People are changed by other people.

I myself have been changed by many people.

People who scolded me strictly.

People who trusted me and gave me responsibilities.

People who did not abandon me even when I failed.

People who supported me when I was struggling.

People who made me stand my ground when I was about to run away.

Because of those people, I am who I am today.

I did not come this far all by myself.

Someone gave to me first.

That is why, this time, I want to be the one who passes something on to someone else.

I may not be able to do anything that could drastically change someone's life.

But I might be able to offer words that help them look forward a little.

I might be able to offer an opportunity that makes them think they can try again.

I might be able to offer a spark that makes them believe they can change, too.

That is one aspect of humanity for me.

I am still immature.

Of course, I am still immature.

Even now, when someone who seems to be putting in less effort than me is praised, my heart feels unsettled.

I feel frustrated.

There are times when I cannot accept it.

There are times when I cannot honestly be happy for someone else's success.

There are days when I hate how small I am.

Even so, there is one thing that is different from the past.

I have stopped deceiving myself about those feelings.

I am still immature.

I have become able to accept that.

I do not want to act like a person with humanity.

I do not want to be thought of as a perfect person either.

I am not a person with high humanity.

I simply want to be a person who continues to refine their humanity.

This difference is very significant.

Rather than being perfect, it is about not running away from one's own immaturity.

Rather than being seen as a righteous person, it is about facing things when you make a mistake.

Humanity is not about acting like a noble person.

I believe it is about knowing your own weaknesses and still trying to be a little better.

What remains at the end

Lately, I have been thinking about things like this.

At the end of life, what will people be judged by?

Is it their job title?

Is it their achievements?

Is it their abilities?

Of course, those are also part of life.

Refining one's abilities is important.

Producing results is also important.

I also believe that aiming for a position of responsibility is important.

But I feel that what remains at the end is something a little different.

That person helped me.

That person did not betray me.

That person took responsibility until the very end.

I was saved by that person's words.

Watching that person's back, I felt I could change myself too.

People leave behind such memories.

Abilities remain in numbers.

Results remain in records.

Titles remain on business cards.

But,

humanity remains in people's hearts.

I want to live a life like that.

The way you live becomes your humanity.

When I was young, I thought that if I polished my abilities, my life would change.

Now, I think differently.

It is not just ability that changes a life.

It is not a title, either.

It is not talent, either.

It is what choices you make every day.

The accumulation of those choices becomes your humanity.

And that humanity builds trust and shapes your life.

That is why I continue to ask myself again today.

Is this choice just to protect myself?

Or is it something to support someone else?

Are these words meant to justify myself?

Or are they meant to face the other person?

Is this action chosen based on profit and loss?

Or is it chosen based on the way of life I want to cherish?

Humanity is not an innate talent.

I believe it is something that our daily way of life quietly builds.

That is why I want to keep polishing it from here on out.

Not just my abilities.

Not just my titles.

To be someone who remains in people's hearts as a sense of peace.

── Flow Thinker R.