How to Raise Children to Turn Their 'Passions' into Lifelong 'Strengths'

Following last week, this week's book was also recommended in the comments of this note.
(Wonsuke-san, thank you!)

It's a book by Yoichi Ochiai, but guess what!
He wrote it together with his mother. How wonderful.

The main target audience is parents who are currently raising children, specifically those raising young children.

However,

I will pick out and share content that even adults who are not currently raising children can learn from.

Let's learn together!💪

'Fun,' 'Wonder,' and 'Curiosity' are the starting points

Are you consciously nurturing the heart that feels 'fun,' 'wonder,' and 'curiosity'?

I personally love 'learning,' so I take an interest in and work on many things, but I do feel that it is weaker than it was when I was a child.

In this book,

While stating this, it also says that the fundamental curiosity to 'want to enjoy' remains uncultivated. I certainly feel that way.

Because it's 'fun,' you learn it

Continuing from the 'starting point,' because it is 'fun,' you can continue and master it, right.

Even when studying for certifications, if you just try to 'memorize,' it can be difficult to retain.

I have a real sense that the ease of learning is completely different when you take an interest in something and connect it to your own life while you learn.

Yoichi's mother apparently repeatedly tried and failed to determine where Yoichi's potential lay.

As adults, we can repeat the trial-and-error process ourselves, right?

"It's too late to talk about 'potential' now..."
"Trial and error? I'm so busy with work I don't have the time for that..."

I can hear those voices, but I don't want you to limit your own potential based on assumptions.

I started my own note with the feeling of "let's just give it a try," and it has already been going for over four years. Why not try starting with something small?

If you have the desire to learn, you can take on challenges at any time.

They say we live in an era where that is possible. That is truly the case. It is true even for adults. In fact,

this is an era where it is important for adults to study as well

If adults don't study, why should children?

That was also a topic of discussion.

Since there is an endless amount of information on the internet, you have an unlimited choice of things you might be interested in. Conversely, having too many options might be the drawback.

What you gain through learning will never betray you.

In Japan, it is often thought that learning ends once you leave school, but that is not the case at all. You can learn as much as you want, and you can take on as many challenges as you want.

Adults learn, and children learn. I want to make that the norm in Japan. Truly,

let's learn together!💪

Right?

Let's expand our 'horizons'

Discover 'new challenges'!

This is something I hear often lately. It's the idea that even if you can solve problems, finding the right problems to solve in the first place is more important. It's a common topic.

This is also written about in this book. If there is a unique 'plus-alpha' touch from Yoichi-san in this book, it is that when finding challenges,

you must not think only within a 'human-centered framework'.

This is because the world now includes AI and robotics. That is why.

As I get older, I feel that instead of my world expanding, my perspective is actually narrowing. My mind is getting rigid, isn't it?

This point served as an opportunity for me to look back at my own narrow-mindedness and think, 'Yeah, that's certainly true.'

I won't talk to anyone who doesn't read Nietzsche

Yoichi-san was told by his father,

'Read philosophy. I won't talk to anyone who doesn't read Nietzsche.'

Apparently, that's what he was told (laughs).
Of course, that was when they were having an argument.

It's also impressive that he actually read it afterward.

If I could give advice to my younger self, I would want myself to study philosophy. Though, it would probably be difficult to get the me from back then interested in it (laughs).

'Room' for action is necessary

I sometimes feel rushed for time, and I also have that urge to want to reach the 'answer' right away myself.

However, once you know the answer, you feel satisfied and often don't end up taking action, right?

While nurturing curiosity, leave room for them to act independently

They say that is what is important. I also want to effectively present 'room' for action in my own notes. It is difficult, but I will continue to strive to improve!

The person teaching must also be able to share the experience of feeling that something is 'mysterious'

There was also talk of this. I also narrow down my output to the parts I want to share with everyone.

Summary

Academic background is not important

It might not feel very convincing when said by Mr. Ochiai, who went from the University of Tsukuba to the University of Tokyo Graduate School, but

I myself graduated from a university with significantly less name recognition, worked at two small-to-medium-sized companies, and then came to work at a prime-listed company.

I am proud to say it is because I have learned and taken on challenges. As a conclusion based on my own experience, I can say that 'academic background was not important'.

When I listen to the news lately, the employment ice age generation, to which I belong, is a hot topic. However, in a bad way (regarding pensions and the increase in future welfare recipients, etc.).

I also want to show a 'vibrant employment ice age generation' while practicing being an 'adult who learns'. It was a book that made me think about such things.

That is all for today's learning. Thank you for reading!
Please come back again. 👋

I was introduced by Kishakoku-sensei.
Thank you as always 😊

Reading period 2025/05/29-2025/06/01
First edition published 2025/03/10

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