The Day I Stopped in a Life That Should Have Been Smooth | What the Time in the Valley Taught Me

The day I felt distressed for no reason, even though everything should have been going well

Have you ever felt distressed for no reason,
even though everything should have been going well?

My work was being recognized,
and my career was progressing just as I had envisioned.

Yet, one day, I suddenly felt
an indescribable sense of unease,
wondering, "Is this really okay?"

At that time, I thought I was
on the "mountain" of my life.

But looking back now,
I believe that unease was the entrance to the next "valley."

The version of myself who had to stop

Until now, I have valued
being recognized at work and climbing the corporate ladder.

To that end, I took working overtime and on weekends for granted,
and I also experienced living away from my family and working abroad.

My life was work-first.
To be honest, I think there were times I sacrificed time with my family.

Even so, my career was smooth.
I think it was a life that looked successful to those around me.

But one day,
I could no longer bear the pressure and my health collapsed.

Several months of rest.

For someone like me who had been running without stopping,
it was a time of being forced to come to a halt.

In that time where I could do nothing,
I faced my life for the first time.

That time was, without a doubt,
a "valley" for me.

The lesson of "how to think and act when you are in a valley"

At that time, I reread
a book called "Peaks and Valleys."

What is discussed in this book
is the very simple idea that
life always has "peaks" and "valleys."

And what left an impression on me was
"It is when you are in a valley that you can look at reality and choose your next action,"that was it.

A valley is not just a place to endure,
it is also a place to re-examine how you have lived and consider your future direction.

That perspective struck me deeply at the time.

The true meaning that the time in the valley gave me

I don't think that rest period back then
was just a painful time.

Rather,
it might have been a necessary time to re-evaluate my life.

During that time,
I decided to distance myself slightly from a life dedicated solely to the company.

It is a small step,
but I started sharing my thoughts on my blog and on note.

And thinking I wanted to learn from scratch once more,
I also began taking online courses on Udemy.

It was precisely because I was in that "valley"
that I was able to stop, think for myself,
and take a new step forward.

I am not on a high mountain yet.

But I have a sense that I am moving forward little by little.

To my children | I want you to think about how to spend your time in the valley

To you.

If you encounter a time when things aren't going well in the future,
I hope you will not give up.

When you are in a valley, you don't have to force yourself to move forward.
It is okay to stop.

I want you to take that time to slowly face your own life.

That time will never be wasted.

It was precisely because I stopped back then that I,
Dad, was able to realize what is truly important.

If you ever become afraid of stopping,
please consider it proof that you are living your life with all your might.

There is no need to feel anxious by comparing yourself to others.
You are free to decide your own walking pace.

Even a path that seems like a detour,
that time can sometimes support you later on.

So, I want you not to blame yourselves too much, no matter what.

Because surely, beyond that,
a new path will come into view.

Dad believes that even amidst the mountains and valleys of life,
you can walk powerfully on your own two feet.

That was
“The Day I Stopped in a Life That Should Have Been Smooth | What the Time in the Valley Taught Me”
.

The end.

To you,
— HondaYori Papa

* The ideas behind this article, as well as the ways of living and facing life that I have learned from books, are summarized on the blog 'Dad's Book Letters'.

👉 Blog “Dad's Book Letters”

* The article that served as the basis for these thoughts is here
👉“Where is the Summit?” Summary & Impressions | Mountains and Valleys of Life & How to Overcome Adversity

* This story is part of a theme called 'Thinking About Living'.
By reading it as a connection rather than as isolated points,
your understanding of money that isn't swayed by anxiety will deepen.

👉 Read articles summarizing tips for living

* The 7 themes that Dad values are also kept on the blog.

👉 Read 'The 7 Learning Maps' that Dad learned from

(Supplement: About tips)

I am thinking about things that have no right answer in my own way,
and leaving them for my children.

It was precisely because I stopped at that time,
that I was able to see things.

If there is anyone else who is struggling or
has stopped in the same way, it would be encouraging if you could gently support me.