Meguri Festival: Takahisa Taniguchi - 'People can change until the moment they die'
I am truly happy to be able to meet with you all again at this time of the morning.
The Meguri Festival took a short break, but during that time, I went to Vietnam, where I refreshed my mind and body in nature and gained many insights.
And I have some happy news to share.
My book has been approved for publication in Taiwan.
I hope that when it hits the bookstores, we can all go see it together.
For the start of this second chapter, there was a guest I absolutely had to invite.
It is Takahisa Taniguchi, who joined us live from Germany.
## Are you feeling like this today?
Before we begin, please let me ask you quietly.
'Isn't it too late for me at my age?'
'I have children, I don't have time, I don't have the money'
'I have things I want to do, but I lack confidence'
'That person can do it because it's them. It's impossible for me'
If even one of these applies to you, I really want you to listen to today's talk until the very end.
Before we know it, we become very good at making up 'reasons not to do something'.
But today, Mr. Taniguchi effortlessly unraveled all of that for us.
## Today's guest, Takahisa Taniguchi
Mr. Taniguchi started his own business in his teens and studied abroad in the UK.
He has visited over 100 countries so far and has given lectures at the United Nations and schools around the world.
He has approximately 280,000 followers on social media.
But the reason I invited Mr. Taniguchi is not because of those achievements.
When we were together at a publishing lecture previously, Mr. Taniguchi was a very straightforward and honest person.
An innocent, laughing smile and a gaze that listens earnestly to every individual's story.
That contrast is truly wonderful, and I still remember thinking from the bottom of my heart that I wish there were more young people like this in Japan.
Today, I asked Mr. Taniguchi what the 'black engine' was.
Why he jumped out into the world.
How he has turned frustration and conflict into the strength of his life.
I listened carefully to his journey.
## About Me
Let me introduce myself briefly here.
My name is Ayumi Watanabe.
As a yoga instructor for over twenty years, I have taught more than 10,000 people. The 1-minute exercise I created based on the theme 'Exercise moves your luck' has exceeded 200 million views on social media. I have authored three books: 'X Operation Manual for Achieving Results by Running PDCA,' '1-Minute Exercise to Align Body and Mind,' and 'The Law of Circulation: Being Filled with Happiness in 1 Minute' published by Tokuma Shoten.
However, it wasn't like this from the beginning.
I started with one-coin yoga lessons, and I was suddenly widowed from my husband when my daughter was one and my son was five.
From there, I raised my children as a single mother, went through the earthquake disaster, and decided to move abroad.
I have seen rock bottom many times, and each time I have returned to the 'circulation'—that is the kind of person I am.
## The scene that left the deepest impression
Mr. Taniguchi says that when he was a child, his family had nearly 200 million yen in debt.
The bubble burst, and his father's business stopped going well.
He grew up in an environment where debt collectors would come.
Normally, it wouldn't be strange to resent his parents or curse his circumstances.
But Mr. Taniguchi said this.
'I have never thought that things were my parents' fault.'
Even when they were poor, my parents always showered me with love.
That is why, even when I felt frustrated, I accepted it not by saying 'that person is at fault,' but by thinking 'I just lacked the strength.'
I was shaken by these words.
It was just that I was frustrated by my own lack of strength. That is all, he said.
It is not the world's fault, nor is it anyone else's fault. I just need to build my own strength.
Because I could think that way, I have been able to keep taking on challenges.
The 'frustration' that should have originally been a black engine transformed into a white engine that travels the world and encourages people.
## What was at the foundation
Why was he able to maintain high self-esteem even when poor?
Taniguchi-san's answer was very simple.
'My mother was completely affirming. I was never denied or compared to others.'
Even among six siblings, I was never compared to anyone.
Even when I failed, I was not denied.
I was trusted for who I was.
I felt deeply that this is the foundation of self-esteem.
I also cannot forget his talk about child-rearing.
'I think human beings are like plants.'
The parent-child relationship is like the soil.
If the soil is solid, they will grow up healthy.
However, you cannot control which direction they will grow in.
Therefore, instead of trying to raise a child in a specific way, you should simply prepare the soil so that they can grow healthily.
That is the only thing a parent can do.
## 'Now is the youngest you will ever be'
I couldn't help but ask.
What should people who have already become adults do? Isn't it too late for them to turn things around?
Taniguchi-san replied simply.
I don't think it's too late. After all, now is the youngest you will ever be.
People can change until the moment they die.
Even in your fifties or sixties.
So, it's better not to give up.
Those words gave me courage from the bottom of my heart.
## What the world lacks most is excited adults
There is one more thing Taniguchi-san said that has stayed with me.
When I asked what adults should be like to change the future,
I think it's important to be excited about things.
For now, you don't need to think about difficult things like doing good for the world or for others.
Because what the Earth lacks most right now is people who are excited.
For now, just do what makes you excited.
That will eventually, in one way or another, surely reach someone else.
You should just do what excites you.
Conversely, you shouldn't run away from that.
## My realization
That's why we are so good at making excuses for not doing things, saying it's too late for our age, or that we have children, no time, no money, no confidence, or that you can do it because it's you.
We are truly skilled at creating "reasons not to do it" for ourselves.
But people who change their lives don't run away into those excuses.
You don't need to do anything big starting today.
If there is someone you want to meet, try contacting them.
If there is something you want to challenge yourself with, try signing up for it.
If you have thoughts in your heart, try putting them into words.
If there is something you are curious about, look it up yourself and try going there.
Life doesn't change just by thinking about it.
The only people who change are those who take action.
That is precisely why it must be today.
And it must be now, having heard this story.
You can watch the full conversation in this video.
## Finally, just one thing
You can turn frustration into your own strength, rather than using it to blame others.
The foundation for that is the memory of being believed in just as you are, without being denied or compared to others.
Even if that memory is faint, it's okay.
You can start treating yourself that way, starting right now.
Because right now is the youngest you will ever be.
I would be happy if we could deepen and align that flow together a little more.
📖 'The Law of Circulation: Finding Fulfillment in One Minute' (Tokuma Shoten)
Money, connections, and the heart. Everything begins to move when you 'let it circulate'.
I have compiled that philosophy into one book.
🧭 A Textbook for Not Becoming Informationally Vulnerable
Those who can put their own value into words are not swayed by information. I have packed everything I usually do into this to help you cultivate the 'power to choose.' If you are interested, start here.
💬 Circulation Community (LINE OpenChat)
Miracles happen to those who are ready. This is a community for people who live lightly with love and gratitude.
If you are curious, come take a look.
🍊 Circulation Power Diagnosis
Find out which of your circulations is currently blocked. You can find out in one minute.
▶ Profile / Click here for other articles
Takahisa Taniguchi, thank you so much for your time, despite your busy schedule in Germany.
And to everyone who gathered despite the short notice, I have nothing but gratitude.
Let's choose our own lives for ourselves.
Let's keep things circulating today with high purity.
Ayumikan🍊
■ Author Profile (Ayumi Watanabe)
Ayumi Watanabe
A Japanese yoga instructor, author, and entrepreneur who supports women's independence and health. Her nickname is 'Ayumikan'.
With over 20 years of experience in yoga instruction, she has taught a total of more than 10,000 people. She developed the '1-Minute Exercise' and widely promotes habits for balancing the mind and body.
In 2023, she set a Guinness World Record by holding a yoga straddle forward bend pose for 1 hour, 5 minutes, and 16 seconds.
In addition to promoting health through social media and her writing, she is also involved in business and educational activities that help women choose their own paths and live wisely and lightly.