Reader Comment Collection v.2: "The Fear of Quitting Your Job, and the Happiness Found After Overcoming It"

The importance of facing yourself

The author has a "personal core" and, without being swept away by society's "norms," has sincerely faced himself and graduated from being a company employee.

"It must be because he had money to spare."

Of course, that aspect may have existed, but more than that, I empathize with how he carefully introspected after a chance volunteer experience and arrived at his own version of happiness.

This book gave me the opportunity to stop for a moment and rethink my own life.

A book that gives you the courage to change your life

Can you not see the future anymore?

My stomach tightened, and I almost teared up.
Because it was the same message I ask myself every single day. Being spoken to by the author again, I was startled and thought, 'Yes, that's right.'

Do what you want to do, there's no time left.

While reading, I almost cried again here. It's because there were things I truly realized were correct.
My older brother passed away suddenly from a subarachnoid hemorrhage in February. He was 56. He had said he wanted to do more for our parents. He said he wanted to take our parents on a slightly luxurious trip to make them happy. He said he wanted to take time to spend slowly with his beloved dog. It brought back the regret I felt for stopping my brother with all my might when he leaked to me years ago that he wanted to quit his job. I wish I had supported his feelings like the author and pushed him forward.

Meeting this book when I was feeling lost about what path to choose, now that I can no longer do work I'm good at but don't like even out of inertia, felt like it was telling me not to make the same mistake.

Overestimating the risks of taking action

That's me.
Decompose anxiety and deal with it.
I couldn't do this and spent a long time just being anxious, but thanks to this book, I feel like I can come to my senses if I ever start repeating the same thing in the future.
Also, whenever I hesitate to make a decision or take on a challenge, I feel like I can remember the author's various messages and take a step forward.

Writing this review makes me re-experience the excitement and physical sensations I had while reading, and I wanted to express my familiarity and gratitude to the author, so from here on, I will call the author Mako-san.

Mako-san's messages are words based on his thorough thinking, execution, and realization, and I received energy that isn't in typical self-help books.
Mako-san, thank you. I am truly grateful to have encountered this book!
I'm looking forward to the second part as well.

After finishing the book, I found what happiness means to me!

The trajectory of how the author, Mako-san, reached early retirement over 8 years is depicted in detail. By following it, this is a valuable life guide book where you can instantly gain the insights Mako-san obtained through deep thinking.

Mako-san also doesn't just introduce his own case, but also provides advice for various types using a matrix, so it is useful for anyone.

For now, as a "selfish business person" type, I am relieved to have my daily difficulties explained. Also, I have come to the conclusion that "I will produce excellent (unique) results, while maintaining minimal harmony with those around me..."

I learned the importance of living life proactively after leaving a company.

As someone aiming for FIRE,
I was able to reaffirm the following:

- Even if you don't FIRE, everyone will eventually reach mandatory retirement age or retirement.
- The importance of having a firm core (making decisions with your own will and taking responsibility for them yourself).
- "Knowing what is enough"... Growth is important, but even more so, can you feel happiness and fulfillment in "what you have now"?

I felt the need to find my own answer, even if just a little bit, starting now.

A book I can recommend to employed people in their 30s or older for the sake of their own lives.

By comparing the author's real experiences with your own life, there is surely something you will see.
It was well-articulated, and it felt like it went straight in, making it easy to understand.

Realizing what true happiness is!

I am not a company employee; I work as a sole proprietor. This book is not just for employees, but a book that makes you realize what it means to "live happily" as a human being.

Unlike typical self-help books, this one provides genuine insights. By touching upon the author's way of life and empathizing with their emotions, I felt things naturally fall into place—that's the sensation I experienced. It is truly moving.

The definition of happiness is different for everyone. But it would be a real shame not to know the "happiness" this book points to!

When I understood what the author meant by "don't raise your baseline of happiness," I think I finally learned what true happiness is.

I finished reading every page.
Even though I thought I knew Mako-san, I learned new things, like what you were thinking about during work and your feelings toward your father!
Regarding the competition during our working days and the evaluations from others...
That was exactly what I was working for, too...
Though I don't feel that way at all now...

You taught me again about being happy and how to use money.
Thank you.

I tend to slip back into the mindset of my long working days, but I intend to enjoy this second life I've been given.

From your number one disciple who quit being a company employee!

Do not cling to your current state.

I keep repeating this to myself.
Mako-san's message is based on things you have thought through, executed, and experienced firsthand. Since I know your character, I receive energy from this book that I don't get from typical self-help books. It's not just about receiving; you are teaching me what I should do from here on out.

I am grateful to have met you, Mako-san, and to have encountered this book.

It's like a textbook. It fits my current situation perfectly, and I felt like I was being acknowledged. I plan to re-read it periodically to check on my own state of mind.

I read it all in one go.
It wasn't the usual "Mako-style," but a truly moving book!

The things you've often said before, like "don't raise your baseline of happiness" and "become happy -> stay happy," come across even more strongly and are easier to empathize with when read in this book. I really want a lot of people to read it.

I strongly felt that I want people to know what true happiness is. The definition of happiness might be different for everyone, but I think there are many people who misunderstand what happiness is or haven't realized what true happiness is like, so I want them to read this book.

After reading this book, and with the Morning Pages, I felt even more strongly that I want to "do what I want to do and live the way I want to live!" I'm putting it into practice now.

<Personal Bonus Thoughts>
🔘 The definition of subjectivity, where you explained "want-to-ness," was easy to understand and interesting.

🔘 When describing the resort feel of Cebu Island, the expression "girls with chubby figures walking around in swimsuits" was classic Mako-style, which was funny.

🔘 I felt empathy and was moved by the story from Dr. Hida of the Hida Clinic: "When patients start being able to do more things, they increasingly want to do things of their own volition. This is the greatest proof that treatment is going well."