A Way of Living That Warms the Heart and What Lies Ahead [Pendulum Essence Series 3]

Previous articles in this series are below

In my conversations with many people,
there is a way of thinking I like.

Rather than digging deep into the causes of problems,
it is a way of thinking that focuses on
"what would make things a little better"
and "what parts are already going well."

For example,
suppose there is a hardship that continues every day.
At first glance, it seems like the same hardship all the time,
but if you observe it closely,
you might notice it when watching a movie
or when listening to music.

When chatting with friends
or talking with family.

You notice that the hardship
eases just a little,
or that there is some fluctuation.

I value this "searching for exceptions,"
which means looking for these
"times when a small change occurs."

And,
by collecting these "exceptions,"
I find commonalities in
when these changes occur.

As these small changes
spread into the next change,
a new, unseen daily life
begins before you even realize it.

Toward the future, not the past.
Toward possibilities, not causes.

The "large backpack" of the "past"
that you have been carrying
up until now—
while holding it dear,
let's set it aside for a moment.

Gently, very gently.
Let's set it aside.

Some people might notice
that their back feels
a little lighter.

You can now think about
what kind of life you want to live
from here on.

Toward the life
you want to live,
you can search for
"changes that are already happening" =
"exceptions."

Rather than untying the weight,
we create movement.

Rather than controlling,
we provide direction.

If you can start moving,
that is not the power of us counselors,
but entirely your own power.

"What kind of life would you like to
live from now on?"

Whatever the answer
to this may be,
for you, it might be

"a life that maintains a relationship
with what is irreplaceable"

summarized in those words.

Work, responsibilities, and roles are
just one "window" to touch
those "irreplaceable things,"

and you can feel that what is truly at the center
is the connection with loved ones, daily activities,
or the feeling of "I want to cherish this."

What kind of life are you
about to walk from here on?

What is
something irreplaceable to you?

You can
begin to take an interest in that little by little.

There is a certain picture book.

"Yume-chan's Warm Magic," which is filled with
thoughts for a six-year-old daughter.

This picture book, created for her daughter,
truly

depicts the importance of
thinking together about what is
irreplaceable to someone else.

And,
it also depicts that
a way of living that reaches toward
"something beyond oneself"
is, in fact, a way of living
that warms the heart.

This
way of living that warms the heart

can also be felt to overlap somewhere
with "a life of maintaining a relationship

with what is irreplaceable to you."

"Thinking together about what is
irreplaceable to someone else."

At first glance,
it may seem like a slightly difficult thing,

in our work, responsibilities, and roles,
within our families and communities,

it might actually be something we are
already doing
without realizing it.

If what is important
for us to live a wonderful life
is a way of living

that warms the heart, then what?

Noticing yourself
living in a way that reaches toward
"something beyond yourself."

That
may become an "exception search,"
and your life may change even more.
The "exception search"

for the life you want to lead
has already begun.

The next article is here ↓