Still, I Want to Say "Keep Going" #52

In modern times, due to considerations for mental health, it is sometimes said that one should not thoughtlessly say "Keep going!" (Ganbare!).

I certainly agree with that.
For someone who is already pushing themselves to their limit, the words "keep going" can become a source of pressure rather than encouragement.

That is precisely why I believe one should be cautious about saying "keep going" without considering the other person's state of mind.

With that as a premise, I still want to say "Keep going!" to those who are putting in the effort.
This is because I believe the act of "trying hard" itself has great value, separate from the results.

And there is one more important thing.
That is,trying hard and breaking yourself are two different things.

■ Everyone's mental cup is different

I believe that everyone has a mental cup of a different size.

This means that while some people can handle a certain workload with ease, others may find their hearts completely full just from that same amount.
That is why you shouldn't just say "keep going" to everyone in the same way.

Of course, there are times when you have to push yourself.
There are times when you have to take just one more step forward.

There are views that can only be seen by challenging yourself slightly beyond your limits.

However, you must not keep pushing yourself until the water you have poured overflows.

"Always a little above eight-tenths full"—I think it is important to be conscious of keeping it around that level.
It is the mindset of trying to take one more step while still leaving a little room.

And another important thing is the effort to make that cup itself larger.
What was difficult at eight-tenths full yesterday can be done with a little more ease today.
You become able to try again at things you would have given up on before.
You become able to think calmly even when facing a difficult situation.

That means your mental cup has grown larger.
In other words, "trying hard" does not just mean pushing yourself unreasonably.
It means knowing your current strength and taking a step forward within that range.
And it means gradually expanding your own capacity while stacking those steps.
I believe that is growth in the true sense.

■ Does effort always pay off?

To begin with, what does it mean to "try hard"?
I believe it means wishing for the realization of dreams and goals and continuing to make efforts toward them.

However, reality is not that sweet.
No matter how much effort you put in, it is not guaranteed to pay off.

You studied hard, yet you failed the exam.
You practiced desperately, yet you lost the match.
You gave your all to your work, yet you were not evaluated well.
Even if you continue to work hard to make your dreams come true, there are times when you have to give up on the dream itself.
There are times when, no matter how hard you try, things do not turn out as you expected.

At such times, you might end up blaming your inadequate self.
However, there is something you must not forget here.
It is that you must not link your efforts and the results more than necessary.
Just because you did not get the desired result does not mean that your effort becomes worthless.

There is a saying often used in the world of sports and elsewhere.

"Not everyone who makes an effort is rewarded. However, all those who succeed have made an effort."

■ Still, successful people have common traits

Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that you will succeed just because you make an effort.
Rather, the reality is that there are things that cannot be solved by effort alone.
Factors you cannot control yourself can also influence the results.
Even so, if you aim for success, you cannot avoid the process of effort.

This way of thinking is also connected to the "Farm Law" discussed in Stephen R. Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People."

On a farm, there is no such thing as an instant success rule.

You sow seeds.
You provide fertilizer.
You water them.
You remove weeds.
You support their growth.
And then, over time, you finally reach the harvest.

It goes without saying that if you do not sow seeds, a harvest will never come.

However, another fact is important here.
No matter how carefully you raise them, there are times when you cannot harvest due to force majeure such as typhoons or weather.
Even so, if you do not sow seeds, nothing begins.

This is the"Farm Law".

■ Do your best and leave the rest to fate

There is a saying, "Do your best and leave the rest to fate" (Jinji wo tsukushite tenmei wo matsu).
In everything, first,do everything you should do.

Human ability has limits.
There are parts of the results after doing your best that cannot be helped by human power alone.

That is why, if you have made an effort, do not be impatient and leave the results to luck.
There are people who misunderstand luck.
I believe luck is a right that only those who have made an effort can obtain.
If you wait without making an effort or trying hard, luck will not come.

And no matter what the result is, there is no need to be caught up in regret or self-loathing.
You just need to accept reality and move on to the next step.

If you give up, that is where everything truly ends.

■ Thoughts invite reality

In a famous speech by Tsutomu Uematsu of Uematsu Electric in Hokkaido,
there is the phrase "Thoughts invite reality" (Omou wa maneku).

Even if you make an effort, there are times when results do not appear immediately.
Even so, those who have made an effort are definitely growing.

Effort is never wasted.

Even if it looks like a failure now, that experience will surely become an important trajectory that leads to future success.

And I believe that through the accumulation of such experiences, your mental cup will gradually grow larger.
What you could not do yesterday, you can do today.
You can now face things that would have been painful and made you stop in the past.
That is invisible, but certain growth.

That is why I think it is a great waste to say

"It's impossible anyway"

before even trying.
Whether you can do it or not, you won't know unless you try.
Whether it will come true or not, you won't know unless you challenge it.
At the very least, if you decide that it is "impossible," the possibility disappears right there.

■ That is why I want to say "Keep going"

I want those who are making an effort to realize the value of their effort.
I want them to realize the value of trying hard.

Continuing to make an effort while believing in your dreams will surely become the power that invites success someday.
That is why, rather than being negative, I dare to say this.

"Keep going!"

And, in order to give shape to your efforts, please do not compromise.

After that — if you wish, it will be invited.