日本語で読む | English
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“Happiness is always decided by your own heart.”
Mitsuo Aida. Wording quoted in an article from Koka Gakuen (Japanese). English translation prepared for this article; not an official translation.
Some days, as the day draws to a close, we remember only what we could not do.
The message we never answered.
The tidying we made no progress on.
The work that did not go as planned.
In the morning, we had meant to get a little more done.
Looking back this way can leave us feeling as though nothing remained of the day.
For me, these words from Mitsuo Aida offer a chance to look at today from a slightly different angle.
Do not pressure yourself to feel happy
“Happiness is decided by your own heart.”
I do not want to use these words to dismiss painful experiences as merely a matter of attitude.
A sad day is sad.
When you are tired, you are tired.
I do not think we have to force difficult feelings into cheerful words.
What follows is my own interpretation.
I want to hold on to these words not as a reason to blame myself for being unable to feel happy, but as a reminder not to leave it entirely to others to decide what feels good to me.
A fulfilling day for someone else is not necessarily the same for us.
On some days, eating a quiet meal brings more relief than getting through a packed schedule.
On others, spending time slowly at home feels better than traveling somewhere far away.
I think we are allowed to discover what is good for us within our own lives.
Was there a moment today that felt a little easier?
When we look for great happiness, sometimes nothing comes to mind.
At those times, I would like to make the question smaller.
“Was there a moment today when I felt a little relieved?”
When I drank something warm.
When I finished one task.
When I exchanged a few words with someone.
Having that moment does not erase the difficulties of the day.
Still, it may keep unpleasant experiences from coloring everything about today.
Some things did not go well.
But there were also moments that felt a little easier.
I think both can be true.
On days when you find nothing, begin with rest
Of course, there may be days when we cannot remember even a moment of relief.
We do not have to force ourselves to count good things on those days, either.
“Today was hard.”
Acknowledging that and bringing the day to an end can also be a way of caring for ourselves.
If there is something you can do tonight, let it be just one thing that makes tomorrow a little easier.
Leave a nonurgent task until tomorrow.
Write down what has been worrying you and set it aside for now.
Draw a line and say, “That is enough for today.”
If the word happiness feels distant, it is enough to begin by choosing something that feels a little easier.
Even if today was not ideal, do not reject the self who lived through it.
Even when a day does not look impressive by someone else’s standards, I want to keep moments of relief within everyday life.