(MK from Saitama Prefecture/30s/Female/Part-Time)
I’ve always been the type of person who wanted everything to be done perfectly. In college, aiming to become a teacher, I devoted myself to my studies, club activities, part-time work, and so on. However, my mind and body gradually became heavy, and eventually I was unable to get up in the morning. I developed bipolar disorder type II. Eventually, I had to drop out of school. I couldn’t accept the situation myself, and my days continued to be filled with helplessness.
Seeing What I’ve Dismissed
I couldn’t get along well with my family, and I felt more comfortable being alone. That’s when my mother invited me to visit Hikari no Yakata. Little by little, my heart began to change. I began to reflect and observe my own feelings with an intention to grasp something. In retrospect, I realized I only think about myself. No matter how busy my parents were, they would ask me, “Are you doing okay?” The more I felt the feelings of my family that I had overlooked, the brighter my kokoro became.
My Parents Helped Me Broaden My Horizons
About six months ago, I returned to the part-time job I had worked at since I was a student. One day, I received a comment from a customer saying, “I was happy with your attention to details.” I took it calmly, thinking, “I was just doing what is expected.” However, my parents were happy about it. I was taken aback by their reaction. The thoughts of the customers who had taken the time to write a comment, and the thoughts of the employees who had told me about it… When I focused on the kokoro of others, I started to see different things. I felt grateful. My heart was filled with warm feelings.
A Seminar that Gave Me a Push to Thrive
Once my family environment became a place where I felt safe, I decided I could change even more and took the plunge and participated in a seminar session aimed at people in their 20s to 40s at church. This brought about an even better turn of events.
I tend to arrive at meetings just in time, but other people were always considerate of me. The more I feel this warmth, the more I naturally act faster, thinking, “I don’t want to make them wait for me for being late.” At the same time, I realized that I had a habit of trying to do too many things at once, and I thought that this was the cause of my lack of mental and physical balance.
There was an unforgettable incident during the seminar sessions. During a meal, someone left salmon roe on the plate due to an allergy. I noticed their disappointment and apology on their face, so I blurted out a comment and everyone smiled. I did that because someone would encourage me like that at my house… Someone said to me, “You have the ability to lighten the mood,” and it felt like they were praising my family, which made me really happy. When I got home, I wanted to share this experience with my family! I felt a strong desire well up inside me.
A Sense of Joy Spreading from Home Environment to Work
When I got home, I enthusiastically told my family about what happened, and they were happy to listen. That’s when I started to talk about anything at home. Strangely enough, I started to open up more to my colleagues and customers at my part-time job. The manager recognized my customer service skills, and I was given the opportunity to give a lecture to my colleagues for training purposes. I’ve only just taken my first step into society, but I want to be of use to those around me in my own way. With that thought in mind, my kokoro is no longer feels heavy. I will continue to move forward while never forgetting my gratitude for my family’s support.
Shinji
Live with unmei-jittai (kokoro); understand this truth about life and be in touch with the teachings. Gradually, the kokoro will anchor, and your feelings to worry and doubt will fade away. Learn the teachings with the family and build a family environment that interacts with the principles. The unmei-jittai (kokoro) of family members will come together, complement each other while fostering a healthy kokoro. Understand that a harmonious family environment is the only environment that brings the kokoro of family members together as one, and elevate the jittai; and be a shinja that achieves true health.
Shinji that Kami reveals are teachings on how to live a happy life. Because they are universal truths that apply to everyone, if you live your life in accordance with these teachings, your life will definitely improve.