In the past, the average human lifespan was considered to be 60 years, and various aspects of life were described accordingly.
(…) But not now.
Life expectancy has increased to 100 years, and the world changes rapidly even in one or two years, let alone ten.
Unexpected crises, like COVID-19, can occur.
However, humanity has been solely focused on developing life science technology to extend biological lifespan in the age of centenarians, while neglecting the continuous achievement of goals and a sense of accomplishment in human psychological development.
(…) In this way, we (especially those in their 40s and 50s today) are ignorant about the psychological development that will unfold in the remaining years of our lives.
This is where the anxiety begins.


But for middle-aged people who are suffering from anxiety due to ignorance and guilt due to self-deception, talking about success without thinking can cause an explosion of anxiety.
What I am saying is that telling someone who is not well prepared about success out of the blue does not necessarily give them hope or courage.

--- p.9-10, from “Prologue_Everyone is anxious”

In psychiatry, 'insight' refers to 'knowing exactly what I am afraid of now and what the thing that scares me looks like in reality.'
It is no exaggeration to say that helping patients understand this is half the battle of psychological counseling.
In other words, the first step to eliminating anxiety is to find out how much the scary thing that makes me anxious actually threatens me and can harm me.


Let's take a moment to look at all the worries and anxieties that are inherent within us.
Let's look at them indifferently, as if we were strangers.
It's okay to have a little courage and talk to yourself.
'Ah, anxiety has come.'
--- p.28-29, from “Part 1: Everything You Didn’t Know About Anxiety/The Seeds of Anxiety Are Inside My Heart”

When we are physically or psychologically stressed, our body's senses become more sensitive.
This is because we recognize stress more quickly and seek rest or leisure to avoid it.
But most people ignore the sensitive signals their body sends.
Sometimes you just have to ignore those signals.
Because there are mountains of work piled up and you have to complete them to survive in the jungle called work.
Or, as parents, we must faithfully support our children so that they can have a good time during important times in their lives.
Ultimately, external stress disrupted my body's rhythm, making me feel like I wasn't myself.

Everyone has the physical and mental stamina to endure.
Living as 'me' is about thinking and doing things that fit my physical strength.
But we often forget the importance of living as 'me'.

--- p.34-35, from “Part 1: Everything You Didn’t Know About Anxiety/The Heart Beats Thousands of Times a Day”

Nietzsche said this:
“If you want freedom, command.
How can we express and practice the spirit of freedom?
“The history of great liberation is accompanied by pain and suffering.” (…) Good stress reduces anxiety.
When you experience good stress, your anxiety gradually decreases even when you are mentally or physically burdened and tired.
When I feel confident that I can control the situation, my anxiety decreases.
That confidence comes from the lion's free will.
In order for free will to exist, there must first be an 'I'.
Because I must exist for free will to arise.
This athlete was able to come back to himself and gain a new understanding of himself only through the process of dividing the problem into those he could solve and those he could not.

--- p.43-44, from “Part 1: Everything You Didn’t Know About Anxiety/Bad Stress Increases Anxiety”

People who don't want to do anything tend to dwell on past failures.
The fear of failure again makes us avoid even attempts that are similar to those we have already experienced, let alone seeking new stimulation.
Even if you try your best, you will only do so much so that you don't fail.
If you put in a little more effort and don't reap the fruits of success (as you think you will), you won't try any harder because there's no way to get your efforts back.
A failed past is what is holding back your potential for the future.
(…) Whether we have failed or succeeded in the past, we must move forward using that past as a stepping stone.
Positive emotions that drive life, such as anticipation, excitement, hope, and motivation, all point toward the future, and based on these, people gain the strength to live in the present.

--- p.49-51, from “Part 1: Everything You Didn’t Know About Anxiety/Why Life Feels Powerless”

It has been several years since early retirement emerged as a problem in our society.
When was the time when labor was scarce and jobs were plentiful, and you could choose to go anywhere you wanted just by graduating from college?
It is difficult to find an empty seat in the university library because students are preparing for employment from their freshman year.
At work, once you turn 40, you start to feel anxious, thinking, "How long can I do this job?" and "I don't know how to do anything else. What should I do?"
(…) Feeling anxious in a specific situation is because your ability to cope with that situation is immature.
In times like these, everyone can't help but become sensitive.
Because he knows better than anyone that his weapons are not perfect enough to win the war.
(…) I don’t advise people who complain of anxiety to just be confident.
Instead, we discuss together what we need to do to prepare for a crisis situation.
It's more unsettling because you don't know what to prepare.

--- p.296-297, 301, from “Part 2: Controlling Anxiety in My Heart/How to Not Be Afraid of the Future”