Transforming words that lift your spirits

It's common to want to talk again or meet up with people you worked with or were introduced to, yet let the daily hustle and bustle get in the way, leading to a drifting apart. I'm no exception; I've missed opportunities time and again, filled with regret.

To break this cycle, I decided to take the plunge and reach out to people I've met over the years, using the publication of my book, "Improving Your Mental Constitution " (Nikkei Publishing), as my starting point. As a result, we've begun sharing updates on our lives, making plans to meet again, and new connections are starting to form. Lately, I've been reminded that "opportunities aren't something you wait for; they're something you create."

Now, for the third installment of this series, let's explore methods and benefits for considering "words that resonate" and "words that boost motivation and drive." Consciously changing the words you use daily can improve your mental constitution.

■Delving Deep into the Essential Value of Things

 

"Work that leaves its mark on the map."
This corporate slogan has been used in a construction company's advertising for over a decade. Compare it to phrases like "building bridges and tunnels" or "constructing schools and buildings."

The imagery evoked is distinctly different. It doesn't just stop at imagining structures; it makes you realize that this company's work creates the very social infrastructure that supports the daily lives of people moving through the city, making it something deeply connected to our own lives.

Employees encountering this phrase likely gain renewed confidence and pride in their work, recognizing they are involved in large-scale projects that will be etched into history. It undoubtedly boosts motivation and earns respect from employees' families. Job-seeking students will likely find the company intriguing because it serves a meaningful purpose in society.

"I believe New Year's cards are gifts."
This was an advertising slogan used in a New Year's card campaign several years ago. It transforms the act of sending New Year's cards, often seen as a routine, ritualistic gesture, into something that conveys thoughtful consideration for the recipient by framing it as a "gift."

Hearing it stated this way brings back the joy of receiving a New Year's card from a friend you haven't seen in a year, and the gratitude for hearing about their recent life. It stirs feelings like, "Maybe I should write one this year too," or "I should send one after so long."

What these two phrases share is that they transcend mere information delivery. They possess the power to uplift the spirits of those who encounter them.

They aren't born from superficial rephrasing. They emerge from repeatedly contemplating and deeply exploring the essential value and impact of things. I've heard that the copy "Work that leaves its mark on the map." actually came from years of repeated interviews with dozens of employees.

I consciously incorporate this approach to language into both my work and daily life. A single phrase can boost my own motivation and that of those around me, fostering positivity. Beyond that, I see it as training to sharpen my ability to think through words.

Illustrated by Hirochika Horiuchi

 

■Rewording to Shift Negative Thinking to Positive

 

Let's take "cleaning" as an example.
For many people, cleaning is a chore. You probably have memories of being told to do it by parents or teachers since childhood, doing it reluctantly. It's hard to get started, and even when you do, it's not much fun. I was actually like that too.

So, about ten years ago when I moved, I decided to change my mindset from "doing cleaning" to "polishing." I even changed the words I used out loud. Things like: "Wiping window grime → Polishing windows to make them clear," "Scrubbing bath scum → Polishing the bath to make it sparkling clean," "Dusting furniture → Polishing furniture to bring out its shine."

This approach eliminates preconceived notions about cleaning, establishes a clear purpose, and lets you visualize the outcome. Naturally, your mood lifts and you get into it. When you silently polish something until it shines, you feel a sense of fulfillment and your spirits soar.

This shifts your mindset from "negative → zero" thinking (removing dirt and dust) to a "positive" mindset that goes beyond that. You begin to truly feel the intrinsic value and effects of cleaning. This further boosts your motivation and can inspire you to apply this way of thinking to other areas.

As you continue polishing, even as your home or furniture ages or gets scratched, they begin to develop character. This is the same feeling you get when visiting historic temples or shrines. Surely you've experienced the deep character and atmosphere emanating from well-maintained, gleaming hallways or objects. If it's something you own, you'll likely feel even more attached to it.

You can apply this same principle of rephrasing to work situations.
Take the common task of "reporting" in any job. Reporting work to your boss, sharing progress with team members, writing up reports on meetings or seminars you attended... Often, reporting carries an unshakable negative connotation of "being made to do it" or "having to do it."

Since it's essentially retracing past actions, it's hard to consciously see it as directly creating new value. Honestly, it can be a hassle, and many people find it difficult to approach with a positive mindset.

I strongly shared that mindset. However, as I grew older and became a leader within teams, opportunities to share information and ideas with members increased dramatically. I realized that continuing to do it reluctantly as before wouldn't benefit me, so I decided to explore the essential value and effectiveness of "reporting."

What I arrived at was "it helps me organize." Accurately conveying information to members actually helps me organize my own information and thoughts. Even when I was forcing myself to do it, that was the "result" it was achieving.

By reframing this as a "purpose" that fundamentally benefits me, reporting instantly became a positive mindset. My motivation increased, and conversely, these opportunities have now become indispensable and crucial for advancing my work.

■Communicating the broader impact naturally motivates people

 

Thinking about it this way, it becomes clear that parents raising children unknowingly practice this method. Parents desperately think about how to guide their children to willingly do things they dislike. If they don't, the children won't act on their own.

For example, to get a small child to brush their teeth or take a bath, parents chase after them as they run away, calling out things like, "Let's get all fresh and clean! Let's feel refreshed!" to lift their spirits. Rather than just demanding, "Brush your teeth!" or "Get in the bath properly!" and forcing them, it's crucial to make brushing teeth or bathing about the goal of achieving that "refreshing, clean feeling" so the child wants to do it themselves.

You probably remember your parents saying this to you as a child, or if you're a parent, you've said it to your own kids. In fact, we often practice this naturally in everyday life.

In work and daily life, focus on the troublesome or negative aspects of various tasks. Explore their essence, turn what you thought was the goal into a means, and make the value or effect achieved beyond that the new goal. Then, try putting that into words.

By doing this, your ability to think through words will steadily improve.