The magic of "how you say it."

School Closure Period → Creative Break

Let me take you back about two months.

Following the state of emergency declaration, the "STAY HOME" days continued. Weekdays were spent working remotely, and weekends were basically spent at home too. I was feeling a vague unease, wondering how long this lifestyle would last. That's when I looked into history.

I wanted to know how people lived during past epidemics. That's when I came across an anecdote about the physicist Isaac Newton.

In 1665, during the plague outbreak, Newton's university, Cambridge, temporarily closed. Ultimately, the closure lasted two years. It's said that during this time, Newton discovered the law of universal gravitation.

I was even more surprised to learn that Newton referred to this "closed period" as a "creative vacation." This "STAY HOME" time we're in now is also a time to create something for the future. I felt like I found a mental anchor in that perspective.

You can't change the past → You can change the future two weeks from now

One more thing. I'd like to share words from announcer Takahiko Fujii on the Nippon TV news program "news every." He spoke these words on Friday, April 17th. It was right around the time I was getting excited or worried every day over the rising and falling numbers of new coronavirus infections.

Over ten days have passed since the state of emergency was declared, and we should soon see our actions reflected in the numbers. However, today's figure of 201 cases in Tokyo reflects past infections only now being counted. We cannot change the past, but we can still change the future two weeks from now. While there is still hope, I sincerely ask for your cooperation.

"Ah, that's so true," I thought deeply. It allows us to look toward the future, knowing that our actions now will shape what comes next. These words gave shape to my own anxieties and uncertainties; they were unmistakably words of support.

The magic of phrasing

Is it only special, chosen people who can create phrases like "A → B" here—like "School closure → Creative break" or "You can't change the past → You can change the future two weeks from now"?

Rest assured. I don't believe that at all. I think it's something many people, including you, have been practicing since ancient times.

You've probably heard the saying, "It's all in how you say it." It means that the same thing can leave a good or bad impression depending on how you phrase it. By actually rephrasing it, you can change the impression like casting a spell.

A quiet residential neighborhood

Even things that felt negative can have their impression completely transformed just by how you phrase them. Haven't you seen, heard, or even said words like this yourself? When considering this idea of "how you say things," there's something I always keep in mind.

The way you shine changes depending on how you shine it

When I was searching for my writing style, hearing this perspective cleared my mind.

It's both Writing and Lighting.

No matter how hopeless the situation, if you look closely enough, there's always 1% hope. I want to start by believing that. So, I look at things from every angle. I search for the right lighting. If light hits that 1%, the radiance born from it will gradually spread positive possibilities.

When things keep going wrong and you feel gloomy, thinking the world is warped, your expression becomes warped too. On the other hand, when you feel a sense of fulfillment from what you want to do and think the world is shining, your expression shines.

But the truth is, the world isn't inherently twisted or radiant. How the world appears changes depending on how you and I choose to view the reality of this world as it simply unfolds.

Diamond Inc., 320 pages, ¥1,650 + tax, ISBN 978-4478110140 (Photo/Photography: Nao Noto)

 For more concrete methods on creating "A→B," I'd be thrilled if you'd pick up my book, 'Super Words That Capture Hearts: Essential Techniques Even Non-Copywriters Should Know'.

No matter what era we live in, let's try to think of the world as something to be transformed. The world itself isn't easily changed. But how we perceive it can be transformed in any way we choose, depending on our own perspective.