An article to read when you find it difficult to reconcile your inner energy with your KOKOROZASHI(aspirations)
In my previous article, I discussed the connection between the cause-oriented requirements and the result-oriented requirements of a good vision, and how it is important to create a vision that satisfies the cause-oriented requirements and then express it in a way that satisfies the result-oriented requirements.
The (Cause-oriented) Requirements for a Good Vision
・Connectedness with the subjective truth: Connectedness with the subjective truth of oneself and team members, drawing out their inner energy.
・Not ambition, but KOKOROZASHI: Not just for oneself (ambition), but for others including oneself (KOKOROZASHI). And inner energy and KOKOROZASHI are compatible.
・Implications of a transformative change in consciousness: This implies not only a change in phenomena, but also a transformative change in consciousness.
※Only cause-oriented requirements are listed. See previous article for results-oriented requirements.
I have talked about the requirements for a good vision so far, but I often get questions when I talk about vision, so I would like to talk about that this time.
One of the most common questions I receive is as follows.
What to do if we are in a position of leadership but do not have a natural sense of balancing our inner energy and KOKOROZASHI(aspirations)
I think it’s wonderful to be able to ask such a question. If you can ask this question, it means that you value your inner energy without discarding it, and that you are serious about creating KOKOROZASHI(aspirations) that many people can feel empathy for.
Prioritize your “inner energy”
When we are in the position of a leader, it becomes difficult for us to fully express our ego. This is because the expectations of the leader are formed, and we are expected to behave according to those expectations at a certain level. In such a situation, it is understandable that it is difficult to let out our “inner energy” to the fullest.
However, it is not advisable to pretend that the inner energy is not there, or to cover it up. If we suppress our inner energy, we may lose the energy to pursue our visions, or our inner energy may manifest in other ways, often in ways that are undesirable to our true selves.
In such a dilemma, the question of how best to do this is the meaning of the first question posed.
In conclusion, I recommend that we give priority to our inner energy. The reason is that, as I wrote in the following article, by satisfying the lower dimensional (pre-stage in mental maturity) wishes within ourselves, that is, by satisfying the ego, the purity of our wishes will increase.
At first glance, this seems like a contradiction. If we look at mental maturity, or to have KOKOROZASHI(aspirations), isn’t it normal to think that we should not get caught up in our own ego?
The ego does not disappear because we ignore it; the ego is purified by fulfilling it. Of course, this doesn’t mean that we have to satisfy our egoic elements at all costs, but rather that we have to satisfy our egoic elements while maintaining harmony with our surroundings (getting along with our family and friends, making our work on a certain level, obeying laws and moral values, etc.).
This raises the question, “How can we release the energy that comes from our own egoic elements in the position of a leader? There is a contradiction between talking about valuing one’s own ego factor and meeting the expectations of the leader at a certain level.
If this is the case, try one of the following two methods, whichever feels more suitable.
X: Use real intentions(Honne) and Tatemae effectively.
→”Express one’ s aspirations” as a leader. While being aware that there is a slight divergence between those aspirations and one’ s inner energy, expressing one’ s aspirations fulfills the expectations of those around one at a certain level. On the other hand, acknowledge one’ s inner egoic wishes and stay connected to that inner energy.Y: Self-disclosure
→As a leader, while expressing one’ s KOKOROZASHI(aspirations), one also discloses to others that the source of one’ s inner energy is honestly one’ s own egoic wishes.
It is powerful to be able to Y. If we are able to self-disclose, and the people around us are receptive to this, we can connect to our inner energy and maintain harmony with our surroundings without difficulty. If you can achieve such a thing, it may not be an exaggeration to say that you are one step ahead in your mental maturity.
It’s powerful to be able to do Y, but I don’t think it’s necessary to always try to achieve Y. It depends on how the team was formed, the stage it’s at, and the relationship with the team members. It may be realistic to have a Y approach with some people and an X approach with others.
I believe that the most important factor that X and Y have in common is not the difference between X and Y. The factor that X and Y have in common is that we are aware of the egoic (lower dimensional) wishes that come from our inner energy.
Both X and Y are aware of our egoic desires, but the difference is in the way they are expressed: X does not express them, but Y does. This becomes clearer when we compare it to the other approach.
Z: Ignore egoic (low-dimensional) wishes
Ignore or pretend that the egoic (low-dimensional) wishes that come from one’ s inner energy are not there.Then, one talks about one’s beautiful aspirations to the people around one, and even within oneself, one believes that they are the only wishes one has.
When we are in a position of leadership, we sometimes take the Z approach. There was a time when I myself used to take this approach. However, I felt as if I was lying to myself and losing my own energy. And people around me began to sense that I was losing my energy, to the extent that even my employees said to me, “The president doesn’t have much energy these days,” or “Please show more of yourself.”
From that moment on, I began to pay attention to my egoic elements. By staying connected to them and not ignoring them, my ego gradually began to fill up and fade away. At the same time, I began to realize that the aspirations I was expressing were connected to a deeper part of myself.
The expression of my KOKOROZASHI(aspirations) that I talk about now and then has not changed. However, the connection between those KOKOROZASHI(aspirations) and what lies deep within me has become stronger. I have been able to feel this way not because I have put a lid on my egoic elements, but rather because I have tried to cherish and fulfill them.
Based on this experience, I believe that it is important not to be Z, and that it is realistic to use both approaches of X and Y, although it is more desirable if Y can be achieved.
Y: Self-disclosure
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X: Use real intentions(Honne) and Tatemae effectively.
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Z: Ignore egoic (low-dimensional) wishes
In this article, I talked about that when we feel that it is difficult to balance our inner energy with our KOKOROZASHI(aspirations), we can deal with it by using our true intentions(Honne) and tatemae, and/or by self-disclosure, without discarding our inner energy.
Here are the quests of the day. (If you’d like, please share your thoughts in the comments.)
・Has there ever been a time when you found it difficult to balance your inner energy with your KOKOROZASHI(aspirations)? What kind of difficulty was it?
・When you have encountered a situation where it is difficult to balance your inner energy and your KOKOROZASHI(aspirations), which approach (X, Y, or Z) have you taken? What approach would you like to take in the future?
X: Use real intentions(Honne) and Tatemae effectively.
Y: Self-disclosure
Z: Ignore egoic (low-dimensional) wishes
Bunshiro Ochiai
