The Shinkiko retreat seminar in Numazu began today. Among the “guidelines for purifying the mind”—which I always share during the retreat seminar—the first quality mentioned for attracting positive Ki (energy) is “strength.” This refers to the resilience needed to withstand negative Ki; however, I believe the first step toward this is not to fight, but rather to “become aware.”
At times, we may find ourselves feeling anxious, becoming irritable over trivial matters, or overthinking things as we try to determine what would be most advantageous for us. In such moments, we tend to assume that these feelings and thoughts are entirely our own. However, “negative energy” can infiltrate the more vulnerable parts of our minds, influencing—and even attempting to control—not just our emotions, but our very thoughts and reasoning. This is why it is crucial to distinguish between your own genuine emotions and thoughts, and those stemming from negative energy. Try taking a step back and asking yourself, “Could this current emotion or thought be the result of negative energy?” There is no need to reject your feelings; the key is simply to recognize that they are not necessarily “you.” This approach resonates with certain psychological techniques that encourage creating distance from one’s emotions, rather than identifying oneself with them.
Negative energy also employs the tactic of “justification.” Even when you know something is actually good for you, plausible-sounding reasons—such as “I’m tired today,” “I’m too busy,” or “I can just start tomorrow”—keep popping up, ultimately preventing you from taking action.
Back when I was a corporate employee—before I learned about Ki (life energy)—I was exactly like that. I had such a strong fear of failure that I couldn’t bring myself to take that first step. At the time, I thought I was simply being cautious, but looking back, it seems that negative Ki was at play. If you don’t take that step forward, you cannot receive support—that is, a helping push—from the universe.
Even after gaining awareness through the support of positive energy, you cannot afford to let your guard down. If you find your resolve wavering after initially feeling, “Let’s give this a try,” that, too, is the influence of negative energy. In particular, stronger negative energy can exert a powerful influence to prevent a person from moving in a positive direction. It is not easy to remain calm and think objectively when you are in the grip of anger or anxiety, so it is perfectly fine if you cannot do it well at first. Simply noticing, “I’ve started overthinking again,” or reflecting later and realizing, “That hesitation I felt back then might have been the result of negative energy”—even these small realizations represent a significant step forward.
Recognize your feelings, separate them from the situation, and then—of your own volition—decide to take a step forward. I believe this is how you build an unyielding spirit. The energy of Shinkiko acts as a form of support, giving a boost to your resolve to move forward. As we approach the end of the year, this energy is intensifying. Therefore, let us proceed with a firm, focused mindset, ensuring that we remain resilient even against stronger negative Ki (energies).