What do you really want to do with your life?
It’s a question that can linger for years — unanswered, uncomfortable, and quietly heavy. Maybe you’re drifting through your days, fulfilling obligations without real direction. It might not feel bad enough to change, but deep down, you know something is off. You’re not quite proud of the way you’re living.
Reading 夢をかなえるゾウ3, I was reminded of something I wrote last year in Behind the Uniform Skirt (2024):
“Reflecting on your student days from just three years ago, when the future may have seemed full of potential and endless possibilities, now feels like gazing at a distant, blurry memory. Back then, the future might have seemed colorful and full of promise, but now those dreams seem hazy and elusive.”
This book doesn’t offer easy answers — there are no easy answers anywhere — but it nudges you to start asking the right questions.
The Book in 3 Sentences
- In “夢をかなえるゾウ3”, a struggling office worker meets the cheeky god Ganesha, who returns in a darker (black) version to teach her how to change her life through tough but practical lessons.
- Unlike quick fixes or superficial self-help advice, the story emphasizes taking consistent, uncomfortable actions — like facing fears, showing gratitude, and learning from others — to truly grow.
- Through humor, challenge, and heartfelt moments, the book conveys that real transformation comes from confronting pain and aligning with what truly matters.
Impressions
How Did I Discover It?
This book has been part of my favorite series. It’s easy and quick to read, but packed with valuable life lessons told through engaging storytelling. It sinks in effortlessly and acts like a reminder — helping me reflect on my own behavior and attitude in everyday life.
Who Should Read It?
- People who feel lost or stuck in life and want practical but gentle guidance to move forward.
- Self-help readers looking for something more engaging and story-driven than traditional advice books.
- Busy professionals who want a quick, entertaining read that still offers meaningful personal insights.
How the Book Changed Me
1. Learning to prioritize what truly matters
The book made me rethink how I use my limited time and energy. I realized how easy it is to fill life with small, habitual distractions — things that don’t really matter to me — while crowding out the space for what I actually want. It reminded me of the “Rocks, Pebbles, and Sand” analogy: if I don’t put the big, important things in first, there won’t be room for them later. It encouraged me to be deliberate, to recognize that both time and capacity are finite, and to focus first on the things that genuinely matter.
2. The energy of a clear vision
I also came to see how much strength comes from having a concrete vision of what I want to achieve. When that vision is vivid enough, it makes even difficult tasks feel worthwhile, because I know exactly what I’m working toward. Instead of seeing persistence as a matter of denying myself pleasures or forcing myself to endure, I now see it as being motivated by something brighter ahead. That shift makes the pursuit itself feel lighter and more sustainable.
3. The importance of keeping a playful spirit in work
Finally, I was reminded that progress doesn’t come only from patience and endurance, but from keeping an open heart and approaching challenges with curiosity. Some of my best past experiences — like working in a startup with a festival-like atmosphere — came from that sense of play and openness. The book helped me reconnect with that mindset: work doesn’t just have to be about persistence; it can also be about discovery, enjoyment, and creating moments of inspiration for others.
My Top 3 Quotes
Some of the quotes may come across as a bit cheesy at first, but I find that the more seriously you reflect on what you want to do with your life, the more their meaning sinks in.
- “When choosing a job, the most important thing is to ask yourself what has truly moved you in your life so far. And when you feel that you want to pass on that same sense of wonder to others — that you want to be the one giving, not just receiving — that’s when work starts to come naturally to you. (…) Take the things that once touched you as a customer, make them your work, and then create lots of customers who will feel the same way you did.”（「仕事を選ぶとき一番大事にせなあかんのは、これまでの人生で自分が何に感動したかちゅうことや。そんで自分が受けた感動を、今度は人に伝えたい、伝える側に回りたい、そう思たとき人は自然な形で仕事ができるんやで。（中略）お客さんとして感動したことを仕事にして、自分と同じようなお客さんいっぱい作んねん」）
- “If you’re making up a ‘reasonable story’ just to run away from your fear, that’s the most dangerous thing of all. Once you get into the habit of justifying the urge to escape like that, you’ll never be able to succeed. Because you’ll end up making excuses to avoid even the things you truly need to face in order to succeed.”（「その怖さから逃げるために「筋の通った話』を作ってたとしたら、それ一番危ないことやで。そうやって逃げた い気持ちを正当化する癖ついてまうと、その人は絶対に成功できへん。成功するために本当にやらなあかんことも、言い訳つけて逃げる習慣ができてまうからな。」）
- “Most people think there’s only one road that leads to the peak of the mountain called ‘dreams.’ (…) But that’s not true. In reality, there are many paths to the summit. You try one road, and if you find it’s not the right one, another path will come into view. By repeating that, step by step, you’ll eventually reach the top.”（「みんな、『夢』ちゅう山の頂上に向かう道は一本や思てる。（中略）でも、ほんまはちゃうねん。それ以外にも、山頂に至る道はたくさん あんねん。一つの道を行ってみて違うて分かったら、他の道が見えてくる。それを繰り返しながら登って行けば、最後は必ず山頂にたどりつけるんやで。」）
This book reminds you that struggle is a shared human experience — one that can feel isolating, but doesn’t have to be. In the company of Ganesha’s wit and wisdom, that loneliness softens. You’re reminded that you’re not the only one who’s felt lost, stuck, or unsure of what truly matters.
The lessons land with a surprising lightness. They’re practical enough to put into action today — small, clear steps that gently challenge you — yet deep enough to echo long after.
Above all, this book offers a quiet but luminous truth:
- That joy and growth are not opposites.
- That pain can point you toward what matters.
- And that life, even when uncertain or uncomfortable, is still meant to be lived with curiosity, presence, and heart.