Check out Takumi’s NEW English youtube channel🎵
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https://www.youtube.com/@takuway
The feeling of “I want to contribute to others, but I don’t know how” is something many people experience at some point. But within that sense of not knowing lies great potential.
Below is a 5-step process to help you turn your desire to contribute into something tangible:
🌱 Step 1：Clarify who you want to contribute to
Saying “to people” is too broad—it becomes easier to take action when you narrow down your focus a bit.
Examples: family / friends / coworkers / social media followers / local seniors / students / moms, etc.
Q: “Who do you see and just can’t ignore when they’re struggling?”
🔍 Step 2：Observe and listen to their struggles and desires
Contribution means “standing beside someone in their challenges and offering your support.”
To do that, start paying attention to what they’re struggling with and what they wish for.
Q：“What might this person be struggling with lately?”
Q：“If you were in their shoes, what kind of help would make you happy?”
🛠 Step 3：Take inventory of what you can offer
It doesn’t have to be a “skill.” Words of encouragement, time, and kindness are all valuable resources too.
Examples: being a good listener / sharing helpful info on social media / photography skills / enjoying playtime with kids / a warm smile
Q："What small action could I take right now?”
🌟 Step 4：Start small →Build experiences of being appreciated
Don’t aim for something big all at once. Try a small gesture first.
Example: Sending a message like “Hey, how have you been?” on LINE
→ You might catch them right when they need someone the most.Q：“If I could brighten just one person’s day today, who would it be—and how?”
🔁 Step 5：Observe their response and evolve your contribution
Pay attention to how they react to your action.
Contribution grows through the feedback we receive in the form of gratitude.
Q：“What part of my support did they appreciate most?”
Q：“What kind of help might they be hoping for next?”
💡Bonus: A magical question for when you feel stuck
“If I could see this person smile again—what could I do to make that happen?”
Let this question guide your next step.
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Share the steps to uncover my strengths
It would be my pleasure!
Your strengths are often hard to recognize on your own—but by following the right steps, they will surely become clear.
🌟5 Steps to Discover what you're naturally good at
🪞Step 1：Reflect on Your Past-Look for what came Naturally
There are clues in what you naturally gravitated toward as a child, student, or even recently.
Think about the things you got lost in, often took on without being asked, or were frequently asked to do.
Q：What were you often praised for as a child?
Q： What roles or tasks do people tend to hand over to you?
Q：Has anyone ever said, “That doesn’t bother you?” in surprise?
✨Step 2：Inventory Moments when you Helped Others
The moments when someone appreciated your help are when your strengths truly showed.
Q：When has someone said, “Thank you, that really helped”?
Q：When did you genuinely feel, “I made a difference”?
→ Even small things count: cheering someone up via LINE, organizing a space, explaining something clearly, etc.
🔬Step 3：Borrow Someone Else's Eyes--Ask, "What do you see as my strengths?"
What feels normal to you might be amazing to someone else.
Here are some good questions to ask:
-“When do you see me at my best?”
-“What kinds of things would you want to rely on me for?”
📌Tip：Ask at least three people—you’ll start to notice patterns.
🧭Step 4：Write Down What you "continue to do without difficulty"
Things you can do without stress are raw forms of your strengths. If you can keep doing something, it likely energizes you.
Examples:
– Listening to others / Coming up with ideas / Organizing spaces
– Connecting people / Writing / Fine-tuning details
🔑Step 5：Translate "Your Strengths into Value"
Now take your “raw strengths” and reframe them into something valuable for others.
| Raw Strength | Translates Into Value As… |
|---|---|
| Listening deeply | Counselor, emotional support, active listening workshop host |
| Enjoys detail work | Admin support, social media designer, proofreader |
| Good at analogies | Communication trainer, educator for kids, content writer |
🗺️Final Step：Create Your Strengths Map
Break it down into these three categories for clarity 👇
Things you can do (skills)
Things that made others happy (experiences)
3. Things that excite you (passions)
For those with children
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Stay on a New York university campus and enjoy the city alongside international students from around the world!
New York Embassy Summer Program – 9 Days
Sweet koji (amazake koji)！
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Put simply,
it’s like shio-koji—but without the salt.
It’s also different from amazake (sweet sake), as it uses a different type of koji.
Here’s a quote I found online:
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“Good bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids, which help reduce fat absorption and boost metabolism. These acids also stimulate insulin secretion, which helps control blood sugar levels. Thanks to these effects, sweet koji can support weight management and help prevent diabetes.
In addition, the kojic acid and vitamin C found in sweet koji have antioxidant properties that help eliminate free radicals and support collagen production.”
When making it,
you need to keep it warm at 60°C (140°F),
as the enzymes break down at higher temperatures.
It’s made using glutinous rice, water, and koji.
In Kagawa, you can find fresh koji—
fewer producers remain now,
but some still make it, so I order from them directly.
You can use sweet koji in cooking or mix it into drinks—there are so many ways to enjoy it!
...This is what I learned from someone!
～～～
Will this method work for you?
Koji: 200g
Purified water: 300cc
Keep warm at 60°C (140°F) using an induction cooker → for 8 hours
Then blend it thoroughly in a food processor until it becomes a thick, smooth paste
Once it’s ready, store it in a container and use it as a natural sweetener in a variety of dishes.
Give it a try♪
Thank you, Rie-chan!
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I also received this
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https://camp-fire.jp/projects/839334/
Link to Takumi Yamazaki’s
ENGLISH Book “SHIFT”
