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Transcript

Are you sacrificing yourself for nothing? · Deep Thoughts

• 0:01
  Speaker 1: The kamakazi. I mean, let's talk about a powerful image.
• 0:04
  Speaker 1: We all have this picture in our minds, right World
• 0:07
  Speaker 1: War two Japanese pilots, these guys were going on suicide
• 0:10
  Speaker 1: missions against Allied ships, you know, those huge aircraft carriers.
• 0:14
  Speaker 2: And it wasn't just a random act. The term kama
• 0:16
  Speaker 2: kasi itself, I mean it translates to define wind, right,
• 0:19
  Speaker 2: So there was this idea of a force greater than
• 0:22
  Speaker 2: themselves driving these pilots.
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: It's heavy stuff to think about, and it really makes
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: you wonder about the whole idea of commitment. When does
• 0:30
  Speaker 1: it make sense to go all in? When is it
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: better to hold back?
• 0:33
  Speaker 2: That's the question is I mean, this tactic, this kama
• 0:36
  Speaker 2: kazi strategy, it didn't really come about until later in
• 0:40
  Speaker 2: the war, like around nineteen forty four, when the Japanese were,
• 0:43
  Speaker 2: you know, starting to lose pretty badly.
• 0:45
  Speaker 1: Yeah, makes you think about desperation too. But I think
• 0:47
  Speaker 1: that's what's so interesting about this deep dive, looking at
• 0:50
  Speaker 1: something so so dark and trying to understand it. I mean,
• 0:55
  Speaker 1: can we really learn something from this, something relevant to
• 0:58
  Speaker 1: our lives today?
• 0:59
  Speaker 2: I think we can. I mean, sometimes the best way
• 1:01
  Speaker 2: to undertand and ourselves is to look at the extremes
• 1:03
  Speaker 2: of human behavior. You know, the intensity of the Kamakazi
• 1:06
  Speaker 2: pilots and what they did. It shows us the power
• 1:09
  Speaker 2: of belief, the power of dedication, even when it's you know,
• 1:13
  Speaker 2: maybe misdirected.
• 1:14
  Speaker 1: I think we all have that in us, that potential
• 1:16
  Speaker 1: for intense dedication. But I guess the key is figuring
• 1:20
  Speaker 1: out how to direct it in a healthy way. Yeah,
• 1:23
  Speaker 1: you know, not a destructive way exactly. And I think
• 1:25
  Speaker 1: that's where undertand any and the Kamakaze comes in. I mean,
• 1:27
  Speaker 1: these guys weren't just you know, mindless robots following orders.
• 1:31
  Speaker 1: They had a very specific mindset. So what was it about, Like,
• 1:35
  Speaker 1: why would someone do that, volunteer for a suicide mission.
• 1:38
  Speaker 2: Well, a big part of it was duty honor. They
• 1:41
  Speaker 2: felt this immense responsibility to their country, to their emperor.
• 1:45
  Speaker 2: They were willing to sacrifice everything.
• 1:46
  Speaker 1: That's a lot to carry. And it reminds me of
• 1:48
  Speaker 1: something you mentioned before.
• 1:50
  Speaker 2: Bushido, right, Bushido the way of the warrior. It's the
• 1:53
  Speaker 2: traditional code of a samurai. You know. It emphasizes things
• 1:56
  Speaker 2: like loyalty, self sacrifice above all else, and surrender that
• 2:02
  Speaker 2: was seen as the ultimate shame.
• 2:04
  Speaker 1: So these pilots, they were basically brought up with us
• 2:07
  Speaker 1: this all in mentality. It's almost like like they didn't
• 2:10
  Speaker 1: see any other option.
• 2:11
  Speaker 2: In a way. Yeah, and that's the tragedy, isn't it.
• 2:13
  Speaker 2: These were young men, many of them barely adults, and
• 2:16
  Speaker 2: they were indoctrinated with these beliefs from a young age.
• 2:19
  Speaker 1: Mish It's hard to imagine being in that position, but
• 2:21
  Speaker 1: it does make you think about about choices and how
• 2:25
  Speaker 1: our culture shapes our values, our sense of what's right
• 2:28
  Speaker 1: and wrong.
• 2:29
  Speaker 2: Absolutely, and I think that's one of the biggest takeaway here.
• 2:31
  Speaker 2: The Kamakazi pilots might seem like a world away from us,
• 2:34
  Speaker 2: but the underlying human impulses are the same. Commitment, passion,
• 2:39
  Speaker 2: the desire to make a difference. We all have that
• 2:41
  Speaker 2: in us.
• 2:42
  Speaker 1: It's just a matter of how we express it right
• 2:44
  Speaker 1: and making sure we're not not being manipulated or pushed
• 2:47
  Speaker 1: into something we don't truly believe.
• 2:49
  Speaker 2: In exactly, And I think the Kamakazi story, as extreme
• 2:52
  Speaker 2: as it is, it can serve as a kind of mirror.
• 2:54
  Speaker 2: It forces us to ask ourselves, what am I truly
• 2:57
  Speaker 2: dedicated to? Am I living my life in a way
• 3:00
  Speaker 2: that aligns with my values?
• 3:02
  Speaker 1: It's a powerful question, and it makes me think about
• 3:04
  Speaker 1: the whole live life to the fullest thing. You know,
• 3:06
  Speaker 1: we hear that all the time, but what does it
• 3:08
  Speaker 1: actually mean?
• 3:09
  Speaker 2: I think it means finding that thing, that purpose, that
• 3:12
  Speaker 2: thing that makes you want to go all in, but
• 3:14
  Speaker 2: doing it in a way that's sustainable, that doesn't lead
• 3:17
  Speaker 2: to self destruction.
• 3:18
  Speaker 1: So how do we find that balance between passion and
• 3:22
  Speaker 1: self preservation? I mean, the Kamakazi pilots obviously took it
• 3:25
  Speaker 1: to the.
• 3:25
  Speaker 2: Extreme right, and that's the key, learning from their example
• 3:28
  Speaker 2: without repeating their mistakes. It's about finding our own all
• 3:32
  Speaker 2: in moments, but with a safety net, with a plan.
• 3:36
  Speaker 1: So what does that look like in practice? I mean,
• 3:38
  Speaker 1: can you give me an example.
• 3:39
  Speaker 2: Sure, think about starting a business. You know, it's something
• 3:42
  Speaker 2: a lot of people dream of, but it's also risky.
• 3:44
  Speaker 1: Yeah, you could lose everything, right, So.
• 3:46
  Speaker 2: The Kamakazi approach would be to quit your job, drain
• 3:50
  Speaker 2: your bank account, and just go for it, no backup plan,
• 3:54
  Speaker 2: no safety net.
• 3:55
  Speaker 1: Sounds a bit like the Japanese command in the war. Huh,
• 3:57
  Speaker 1: going all in on one desperate strategy.
• 4:00
  Speaker 2: Yeah, kind of. But what if you took a different approach,
• 4:02
  Speaker 2: a more calculated approach. You keep your day job for
• 4:05
  Speaker 2: a while, you do your research, you make a business plan,
• 4:08
  Speaker 2: you maybe even start small, you test the waters.
• 4:10
  Speaker 1: So you're still committed, you're still passionate, but you're also
• 4:14
  Speaker 1: being smart about it.
• 4:15
  Speaker 2: Exactly, you're building your parachute first, That's what I call it.
• 4:18
  Speaker 2: You're giving yourself a chance to succeed without risking everything.
• 4:21
  Speaker 1: That makes a lot of sense. It's like it's like
• 4:23
  Speaker 1: you're harnessing that divine wind, but you're also steering it.
• 4:26
  Speaker 1: You're not letting it control you.
• 4:28
  Speaker 2: That's a great way to put it. It's about finding
• 4:30
  Speaker 2: that sweet spot between passion and strategy, between courage and wisdom.
• 4:34
  Speaker 1: And you know, it's interesting. We've been talking about commitment
• 4:37
  Speaker 1: in terms of big things like starting a business, but
• 4:40
  Speaker 1: I think it applies to everyday life too.
• 4:42
  Speaker 2: Absolutely, it's about the little choices we make every day.
• 4:45
  Speaker 2: Does he stay in our comfort zone or do we
• 4:47
  Speaker 2: challenge ourselves. Do we let fear hold us back or
• 4:51
  Speaker 2: do we face it head on.
• 4:52
  Speaker 1: It's like it's like fear is this constant presence, this
• 4:56
  Speaker 1: shadow that follows us everywhere.
• 4:58
  Speaker 2: But here's the thing. Fear can actually be a good thing.
• 5:01
  Speaker 2: It can be a guide, a compass. So because sometimes
• 5:04
  Speaker 2: the things we fear most, those are the things we
• 5:06
  Speaker 2: need to do, the things that will help us grow.
• 5:09
  Speaker 1: So it's about about leaning into the fear instead of
• 5:12
  Speaker 1: running away.
• 5:12
  Speaker 2: From it exactly. But it's also about being smart about
• 5:16
  Speaker 2: knowing the difference between healthy fear and hearty and unhealthy fear.
• 5:20
  Speaker 2: You know, the kind that paralyzes you.
• 5:22
  Speaker 1: So how do we tell the difference.
• 5:24
  Speaker 2: Well, healthy fear is protective. It's like it's like an
• 5:27
  Speaker 2: alarm bell going off in your head telling you to
• 5:29
  Speaker 2: be careful, to pay attention.
• 5:31
  Speaker 1: Like when you're about to cross a busy.
• 5:32
  Speaker 2: Street, exactly, you look both ways, you make sure it's safe.
• 5:35
  Speaker 2: But unhealthy fear, that is the kind that stops you
• 5:38
  Speaker 2: from doing things you want to do, things that could
• 5:41
  Speaker 2: make you happy.
• 5:41
  Speaker 1: So it's like it's like that voice in your head
• 5:43
  Speaker 1: that says you're not good enough, you're going.
• 5:45
  Speaker 2: To fail, right, And that's the voice you need to
• 5:47
  Speaker 2: learn to ignore because most of the time it's wrong.
• 5:51
  Speaker 1: That's a good reminder I think we all need to
• 5:53
  Speaker 1: hear that sometimes.
• 5:54
  Speaker 2: And here's another thing to remember. Commitment isn't just about
• 5:57
  Speaker 2: going after things you want. It's also about letting go
• 6:00
  Speaker 2: of things that no longer serve you.
• 6:03
  Speaker 1: Even if you've invested a lot of time and energy.
• 6:05
  Speaker 2: Even then, because sometimes holding on it does more harm
• 6:08
  Speaker 2: than good.
• 6:09
  Speaker 1: So it's about knowing when to cut.
• 6:11
  Speaker 2: Your losses in a way. Yeah, it's about recognizing when
• 6:15
  Speaker 2: a path, no matter how much you've put into it,
• 6:18
  Speaker 2: it's no longer leading you where you want to go.
• 6:20
  Speaker 1: It's tough, I mean, it takes a lot of courage
• 6:22
  Speaker 1: to do that, to admit you were wrong to start over.
• 6:25
  Speaker 2: It does, but it's also incredibly liberating because it frees
• 6:29
  Speaker 2: you up to pursue something better, something that's more aligned
• 6:32
  Speaker 2: with who you are, who you want to be.
• 6:35
  Speaker 1: So we've talked about a lot of things, fear, commitment, passion,
• 6:39
  Speaker 1: but there's one thing we haven't really talked about yet,
• 6:41
  Speaker 1: and that's purpose, ah purpose.
• 6:43
  Speaker 2: The big why. It's what gives meaning to everything.
• 6:46
  Speaker 1: We do, and it's what I think separates the Kamakazi
• 6:49
  Speaker 1: pilots from the rest of us that had a purpose,
• 6:53
  Speaker 1: a misguided purpose maybe, but a purpose Nonetheless.
• 6:56
  Speaker 2: I think that's a fair assessment and It's why it's
• 6:58
  Speaker 2: so important for us to find our own purpose, something
• 7:00
  Speaker 2: we truly believe in, something that drives us, that gives
• 7:03
  Speaker 2: us that same level of commitment, but.
• 7:05
  Speaker 1: Will without the self destruction obviously, of.
• 7:07
  Speaker 2: Course, without the self destruction. It's about finding that balance,
• 7:10
  Speaker 2: that sweet spot between passion and strategy.
• 7:13
  Speaker 1: So how do we do that? How do we find
• 7:14
  Speaker 1: our purpose?
• 7:15
  Speaker 2: Well, there's no easy answer to that. It's a journey,
• 7:17
  Speaker 2: a process of self discovery. But I think it starts
• 7:20
  Speaker 2: with asking yourself some tough questions. What are you passionate about?
• 7:24
  Speaker 2: What are your values? What do you want to leave
• 7:25
  Speaker 2: behind in the world.
• 7:26
  Speaker 1: Those are big questions, they are.
• 7:28
  Speaker 2: But they're worth asking because the answers they hold the
• 7:31
  Speaker 2: key to your purpose.
• 7:33
  Speaker 1: And once you find your purpose, what then.
• 7:35
  Speaker 2: Then it's about taking action, about putting yourself out there,
• 7:38
  Speaker 2: about being willing to fail to learn to grow.
• 7:42
  Speaker 1: It sounds like it sounds like you're describing the opposite
• 7:44
  Speaker 1: of the Kamakazi in a way.
• 7:46
  Speaker 2: Yeah, it's about embracing life, about taking risks, but doing
• 7:50
  Speaker 2: it in a way that's sustainable, that allows you to thrive.
• 7:53
  Speaker 1: So maybe that's the ultimate lesson of the Kamakazi a
• 7:56
  Speaker 1: lesson in how not to live.
• 7:57
  Speaker 2: Maybe so, but it's also a lesson in the power
• 8:00
  Speaker 2: of belief, the power of commitment, and the importance of
• 8:04
  Speaker 2: finding our own divine.
• 8:06
  Speaker 1: Wind, our own purpose, our own reason for being. I
• 8:09
  Speaker 1: think that's a good place to leave it. Thanks for
• 8:11
  Speaker 1: listening everyone, and as always, keep thinking, keep questioning, and
• 8:15
  Speaker 1: keep searching for your own divine wind.
• 8:20
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• 8:22
  Speaker 2: Deep Thoughts podcast. I hope you found insights and inspiration
• 8:25
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• 8:29
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