What I’ve Been Practicing: The 72-Hour Reset

I wanted to share something a little more personal today. I follow an Instagram account called psychologyposts_, and every so often, a concept hits me right when I need it. Lately, I’ve been trying to lean into a specific idea they shared about what to do when you wake up feeling “heavy” or directionless.

With our family trip to Japan coming up this summer (we’re stopping there on our way to visit family in the Philippines), I’ve been especially curious about Japanese perspectives on work and life.

Consider this: In our world of real estate, learning, lending, and services, we’re told that if we aren’t “grinding,” we’ve lost our motivation. But this concept suggests we haven’t lost our drive at all; we’ve just lost our meaning.

Here is what I’ve been trying to practice to restore that drive in about 72 hours:

1. Finding Meaning in the Specific (Ikki no Mei)

I’ve been trying to move away from the “Big Why” for a moment. On a tough Tuesday, a massive life purpose feels too heavy to carry.

The Japanese concept of Ikki no Mei teaches that meaning isn’t big; it’s specific. It’s one small, tangible reason to move. Lately, for me, that looks like:

That first perfect cup of coffee in the morning.
Watching the sunrise or sunset before the emails get in the way.
Texting a friend or a partner just to check in.
A quiet, small walk.

The brain can’t wake up for a vague life; it needs a specific reason to move.

2. Shifting from “Me” to “Useful”

It’s easy to get stuck in our own heads:

“Am I hitting my recruitment goals? Is my volume where it needs to be?”

In Japan, they don’t tell children to just “find their purpose.” They tell them: “Find who you can be useful to today.” I’ve found that when I shift my focus from my own ego to being a resource for a past client, a referral partner, or a stranger, the “empty” feeling disappears. Meaning grows through connection.

3. Clearing the Feed (Shiko no Seiri)

I’m realizing more and more that my “feed” trains my brain.

If I scroll drama, my mind stays reactive.
If I choose useful ideas, I actually start to grow.

By practicing Shiko no Seiri (the practice of clearing the mind), I’m trying to help my brain relearn what depth feels like. It stops craving the “noise” and starts searching for growth again.

4. Nurturing the Garden

I’ve had to remind myself that meaning is cultivated, not discovered. You don’t “find” it like a lost set of keys; you nurture it daily. You don’t wake up to purpose; you wake up to routine, contribution, and presence. Then, purpose finds you.

My Takeaway

If your mornings have felt heavy lately, maybe stop searching for a grand life mission. Instead, give your nervous system just three things: one ritual, one person, and one moment to look forward to.

Meaning might not be a destination. It just could be what makes you feel alive today.