The Never-Ending Chorus of Complaints
Open social media, and someone is always angry about something.
“My parents weren’t wealthy.” “My company is toxic.” “The government is failing.”
At my workplace, people like this came to the counter every day to complain.
This mindset—blaming everything external for one’s situation, combined with a strong sense of victimhood—has spread so widely that it could be called a modern epidemic.
Yes, society contains unfair inequalities, and there are misfortunes beyond individual control.
But will constantly voicing dissatisfaction increase your bank balance by even one yen?
The Mental Drug of “It’s Not My Fault”
Why do people shift responsibility?
Because placing themselves in the position of a victim allows them to justify abandoning the effort to improve their situation.
If you believe, “It’s not my fault—the environment is to blame,”
you can avoid the pain of stagnation and maintain a sense of emotional comfort.
But this is nothing more than temporary anesthesia.
As long as you blame “someone else,” the steering wheel of your life remains in their hands.
A driver who isn’t holding the wheel will never reach their destination—the life they truly want.
Index Investing and the Philosophy of Personal Responsibility
I have practiced index investing for over 20 years.
The world of investing is brutally governed by personal responsibility.
When markets crash and assets shrink, blaming government policy or your brokerage firm won’t bring your money back.
Both success and failure are the results of your own decisions.
The moment you accept that truth, your thinking shifts:
“What should I do next?”
“Where should I invest?”
The reason I was able to build assets worth 100 million yen is not luck.
It’s because I faced market volatility as my own responsibility—and endured it.
What Greek Philosophy Teaches: Focus on What You Can Control
Greek philosophy, particularly Stoicism as taught by Seneca and Epictetus, offers a powerful principle:
“There are things within our control and things beyond it.
The wise focus only on what they can control.”
Government policies and your parents’ financial status are not within your control.
But what you read today, how much you invest in index funds, and whether you exercise for your health—these are entirely within your control.
Let go of anger toward what you cannot control,
and redirect your energy toward what you can.
That is the discipline of an intelligent adult.
The Question That Restores Control
If you feel dissatisfied with your current situation, ask yourself this:
“What can I do right now to improve this situation by even 1%?”
- If you dislike your job, start preparing for a career change or build side skills.
- If you fear the future, cut unnecessary expenses and invest.
- If your health is declining, start doing squats—today.
The moment you stop blaming your parents and take full responsibility for your life,
your future begins to move.
The Expression of a Self-Reliant Adult
In your ideal future, you will likely say:
“My life is the result of my own choices.”
Those who have escaped a victim mindset carry a striking presence—sharp, composed, and powerful.
A Quote from Fujiko Mine
I’ll leave you with a quote I personally like (from an anime character):
“It may be someone else’s fault that you stumbled.
But staying down is nobody’s fault but your own.”
— Fujiko Mine
Next time, I’ll explore the hidden risks of mocking ambition:
“What People Lose When They Laugh at ‘Try-Hards.’”
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