12 Feb The Hidden Power of Attention: How Kizuki Moments Lead to more Courage, Clarity, and Action An interview with author, yogi and founder of Kizuki Journaling Mae Yoshikawa
What if the biggest thing holding you back from your next breakthrough isn’t a lack of strategy… but a lack of attention?
In this powerful and deeply moving episode of DREAM THINK DO, Mitch sits down with Mae Yoshikawa – writer, yogi, teacher, TEDx speaker, and founder of Kizuki Journaling – for a conversation that challenges how we think about awareness, action, and big dreams.
Mae shares how the Japanese concept of kizuki – those quiet “aha” moments of realization – can become the foundation for meaningful change in leadership, business, and life. Drawing from her personal journey through profound grief, cultural expectations, and identity shifts, Mae reveals why awareness must come before action – and why skipping that step often leads to burnout, fear, or staying small.
If you’re an entrepreneur or leader who feels the tension between playing it safe and stepping into something bigger… this episode is for you.
CHECK OUT MITCH’S TEDX TALK THAT JUST DROPPED:
Mitch’s TEDx talk just dropped and it’s all about a question he used to love asking: “What’s your big dream?”
It’s a question Mitch used to ask all the time… but a few years ago… he started to realize it might actually be… the wrong question.
In the talk, he explains why asking “What’s your big dream?” can accidentally shut people down.
And… more importantly… Mitch offers three better questions you can ask instead – whether you’re talking to your kids, your team, or yourself.
These questions are designed to spark real clarity… and help you take action on your dreams, even if you don’t have everything figured out yet.
You can find the TEDx talk at mitchmatthews.com/tedx… or watch below.
We’d love for you to check it out and share it with someone who’s wrestling with their “next big thing.”
What We Cover in This Conversation
Here’s a peek at some of the key themes we dig into:
- Why attention is the real currency of leadership
Mae explains why “the greatest poverty of our time is not money – it’s the loss of our attention” and how misplaced attention quietly drains our energy and creativity. - What a “Kizuki Moment” really is (and why it matters)
Learn how small realizations – not massive breakthroughs – are often the spark that leads to big, lasting change. - Why journaling can succeed where meditation or habits fail
Mae shares why writing is often the most accessible gateway to awareness – especially for driven leaders who say, “I can’t meditate” or “I don’t journal.” - The danger of mis‑aimed questions
From grief to growth, Mae explains how asking the wrong questions (“Why is this happening to me?”) can keep us stuck – and what to ask instead. - Fear, protection, and staying small
We unpack the hidden “safety mechanisms” that keep capable leaders from going after bigger dreams – and how to move forward without denying your past. - How awareness turns into action
Mae breaks down how Kizuki Journaling moves from insight to clarity to a practical next step you can take right now.
24‑Hour Micro‑Action Challenge (Don’t Skip This)
Before the next 24 hours are up, try this:
- Set a timer for 5 minutes.
- Grab a pen and paper.
- Write – without censoring – your answer to this question:
“Where might I be protecting myself by staying small… even though I feel called to something more?”
When the timer ends, don’t rush to solve it.
Just notice what surfaced.
That awareness alone might be your next Kizuki moment.
NOTE: Here’s Mitch favorite Journal: The LEUCHTTURM1917 Journal!
Connect with Mae Yoshikawa
Want to go deeper with Kizuki Journaling?
- Kizuki Journaling: https://kizukijournaling.com
- Mae’s personal site: https://maey.live
- Mae’s TEDx Talk: Kizuki: The Japanese Aha Moment That Changes Life
One Last Ask (It Really Helps!)
If this episode sparked an “aha” for you, would you take 30 seconds to leave a review for the DREAM THINK DO Podcast?
Your reviews help more leaders, entrepreneurs, and dreamers discover these conversations – and they mean the world to us.
And hey… if a friend came to mind while listening, send them this episode.
You never know what Kizuki moment it might spark for them.
No Comments