My Breakthough Story

2025-02-012025-02-02

2024 marked my fourth year in Canada, and it was truly a year full of ups and downs.
But for me, it was a year that I can definitely call a breakthrough!

After 2.5 years in a relationship, I thought that, given my age, marriage would be the natural next step.
But that relationship came to an end.
Then, I struggled to find a stable place to live, got kicked out of a rented room, and ended up moving four times in just six months!
Just when I thought I had finally settled down, the economy went into a recession, and I was suddenly laid off from the company I had worked at for four years.

…Just looking at this, it sounds like quite a year, doesn’t it? Lol

The breakup hit me hard, and for a while, I was really struggling.
I started therapy, and that experience completely transformed my life!
Now, I can truly say I’m grateful for it.
Meeting my therapist gave me the courage to face things I had never dealt with before, and for that, I have nothing but deep respect and gratitude for her.

It was absolutely painful, but it led to so many realizations – like I had finally awakened!
That moment, I believe, was my breakthrough.

I know I’ve made impulsive, bold moves in the past – like suddenly quitting a job I loved in Japan and moving to Canada – but this wasn’t just a surface-level change.

This time, I gained a deeper understanding of my own patterns of thinking and behavior.
Sure, there were regrets, things to reflect on, and moments of anger and sadness, but above all, I made a promise to myself:

From now on, I will live honestly and respect myself.
I will never betray myself. I owe that to the old Arisa.

And this one shift changed everything.

My diet naturally improved
I started consistent training at the gym, which I used to hate
I even took up running, which I used to hate THE MOST Lol
My relationships – with myself and others – shifted, and the way I communicate changed
Even my perspective on money and how I use it transformed

It feels like I’ve been reborn as a new version of myself, like I’m restarting my life.
Even people around me have noticed, saying things like, “Your energy is insane these days!” – and that makes me happy too!

So honestly, even when I got kicked out of my place or was laid off, it wasn’t hard for me to stay strong.
Because I knew that nothing could hurt or stop me anymore.

The Curious Little Me

Now that I think about it, ever since I was a kid, I was full of “Why?” questions:

Why do people think so differently and act in different ways?
Even though we’re family, why are our personalities so different?
(By the way, I look exactly like my dad – only my face, though! lol)

I’ve always been curious about human behavior and thought processes.

And for those who know me, you’ve might been (or never been Lol) wondered,

Why does Arisa stay in Canada, even if it means being away from her family and starting from scratch?
Why did she turn down seemingly great job offers and choose to be unemployed instead?
Why does she keep getting into relationships, only to break up again?
(People joked that maybe it’s because I’m “surprisingly popular” lol, but this is about something much deeper!)

Even I have been trying to understand my own thought and behavior patterns.
And finally, little by little, things are starting to make sense, and it feels like the dots are connecting.

As I’ve started opening up to friends about my journey, I’ve been hearing things like:
“I want to hear more!”, “Your story inspired me!”, “You should share this with more people!”

And then I thought, I like writing, so why not start a blog?
And that’s how I got here!

What Does “Breakup” or “Losing a Job” Mean to You?

Do you see them as failures, embarrassments, setbacks?
Or can you see them as opportunities for growth and new challenges?

Of course, in the moment, they’re painful!
And I truly believe that there is no right or wrong answer, – both perspectives are completly valid!

Now the real question to ask yourself is,
What kind of mindset do you want to have?.

And the important thing is,
You have the power to choose how you see things.

What You’ll Find in This Blog

So, that was a quick introduction to my journey!
In this space, I’ll be sharing:

The challenges I’ve faced and how I overcame them
The mindset shifts that helped me move forward
The efforts I’m still making to grow

And I’ll do it openly, authentically, and with a bit of fun!
I would love for this space to be 100% safe for everyone who reads it.

If my story can help even one person reflect on their own life, gain courage, or feel a little better and stronger, then that would mean everything to me