Introduction
With the start of a new academic and business year, I find myself settling into a new rhythm. It has been three months since I moved my base to Shibuya. While the energy of the city continues to stimulate me, my own life has finally begun to feel grounded.
Recently, news broke that the astronauts of Artemis II had safely returned. This mission, aiming for humanity’s first lunar landing in half a century, feels like a powerful symbol of our renewed step into the unknown.
At the same time, our everyday lives are also evolving at an unprecedented speed, driven by the rapid advancement of AI technologies. In a world where boundaries are increasingly blurred and options expand infinitely, a fundamental question emerges:
How do we find a “reliable answer” in such a landscape?
The Dilemma of an Era Where AI Provides the “Optimal Answer”
In my own work, I regularly use tools like Gemini and ChatGPT for research and organizing thoughts. What continues to impress me is the precision of the “logically optimal answers” they generate. These outputs, derived from vast amounts of data, often appear more objective and flawless than human reasoning.
The same dynamic is now evident in decisions about education and career paths. Input enough data—academic scores, projected income, market stability—and AI can instantly suggest what seems to be the “right choice” for you.
Yet, a deeper question arises:
Can we truly walk a path chosen by AI with genuine passion and commitment?
We Decide Within Our Relationship with Gravity
We are not merely thinking minds. We are physical beings, constantly influenced by the force of gravity.
From the perspective of Rolfing, human decision-making is deeply shaped by this relationship with gravity.
When we feel anxious or uncertain, our bodies respond unconsciously. We either resist gravity—tightening our shoulders—or collapse into it—rounding our backs. In such “collapsed” states, stress hormones increase, our perception narrows, and we default to conservative, defensive choices aimed at survival.
In contrast, when the pelvis is aligned and upright, our perception of the world changes dramatically.
When the pelvis settles into its proper position and the spine organizes itself along the line of gravity, unnecessary tension begins to dissolve. Only in this state of harmony with gravity do we gain the capacity for calm judgment and the sensitivity to perceive subtle internal signals—what we might call gut feeling.
“Conviction” Does Not Exist in Data
AI excels at identifying probabilistic answers based on past data. But the sense of “conviction” in a life decision does not exist within data.
It resides within the body—particularly in the grounded stability we feel deep in the abdomen.
Consider the design of spacesuits that support astronauts in extreme environments. They are not rigid survival devices; rather, they are engineered—drawing from technologies developed by undergarment manufacturers—to allow flexibility and movement.
In the same way, our decisions should not be encased in rigid layers of external information. They should emerge from a flexible, responsive body that is aligned with gravity.
Updating a Body That Has Been “Hacked” by External Evaluation
For young people facing major milestones such as entrance examinations, prolonged exposure to external metrics—like standardized scores—can profoundly shape their internal state.
When breathing becomes shallow, the pelvis tilts backward, and the gaze drops, the brain shifts into a “survival mode.” In this state, it becomes difficult to make authentic, self-directed choices.
To reorganize the body and align with gravity is, in a sense, to update an unstable operating system.
By restoring the pelvis to an upright position and reconnecting with the feeling of being supported by the Earth—what we might call grounding—we develop the capacity to remain present within uncertainty and to discover our own “North Star.”
Reclaiming the Power to Choose
In the age of AI, there is no need to compete in terms of knowledge volume or computational logic.
What ultimately matters is this:
Can you entrust your life to the choice you make?
Rather than searching for the “correct answer” outside of ourselves, we must learn to generate answers from within—a body that is supported by gravity.
I hope that moments such as entrance exams and career decisions can become opportunities to cultivate this lifelong capacity—the ability to truly choose.