How to Read “思い立ったが吉日”
Omoitatta ga kichijitsu
Meaning of “思い立ったが吉日”
“Thought stood up was lucky day” means that the moment you decide to do something is the best day, and you should take action immediately without worrying about the good or bad fortune of the calendar.
This proverb contains important teachings about the timing of starting things. Since ancient times in Japan, there was a custom of choosing auspicious days from the calendar before taking action, but often people would miss opportunities or lose motivation while waiting for good days. From this came the idea that one’s own will and determination are more important than the convenience of the calendar.
It is used in situations where you want to encourage someone who is hesitating to start something new, or when encouraging yourself. It’s an expression that tells people who tend to postpone things saying “Today is an unlucky day” or “Let’s wait until next month” that “the moment you thought of it is the best timing.” Even today, it is frequently used when explaining the importance of decisiveness and execution ability, and has become one of the representative proverbs expressing the Japanese philosophy of action.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Thought stood up was lucky day” is deeply connected to the calendar concepts that have been rooted in Japan since ancient times.
Since ancient times in Japan, it has been believed that there are “lucky days” suitable for starting things and “unlucky days” that should be avoided. The good or bad fortune of days was determined by complex calendar annotations such as the six day cycle (sensho, tomobiki, senbu, butsumetsu, taian, shakko), the twelve direct positions, and the twenty-eight lunar mansions, and people always checked the calendar when making important decisions or taking action.
However, the background to the birth of this proverb is thought to include reflection on such excessive dependence on calendars. From experiences like “missing opportunities while waiting for good days” and “being too caught up in superstitions and delaying action,” the idea was born that “the feeling of deciding to do something is most important, and that day itself is the lucky day.”
Since this expression can be found in Edo period literature, we know it was used among common people at least several hundred years ago. It’s a truly paradoxical and humanistic proverb born within a culture that valued calendars. It contains the wisdom of Japanese people trying to balance superstition with execution ability.
Usage Examples
- If you’re thinking about changing jobs, thought stood up was lucky day – start writing your resume right now
- Dieting is thought stood up was lucky day, so you should start today, not tomorrow
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, “Thought stood up was lucky day” has come to have even more important meaning than before. In the information age, while all kinds of information can be obtained instantly, there is a tendency for action to be delayed by seeking too much “perfect preparation” or “optimal timing.”
Particularly with the spread of social media, opportunities to see others’ success stories and detailed plans have increased, leading more people to postpone action saying “after I prepare more” or “after I study more.” However, in modern times when technological progress is rapid, it’s not uncommon for situations to change while waiting for perfect preparation.
In the startup world, the mainstream thinking is “rather than creating a perfect product, first put it on the market and see the reaction,” which exactly matches the spirit of “thought stood up was lucky day.” Programming learning, starting side businesses, and acquiring new skills can also be started “the moment you think of it” thanks to the enhancement of online platforms.
On the other hand, in modern times, there is also misuse where “impulsive action” and “action when you think of it” are confused. The original proverb emphasizes determination after sufficient thought, which is different from mere whims. It needs to be understood as distinct from social media controversies or impulsive posts.
When AI Hears This
From a neuroscience perspective, the “moment you think of something” represents a “golden window of motivation” when dopamine floods your brain right after your prefrontal cortex completes a decision. During this time, your motivation to act reaches its peak, while the neural circuits that typically generate “reasons not to do it” haven’t fully activated yet.
What’s particularly fascinating is the connection to “decision fatigue.” We make roughly 35,000 decisions per day, and each one depletes our willpower reserves. However, those “lightbulb moments” tend to occur when decision fatigue hasn’t accumulated yet—when our brain still has plenty of energy left in the tank.
Psychology’s “implementation intention theory” proves that actions with clear “when, where, and what” parameters have much higher execution rates. The moment you think of something naturally creates this perfect storm of “now, here, this.” As time passes, procrastination bias kicks in with thoughts like “I could do this tomorrow” or “maybe next week would be better.”
Behavioral economics research shows that execution rates drop exponentially as the gap between decision and action widens. When ancient wisdom spoke of “auspicious timing,” they were actually describing what science now recognizes as the “cognitive sweet spot”—when your brain is in its most action-ready state.
Lessons for Today
“Thought stood up was lucky day” teaches modern people about the dangers of seeking too much perfection and the value of taking action. Because we live in an age overflowing with information, we tend to make excuses like “after I research more” or “after I prepare more.”
But what’s truly important is not perfect preparation, but cherishing the moment when the feeling of wanting to try something wells up. In that moment, the potential that was sleeping within you might be showing its face.
In modern society, an environment is in place where you can start small and improve as you go. Language learning, new hobbies, side businesses – all can be started from the day you think of them. There’s no need to fear failure. Rather, the opportunities lost by not taking action are much greater.
If there’s something in your heart that you’re thinking “I’d like to try,” that might already be a sign of a lucky day for you. There’s no need to worry about calendars. Why not try turning today into a special day with your own hands?
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