Happiness, the speaker contends, is not an emotion dictated by external conditions, but a concept we define for ourselves.During his travels, he encountered villagers living in material poverty, yet radiating with calm, genuine smiles. This sparked a powerful question: Who is truly unhappy? Further deepening this inquiry was a striking fact from psychology: “happiness” does not appear on Plutchik’s renowned Wheel of Emotions.These insights gave rise to a new educational framework—JF Education (Joy & Fulfillment)—designed to redefine how we understand happiness.In this talk, the speaker invites us to shift focus from what we lack to the value already within our reach.Happiness is not something to be granted by others, but something we awaken to ourselves. Each of us holds the power to elevate our own happiness—and that of those around us. That is the heart of this talk. “Happiness is not something to be found, but something to be created.” — An educator who lives by this belief. Ryu Julius Iwano is the founder of the R. Julius Educational Foundation and the creator of JF Education®, a philosophy-based educational system that empowers individuals to create their own happiness and live fulfilling lives. At the age of 12, Julius was introduced to a Jewish family when his sister married into their lineage. There, he encountered generations-old wisdom centered around the idea that “happiness is cultivated through meaning.” Inspired by these teachings, he went on to develop a unique educational framework that combines neuroscience, behavioral psychology, and cognitive psychology. At the heart of JF Education® are four core values: Love, Contribution, Gratitude, and Happiness. Through free schools in developing countries and corporate training programs, Julius is spreading a ripple effect of well-being—from individuals to society—through transformative education. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

The speaker claims that true self-love comes from connecting with your own soul, leading to personal happiness and benefiting society. Self-love, she argues, is not merely a self-centered attitude; rather, it is cultivated through three steps: observing your emotions, recognizing what you truly desire, and trusting your intuition. In doing so, she emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and letting go of any emotions or thought patterns you may have been suppressing unconsciously.She warns that ignoring the voice of your soul in favor of logic or profit alone leads you away from your true self. However, once genuine self-love is established, you can extend kindness to those around you and gain the power to realize your dreams. Client experiences support the speaker’s claim, with real stories of transformation, such as, “I was able to forgive myself” and “I’ve learned to accept myself as I am.” Ultimately, the message concludes that if self-love continues to grow, it can fill the entire world with love. Representative Director, Quantum Leap Inc.Born in 1984 and raised in Chiyoda, Tokyo. Concerned about her tomboyish personality, her parents encouraged her to sit for elementary school entrance exams, leading her to enroll in the private Tokyo Jogakkan. However, she struggled to fit in and began rebelling around fourth grade, repeatedly running away from home.At sixteen, she moved to the United States on her own. Starting with almost no English skills, she graduated from a local high school with straight A’s, then went on to major in Spanish. She returned to Japan at age twenty.She began her career at the NOVA English conversation school. Within ten months, she became the top salesperson in her area and was promoted to store manager. Over the next fifteen years, she accumulated extensive sales experience in advertising agencies, modeling agencies, and local magazines. After having children, she started working as a remote sales agent and has now been teleworking for eleven years.Finding it too difficult to raise three children in Tokyo, she relocated at age thirty-five to Yamanashi and later to Ehime, both blessed with abundant nature. Wanting to support others who, like herself, struggled with a sense of unease or difficulty in life, she studied psychology, NLP, and counseling and decided to pursue a career in mental health. Through online consultations, she has offered counseling and coaching to over 500 people—those who say they don’t know what “being true to oneself” means, who want to live more freely, or who wish to achieve their dreams—all from her home.At thirty-eight, prompted by divorce, she reassessed her life and moved with her children to her beloved Okinawa. She is currently involved in organizational coaching, executive coaching, and corporate retreats, aiming to help business leaders restore their innate brilliance by balancing mind, heart, and body, thereby working toward a peaceful society filled with smiles.In 2023, she published her first book, Jiai ga 10-Wari (lit. Self-Love is Everything). questioning what it truly means to live authentically. The book reached No.1 in three categories on Amazon. She has also appeared in numerous media outlets, including Tokyo FM, TV Ehime, the Ehime Shimbun, and the magazine *Turns*. She was featured in a two-day, close-up segment on Nippon TV’s *Sukkiri* and had a discussion with Hiroyuki on AbemaTV.Continuing her pursuit of love and adventure in undiscovered corners of the world, she travels globally, drawing inspiration from her experiences and sharing her insights wherever she goes. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx