Actor Madhavan agrees to 9 strange Japanese habits that can change your mindset. Walk backward, talk to your body, whisper your name…

Actor R Madhavan impressed fans with his portrayal of Ajay Sanyal, the Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), in Dhurandhar 2. The film, directed by URI-fame Aditya Dhar and starring Ranveer Singh, was a box-office success. But beyond his powerful on-screen avatars, Madhavan also grabs attention with his unique social media entries — be it a heartfelt story of kindness, amazing facts, quick trivia, or inspirational thoughts. Now, the 56-year-old has dropped another fascinating post on his Instagram Stories centering on 9 strange Japanese habits that are likely to rewire your subconscious.

9 strange Japanese habits that actually work

Talk To Your Body - This might sound odd, but you need to speak to your stomach, chest and throat as if they can hear you. This helps release the tension you have been holding inside that your mind still hasn't fully processed yet.


Thank It Before You Leave: Before you leave a cafe, a vacation spot, or even a person, practise gratitude by saying a quiet thank you. The goodbye helps your body shut the door, as if you were closing a chapter rather than leaving it open for years.

Burn A Bay Leaf - For this simple Japanese habit, write what you want — your goals, desires and secret passions — on a bay leaf and burn it. This ritual makes your intention feel real, and what feels real can reach the subconscious, helping you achieve those in real life.

Wash It Off - Sometimes, spending time with certain people or being stuck in an unwanted situation can leave you feeling drained. To get over the heavy feeling, the Japanese habit recommends washing your hands in cold water, as it instantly sends your body a signal that it needs to reset and let go,

Hand It A Question - Before going to sleep, leave a glass of water by the bed and ask your brain one question. As your subconscious keeps working while you sleep, this will give it something
to solve.

Ask Your Future Self - First, you will get awkward but later you will receive clarity. All you have to do is ask out loud to your future self - ‘What do you need me to do today?’ This simple question will automatically nudge your brain to make decisions from that perspective, often without you noticing.

Apologise To Your Younger Self - Stand facing the mirror and say sorry to your younger self as if you genuinely mean it. Apologise to the version of who you were, and you will feel a sense of calm as the shame that your body still holds onto needs to be seen and you are the one who can see it and let it go.

Walk Backwards - Might sound witchy at first, but try walking backwards for a minute after you had a hard moment or a bad day. Japanese legends have it that if you change the way you move, you change the story your brain is still telling you.

Whisper Your Name - Before making a big decision that has you confused, whisper your own name. Your brain pays closer attention when it hears your name and drags you out of autopilot.