Unlocking Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Fulfilling Life
Have you ever felt like your life lacks purpose? Do you long for a more fulfilling and meaningful existence? Is there something that can give our lives a sense of meaning, and if so, what is it? If you've asked yourself these questions, you're not alone. Many people spend their lives searching for their true purpose.
Today, I will introduce you to the concept of Ikigai, a powerful tool that can help you find the answers you seek.
What is Ikigai?
Ikigai is a Japanese term derived from "iki" (meaning life) and "gai" (meaning value or worth). Together, they translate to "a life of meaning" or "reason for being." This concept is similar to the French term "raison d'être."
Although Ikigai has been deeply ingrained in Japanese culture for centuries, it gained global recognition after the release of the book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles.
This book encourages us to reconnect with the sense of excitement and anticipation we experienced as children and apply it to our daily adult lives. It also explores the lives of Okinawa's residents, who are among the longest-living and happiest people in the world. Many of them live well beyond 100 years, remaining active in their communities, working without the pressure of retirement, and continuing their hobbies long into old age. Their secret? Living according to the principles of Ikigai.
How to Discover Your Ikigai
Finding your Ikigai requires answering four key questions:
- Passion: What you Love to do.
- Mission: What the world Needs.
- Vocation: What you can be paid for.
- Profession: What you are good at.
When these four elements align, they reveal your Ikigai, guiding you towards a meaningful life.
What Do You Love to Do?
Think about activities that make you lose track of time. Reflect on childhood memories and past experiences. You can also ask friends and family what they remember you being passionate about. Write down anything that comes to mind, starting with the phrase, "I feel happy when..."
What Does the World Need?
While personal desires are important, so is contributing to others. A significant part of happiness comes from feeling valued in society and making a difference. Consider what you believe the world lacks or what those around you need. Asking your loved ones what they find most valuable in your presence can also help.
What Can You Get Paid For?
Passion and purpose are essential, but financial stability is also necessary. Many Okinawans continue earning an income even in their 90s by selling produce from their gardens. To answer this question, list how you currently earn money and explore potential side businesses or services that could generate additional income.
What Are You Good At?
This question can be challenging because we often underestimate our talents or let others' opinions affect our self-perception. Write down the skills you already possess and those you could develop with practice. Recognizing your strengths is crucial in aligning your Ikigai with your career and personal growth.
Taking Action
Once you've answered these four questions, the next step is action. Many people believe their life's purpose will magically reveal itself. In reality, those who have found their passion have actively sought it out through self-reflection, determination, and perseverance.
Discovering your Ikigai is a process of trial and error. Through experimentation, you will uncover what truly fulfills you. Life's meaning is not fixed—it evolves over time. At times, you may feel lost or face an existential void, but this is an opportunity for growth and self-discovery.
True Essence of Ikigai
And of course I must mention the un-westernized version of Ikigai. If you show the ikigai diagram to a Japanese person, they wouldn't recognize it, and the reason is people of Okinawa and in Japan in general, know the true meaning of Ikigai.
Meiko Kamiya , psychiatrist and physician, also known as the mother of Ikigai and the first academic to extensively study this philosophy. Unfortunately her work was never translated into English. I found though a passage from her book that was translated, and beautifully illustrates the true essence of ikigai:
When we wake from the Sleep, we are greeted by the morning.
We did not create the morning.
It somehow came to give us the chance to live another day.
We wake up and discover the morning.
The meaning of Life, is the morning.
To conclude, We don't have just one mission. Ikigai is not a job search framework, its a state of mind that allows us to see the simplest things that make life worth living. its not something to chase or pursue, but to notice and discover.