Ikigai

 

 

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”  - Ralph Waldo Emerson

A Japanese neuroscientist named Mogi, examined Japanese culture to figure out what it takes to live a purposeful life.  He coined the word “ikigai”, meaning the reason for life/life’s purpose.  He discovered that ikigai speaks to personal identification with the meaning of life according to your talents, passions and profession, but more… he discovered that ikigai speaks to what you can give to the world.  Ikigai is what makes you feel that life is worth living and the feeling that results in discovering such. 

As he examined, he found that there are several key traits to ikigai.  It is individualized and favors your identity.  It is a way we express our authentic self.  It gives you a a sense of worth. It is the action not the idea of what you can give tot the world.  It gives you a sense of personal values.  It is that which allows a person to feel free and live in such a way.  Ikigai is about what you do, the actions, that lead one to feel a sense of achievement rather than happiness.

Other scientists took up the search for what ikigai means.  Kamiya found seven needs we all have and is all abut ikigai.  He says, “to feel ikigai”, we need seven things:

1.     To feel satisfied with the way our life is going

2.     To feel one’s life change and causing growth

3.     To have faith/belief that things will always get better

4.     To have the kind of relationships that reflect and resonate meaning

5.     To feel harmony

6.    To become a core identity that is self-actualized

7.    To have a life that has meaning and value

Once we know our authentic passions, what we do for others reflects that. When we do good for others, we are doing good for ourselves.  Ikigai makes life feel worth living. 

You can find our what your ikigai is by doing a simple exercise.

Mark off a lined paper into three sections labelled “Things I Value”, “Things I Like To Do”, “Things I Am Good At”.  These things are your ikigai.  Once you affirm your ikigai, you can follow your purpose in life through action for others.  This will bring you better physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual health and you become a gift to the world.

I aspire to ikigai.  I have always said that I did for others because it made me feel better about myself.  Does it mean I choose the right people to “do” for?  No!  But the lesson is there and the purpose was good.  I wish you your ikigai.

©Carol Desjarlais 9.3.23