Ikigai helps us understand our personal values and purpose, inspiring us to live more in accordance with ourselves and be happier. It is a kind of compass that helps us find harmony and satisfaction every day. This concept, woven into the culture of Japan, can be a source of inspiration for people all over the world who are looking for meaning and direction in their lives. So, what is ikigai and how do you find it?
What does ikigai mean?
Ikigai is a Japanese concept that means "meaning of life" or "reason for existence". It embodies the idea that each person has a unique meaning and purpose that should be found and realized. The basic idea of Ikigai is to find harmony between the four components: what you love, what you know how to do, what the world needs, and what you can get paid or rewarded for.
The central goal of Ikigai is to achieve a combination of pleasure and satisfaction in various aspects of life. Finding your Ikigai promotes personality development, and provides internal motivation and a sense of satisfaction from what you do. At the same time, the feeling of being useful to the world and being able to benefit others is a key aspect of this concept.
The Japanese concept of ikigai can reflect not only professional ambitions but also personal values and relationships with loved ones. Discovering your Ikigai can happen through a variety of experiences, self-discovery, and development. In general, Ikigai helps us find deep satisfaction in life and feel more united with the world around us.
The four components of Ikigai
The Ikigai philosophy is based on four components that are the cornerstones of your happiness.
1. Your passion
This component reflects your interests, hobbies, and activities that bring you joy and satisfaction. Discovering your passions helps you find satisfaction in everyday activities and fill your life with energy.
For example, if your passion is cooking, you can experience real joy in experimenting with new recipes and creating delicious meals for yourself and your family. Every time you spend time at the stove, you feel the energy and satisfaction of the creative process of cooking.
2. Your vocation
This component reflects your skills, talents, and strengths. It's what you're good at and what you're good at. Developing this component helps you realize your potential and feel confident in your abilities.
Let’s say if your vocation is in the medical field and you are a qualified doctor, you feel confident in your knowledge and skills. You use your talents to help people by curing their illnesses and alleviating their suffering.
3. The world needs
This component reflects your ability to benefit other people or the world around you. This can be through your professional activities, volunteer work, or other forms of help and support. For instance, if you volunteer at a local animal shelter, you benefit animals in need. Your work helps provide them with warmth, food, and care, improving their lives.
4. What you can be paid for
This component reflects the possibility of receiving a material or moral reward for your efforts. This reflects the importance of recognizing your work and rewarding your achievements.
If you are a highly skilled web designer, you can get paid for your services from clients who are looking for a professional design for their websites. This award reflects the recognition of your work and skills in this field.
You can find out more about these components in the book called Awakening Your Ikigai: How the Japanese Wake Up to Joy and Purpose Every Day.
3 steps to make your life meaningful
Finding the meaning of ikigai in your life involves exploring one's own needs, desires, and skills. Take the time to take a pen and paper and write down the things that make you feel happy. These things fill your life with meaning.
First step
Understand what brings you joy and satisfaction. It can be a specific activity, hobby, or field of professional activity. For example, you may feel happy playing sports. Development in this area will raise your level of satisfaction with life in general.
Second step
Think about your skills and abilities. Ikigai emphasizes the importance of developing those areas in which you are already strong, as well as finding new areas where you can reveal your potential.
Let's say you are not strong in logic and math problems, but you are good at creative tasks. Instead of focusing on what you can't do, it's better to develop your strengths.
Third step
Understand exactly what the world needs and what you can be rewarded for. Your unique perspective, abilities, or skills may help you make a positive difference in the world around you.
In addition, it is important to find an activity for which you can be rewarded. This reward can be financial, recognition, or inner harmony, which is expressed in a sense of satisfaction from your work. Realizing all these aspects will help you find the meaning of life according to the Ikigai philosophy.
The Japanese philosophy of ikigai can change our attitude toward life. Finding your Ikigai can be the key to a happier, more fulfilled and fulfilled life. It helps us unlock our potential, develop our skills and abilities, and find ways in which we can benefit others and make a positive difference in the world. Overall, Ikigai provides us with an influential perspective that helps us find meaning and satisfaction in life, improve our relationships with others, and improve ourselves as individuals. If you’re looking for more information on how to apply this philosophy and find satisfaction in your life, check out our summary of the book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life.
