What is Ikigai
According to Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles' book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, ikigai, which roughly translates to "the happiness of continuously being occupied," extends beyond one's search for the purpose of life.
Online searches for "ikigai" will also reveal that this Japanese idea of discovering your purpose also refers to "a reason for existence." The phrase combines the words iki, which means "life," and kai, which is spoken as gai. It has to do with the thing that a person values most in life, something that gives them purpose and satisfaction.
A person's ikigai might be anything, including a passion, a desire, or a goal. It is something that motivates you to rise and shine each morning. It is what spurs you on to keep moving forward and provides you the inspiration to take action in the pursuit of that ikigai. Some people have little trouble identifying their ikigai. For others, the quest may still be ongoing.
Finding your happiness and purpose in life may not always seem easy given the society we live in today and the way we conduct our lives. If you haven't yet discovered your ikigai, it may be advisable to do so after learning what factors to consider in order to accurately pinpoint your purpose in life.
Ø Four Elements of the Ikigai
There are four items on your list that you must cross off in order to find your ikigai. You'll be able to direct your search more effectively if you can identify these four things. Your ikigai needs to read:
1. What you love
You should choose an enjoyable activity for your ikigai. Any activity that makes you feel good and that you would undertake voluntarily at any moment can qualify. Your dopamine levels will rise as a result of it, and you would jump at the chance to discuss it and spread the word about it to others whenever the opportunity presents itself. It might be as simple as engaging in a pastime that you truly enjoy, such as writing, making movies, taking pictures, dancing, painting, or even collecting stamps.
What is Ikigai and how to find Ikigai
2. What you are good at
Finding out what you are or would like to be good at might also help you come closer to discovering your ikigai. Is there anything you're naturally good at? Something that you are regarded as an expert at or can do with ease? Or perhaps there is something you want to learn how to do, something you have tried to learn how to do, or something you have worked incredibly hard to achieve?
You might have spent years honing a skill like videography, public speaking, fashion design, marketing, counseling, or computer programming. You can now cross two tasks off your list to discover your ikigai if you are doing something you enjoy and are good at.
3. What you can get paid or rewarded for
Knowing what you can be compensated for might help you identify your ikigai. Keep in mind that in order to support our requirements and expenses on a daily basis, we need to make money. So, ideally, your ikigai should be something that can earn you money. Simply enjoying your work and being skilled at it is insufficient. It's important that you receive fair payment for it and that it enables you to put food on the table and clothing on your back.
What is Ikigai and how to find Ikigai
4. What the globe requires
Something that the entire globe or a particular community needs is the fourth element of identifying your ikigai. We feel better when we know that what we do improves the world in which we live. We get the impression that we are contributing significantly to our neighborhood. Nowadays, a large portion of people struggles to find fulfillment in their work since they frequently fail to see its significance. Knowing that your work has the potential to impact other people's lives will help you locate your ikigai.
Ø Finding Your Ikigai
Knowing what it takes to discover your ikigai has given you the knowledge you need to begin examining these four aspects of your life. It can be much simpler for you to comprehend what your ikigai is if you know what you love, what you are good at, what you can get paid for, and what the world needs.
· Passion
You've found your passion if it's something you enjoy doing and are good at. Unfortunately, some people who follow their passion experience happiness and contentment. However, some of them might think that their work is not having much of an influence or provide them with any real benefits.
If you find yourself in a similar scenario, you may want to consider how your enthusiasm can catch on, attract people's attention, and ultimately alter their life. Additionally, if you can figure out a means to monetize your love, that will enable you to complete four of the four requirements for ikigai.
For instance, if you love gardening and are an expert at growing plants, designing gardens, and even transforming a desolate area of land into a sanctuary of greenery, you might want to use that skill to start a small farm that you can use to make money.
You can raise a variety of decorative plants and flowers and then sell them to your neighborhood's residents. You can begin posting images of your plants online, create an online brand for your small farm, and join communities of gardening and farming aficionados to expand your market.
Writing a book, creating a blog, providing training and seminars about your craft, or serving as a resource for other people who share your interest are all additional ways you can use your passion to make money and improve your community.
· Mission
You are someone on a mission if you have something you love that the world also needs. People who are on a mission tend to support the causes they hold dear. They might also be a humanitarian seeking to make a difference in the world by participating in volunteer projects or providing free services to those in need. While knowing that you are changing the world can make you feel fulfilled, you might not be receiving a fair reward for your efforts.
If this applies to you, you may be one of those people who hasn't yet discovered how to hone their art and effectively sell their abilities. Because you need more than just desire to be regarded as an expert in a particular industry. To support what you love and believe in, you will also need to have shown expertise and skills. This may also be the cause of your continued lack of financial success despite your commitment to your objective.
You might begin by training in order to discover your ikigai. To excel at what you love, get a formal degree. Given that it is already making a difference in the community, all it will take is a little time to hone your skills and eventually increase your potential to become not only an advocate but also an authority in your industry.
As you gain expertise in your profession, you may utilize your newly gained abilities and knowledge to negotiate pay and begin making a living doing what you love while also making a difference in the world.
· Profession
You have a profession if you're one of the many people who do something well enough to be compensated for it. You might be making a good living as a professional doing something you've pretty much perfected. You are typically compensated highly since people like you are regarded as authorities in your profession.
However, earning money for what you do well does not necessarily translate into doing what you love and changing the world. You may need to make some lifestyle adjustments if you are at a place in your life when you have worked really hard without feeling fulfilled. You might want to consider how your profession might assist you to identify what you enjoy doing and learn how it can make a difference in the world in order to discover your ikigai.
For instance, if you are a seasoned financial expert with a strong professional network in your field and a solid reputation, you can use your network to launch a charity or raise money for the less fortunate. You can also instruct less privileged people who want to follow in your footsteps as a well-known expert in your industry by using your understanding of the financial world to provide free coaching to small businesses or even to do so. In this manner, you are making a good difference in the lives of others. You may feel more fulfilled and begin to enjoy what you do as a result of the difference you are making.
· Vocation
You have now discovered your vocation if you have something that the world needs and are paid for it. Some people who are pursuing careers are occasionally unsatisfied with what they do. Additionally, not all of them are necessarily highly knowledgeable or consistently regarded as experts in their fields.
If you believe that you fall into this category, you'll need to learn how to improve your skills and make your job something you enjoy. You might begin by perhaps obtaining a degree or by enrolling in training sessions that will help you hone your talents if you want to transform your profession into your ikigai. Additionally, you can seek to advance your professional experience and ultimately master your field. Your work will ultimately become more enjoyable once you have made it something you can do extremely well, and you will start to see it as your newfound ikigai.
What is Ikigai and how to find Ikigai
