The Japanese philosophical concept, Ikigai, and its significance and principles
In the realm of Japanese philosophy, a term known as Ikigai has been gaining attention worldwide. Ikigai, derived from the combination of two words - iki and kai, meaning "life, alive" and "effect," respectively, is defined by the Japanese government as something that brings value and joy to life.
Ikigai is more than just a sense of purpose; it's a reason (or effect) for being alive - something that gives meaning to life, or makes life worth living. It's a deeply personal thing, dependent on a person's inner desires, goals, and values.
Sixu Chen, a career and relationship coach, has made it his mission to guide young professionals and multi-talented individuals through transformative self-discovery journeys. He is the creator of the CONFIDENT Career Creation program, specifically designed to help creative minds find clarity, confidence, and direction in their professional lives.
The concept of Ikigai encompasses two distinct aspects: sources or objects that bring value or meaning to life and a feeling that one's life has value or meaning because of the existence of its source. An ikigai diagram, created in a Western book about the concept, consists of four key elements: what a person loves, what a person is good at, what the world needs, and what can be rewarded.
To find what you love to do, you can ask questions such as, "What's natural for me, that I'm good at? What makes me forget about the passing of time? What things come effortlessly for me?" The intersection of each pair of circles in the ikigai diagram indicates a significant aspect of life. For instance, the intersection of "what a person is good at" and "what can be rewarded" is your ideal profession, while the intersection of "what a person loves" and "what the world needs" is your mission in life.
It's important to note that there aren't any pre-defined activities guaranteed to give a person the feeling of ikigai; rather, such activities must be determined by each individual. Try new things that interest you and look for opportunities to learn something new.
In the publication Psychology of Aging, Japanese psychologist Katsuya Inoue defined three types of ikigai: social, non-social, and anti-social. Social ikigai involves activities that benefit the community, while non-social ikigai involves activities and pursuits that aren't immediately related to society, including faith. Anti-social ikigai is all about basic motivation and what drives a person to keep living despite obstacles or difficult emotions.
In Japanese, the feeling of ikigai has been described as a sense of fulfillment. Be patient with yourself and give it time, take small steps, and be true to yourself in finding your ikigai.
Elianne El-Amyouni, a spiritualist, writer, reader, speaker, content creator, and doctor of philosophy with a following of over 1.5 million subscribers across platforms, also emphasizes the importance of self-reflection in discovering one's ikigai. Meditating is a highly beneficial tool for self-reflection, and it can help you gain clarity on your life and what you want from it.
Whether you're a young professional seeking direction, a multi-talented individual looking for focus, or simply someone in search of a deeper sense of purpose, the journey towards finding your ikigai is a personal and rewarding one.
