According to the Japanese, everyone has an ikigai. An ikigai is essentially “a reason to get up in the morning” , a reason to enjoy life.
What is an Ikigai?
In Japan, millions of people have an ikigai (pronounced Ick-ee-guy), a reason to get out of bed every morning. The Japanese take their ikigai seriously and this motivates them in many ways. It is something like the word “passion” in Spanish. It may be related to a person’s career or work, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, only about a third of Japanese profess that theirs is related to the type of work they do.
The Japanese speak of social connections and responsibility as part of their ikigai. For example, the older generation is respected and highly appreciated. Their opinions and experiences are valued by society and this allows them to have a meaning in life with a purpose and responsibility towards others. In other words, their lives are important.
Unlike in the West, where most of our passions take into account what we love to do, this conception of life also involves doing something we love , but it also places a lot of emphasis on a group and fulfills a function that benefits that group in your set. Many Japanese are part of formal groups called “moai” and consider their connection to these groups to be very important in their lives.
For example, the ikigai of a fisherman could be perfecting his craft in order to help successfully feed his family, his moai, the city or the village. The ikigai of a Grandma can be impart wisdom to the younger generation. A traditional chef’s ikigai may involve preserving old recipes and passing them on so that each new generation can enjoy traditional Japanese food. A man who leads the church choir each week may consider his hobby his ikigai.
Interestingly, much research shows that the earlier a person retires, the greater the risk of an early death . This could have something to do with being inactive and being sedentary. It could also be related to losing the “reason for being” of a person or their ikigai.
Some people in the West compare ikigai to happiness, but the two are not synonymous. Ikigai refers to finding happiness and joy in small day-to-day activities rather than reaching an end goal that promises happiness. It encompasses finding meaning in the little things. In fact, a person’s ikigai gives them a reason to live, even when they are sad at the time. It is about what Victor Frankl wrote in his epic book, “Man’s Search for Meaning.” In other words, one can still feel happiness in difficult times or suffering, fostering their resilience.
How to find your Ikigai?
Simply put, your ikigai is the point where you are good, what you love, and your values. When these three factors are on the same level and are congruent, it is likely that you have found your ikigai. Try to remember a time when you were doing something and you were so engrossed that you lost track of time and forgot to eat lunch or dinner.
When you pay attention to the tasks you flow with, you find your ikigai and it will even deepen your association with it and you will find your life more meaningful and enjoyable. Once you find the things that have meaning to you, you need to step forward and incorporate more such activities into your life. In other words, it requires action, you won’t find what makes you magically happy.
