All your life, you are taught to work hard to earn a decent, financially independent and secured living. After attaining a certain age, you set your goals and start working towards it. But what are the criteria that come into play while setting goals? Are your goals confined only to wealth, or is it something that gives you the ultimate joy?
We live in a world that revolves around 9 to 5 schedules and weekends occupied with rest and entertainment. Most people are dedicated to accumulating money and security, but what about passion? How many of you are truly happy and passionate about what you do? Are you fulfilling your purpose in life?
All these questions sum up in coming in terms with your Ikigai: the life purpose.
What Is Ikigai?
The Japanese term “ikigai” is synonymous with the word “passion” in English. Mostly it relates to your job and career, but not necessarily always. For the Japanese folks, ikigai means engaging in things that satisfy our soul. It is the spontaneous force that motivates you to strive for perfection and satisfaction in what you do. Your ikigai is the reason for you to wake up every morning. It is finding your purpose and passion, living and appreciating every day of your life. It is not an end but an ongoing journey.
If you wish to find a greater sense of purpose in terms of your life and career, the concept of ikigai will guide you in the right direction.
“Our ikigai is different for all of us, but one thing we have in common is that we are all searching for meaning” From the book Ikigai- The Japanese Secret To A Long And Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles.
How To Discover Your Ikigai?
Everybody is born with a purpose in life. But not everybody is able to fulfil it. Such discoveries do not happen overnight. You cannot expect other people to do it for you, although they can always help and guide you. Your ikigai is your personal calling, your purpose of life and the reason of your existence. Ikigai is a combination of four significant factors of life: passion, profession, vocation and mission. What you love is your passion. What you are paid for is your profession. What you excel at is your vocation. And what you wish to offer the world is your mission. To be precise, you achieve your ikigai when your passion meets your vocation, and your profession is the ultimate mission of life. From the viewpoint of an economist, the world will only pay for what it needs. So, the mission of your life must compliment your profession on fulfilling your ikigai.
“Be led by your curiosity, and keep busy by doing things that fill you with meaning and happiness.” From the book Ikigai- The Japanese Secret To A Long And Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles.
Ikigai Is Deep Introspection
Passion is always a profound source of pleasure. But your passion alone cannot pay bills unless you make a profession out of it. Merely recognizing your passion will not determine your purpose in life. You need to be sensible and figure out your own way. Engage in deep introspection and identify your true calling. Have an in-depth conversation with your self, or you may try mindfulness and meditation as well. But be practical with your findings. Your ikigai is worthless without a mission. Any valuable contribution towards a social, moral or humanitarian cause will lead to the fulfilment of your mission.
You need not make a huge impact or earn an abundance of wealth and fame. If you touch even one life through your profession and earn joy from it, you, my friend, have found your ikigai.