Ikigai: Discover your life's purpose with this Japanese technique.

The Japanese concept of ikigai has been adopted by many people seeking to find a purpose in life.

What does Ikigai mean?

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that literally means "reason for being" or "reason for living."

The word ikigai is simply a combination of two Japanese words, iki which translated means life, and gai which means value.

According to Japanese culture, we all possess an ikigai, or a purpose in life.

That is, an activity that we are good at, that we enjoy doing, and that at the same time contributes to the community in general.

To find your ikigai, you need constant self-knowledge and investment in personal growth, always striving for a happy life.

Therefore, ikigai is not something that happens; it is practiced and developed throughout life, and is only achieved through introspection and honesty with oneself.

So, to make your understanding of the true meaning of ikigai clearer, let's talk about 5 concepts that will help in understanding this practice.

5 concepts to understand ikigai

Understanding one's purpose in life is not an easy task, which is why ikigai encompasses a complex Japanese philosophy, part of which can be summarized through these 5 concepts.

The art of aging while remaining young.

It's not a new observation to see the active lifestyle of elderly people in the East.

And while a balanced diet, quality of life, and a subtropical climate can contribute to this, the mental health of the centenarian generation is part of the secret to longevity.

That's why caring for mental health is so important, not only for the elderly, but also for new generations who should adopt the practice of caring for their minds and bodies.

A call to lucid action

Although it may seem like a peaceful practice, ikigai's philosophy is based on striving for growth amidst challenges.

That's why it's important to understand which battles you need to fight and which ones you should avoid.

In this way, your energies will be focused on what is truly important, preventing daily stress.

A way to improve the world.

Ikigai aims to bring you satisfaction and happiness in an individual way.

However, this concept goes a little further; ikigai should always be related to spirituality through the collective.

Once an individual's evolution is reflected in our lives as a society, it ensures that our lives are not in vain.

Ikigai self-observation exercise

Ikigai is not something acquired, it is something created and developed; practice requires self-observation and a sense of fluidity.

Therefore, some questions can help you with this self-observation:

What do I enjoy doing most?
What activities make my moments happier?
When do I lose track of time?

After answering these questions, identify what truly makes you feel like you're flowing in life.

Ikigai – Way of life

As we've already mentioned, ikigai isn't just about finding meaning in life, but about finding that meaning and aligning it with a lifestyle that makes you feel good.

So now that you understand the basic concepts of defining the practice, let's help you understand what your ikigai – life purpose – is.

Discover your purpose – ikigai

The practice of ikigai is directly linked to our mental state, therefore it is necessary for you to evaluate the following aspects:

Passion – what you love to do;
Vocation – something you have a knack for;
Profession – what you get for pay.
Mission – that which the world needs;

Next, analyze yourself as follows:

What do I love to do?

Right now you need to think about what motivates you the most, what do you actually do that makes you happy and brings you pleasure? What do you love?

A good tip is: Think about what you would do if you didn't need money.

What can I do well?

At this stage, the idea is for you to understand your vocation in a more practical way.

So now you need to identify what you're good at? What do you know you can do well? What are your strengths?

It's important to have an outside perspective as well, so think about the things that others value in you.

If that's the case, ask family and friends.

What can I get paid to do?

Now, in line with the previous answers, think realistically about where and what you could work as. What do you do that people would be willing to pay for?

So try not to get stuck on just one answer; after all, we possess various skills.

Therefore, try answering all of these questions and see which one you fit best into.

What does the world need?

Although the last question is somewhat abstract, that doesn't diminish its importance: What is your mission on Earth?

In other words, what can you achieve that will make a difference in the world? What can you contribute that will benefit society?

However, don't get hung up on the word "abstract" that we used at the beginning of this topic, because when you discover your ikigai you will understand that your meaning in life is anything but abstract.

Exercises to develop ikigai in your routine

Don't touch your cell phone during the first hour of the day;
Focus on each task you begin to undertake;
"Fast" from electronic devices one day a week;
Manage your time, use techniques such as... pomodoro;
Divide your daily tasks into time slots to make your day more productive.
Start your day with a ritual you enjoy and end it with a reward;

Conclusion

One question that has always needed answering is "what is the meaning of life," as many people find it difficult to discover its purpose on Earth.

However, the practice of ikigai shows that discovering your life's purpose is not impossible; you just need to practice.

Given that

I am a member of the O Administrador team and I produce content about career, personal finance, financial education, productivity, and professional development. My goal is to share clear and practical information to help readers with their day-to-day decisions.

April 29, 2023

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