Ikigai (生き甲斐, lit. ’a reason for being’) is a Japanese concept referring to
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
something that gives a person a sense of purpose, a reason for living.
Meaning and etymology
The Oxford English Dictionary defines ikigai as “a motivating force; something or someone that gives a person a sense of purpose or a reason for living”. More generally it may refer to
something that brings pleasure or fulfilment.[1]
The term compounds two Japanese words: iki (生き, meaning ‘life; alive’)
and kai (甲斐, meaning ‘(an) effect; (a) result; (a) fruit; (a) worth; (a) use; (a) benefit; (no, little) avail’) (sequentially voiced as gai),
to arrive at ‘a reason for living; a meaning for life; what makes life worth living; a ‘raison d’être’.
In summary, Ikigai is the ultimate being-ness all 4 areas of Love, Need, Outstanding &Payment.
It is difficult to have activities, roles or goals that meet all 4 areas.
Even such noble categories like Mission, Passion, Vocation and Profession meet only 2 out of the 4 states.
The insight may be that it is a combination of different roles or activities that produce the totality of the 4. And the awareness of the present, and the benefits of what each role or task or goal gives us is already a big win.
This video explains why having only 1 out of the 4, is still enough reason to do it.
Ikigai is a Japanese concept that encapsulates finding one’s “reason for being.”
It represents the pursuit of happiness and purpose in life. This philosophy suggests that true fulfillment comes from the convergence of four key elements: what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.
It’s a holistic approach that goes beyond career, touching every part of life that contributes to your sense of fulfillment.
The essence of ikigai lies in the quest for what gets you excited to wake up each morning.
It’s a deeply personal path that involves an ongoing exploration of your passions, talents, and ways to contribute meaningfully to society. Although the Western interpretation of ikigai may sometimes romanticize it, the core principle remains focused on the appreciation of life’s small pleasures and living in the present, which collectively lead to a contented and driven existence.
References
- Garcia, H., & Miralles, F. (2016). Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life. Penguin Books. This source discusses the intersection of passion, profession, vocation, and mission as the foundation of ikigai.
- Mogi, K. (2017). Awakening Your Ikigai: How the Japanese Wake Up to Joy and Purpose Every Day. The Experiment. This source emphasizes the personal journey towards finding joy in everyday life and the importance of small joys and being present.
This is a similar and simpler diagram of Ikegai
It is not the easiest diagram to remember or to understand. So I asked AI to create an image that a 5 year old can understand. Not surprisingly, it reminded the Guru in me, that at the most basic level, Ikigai is about 4 different What’s: (You) Love + (World) Needs + (You are) Outstanding + Payment (To You). So now with LNOP, I cannot forget.
AI Image Using Ideogram. AI
Prompt: Ikigai that a five year old can understand