Ikigai It is a Japanese term that can be translated as “the reason for being” or having a reason to live. It combines the words ikiru, whose meaning is “to live,” with kai, which means something like the realization of what is expected.
According to Japanese culture, we all have our ikigai and it is important that we discover it within ourselves to take care of it and enhance it.
It is a very valuable concept, especially for those who lack motivation to get up every day and sink into hopelessness.
The lessons of ikigai
Emotional health increases when the person acquires a commitment with herself and feels identified with her values and activities. However, acquiring that commitment is not an easy task.
The ikigai that each person hides within themselves could be the remedy for many of the psychological imbalances that affect people, the lack of motivation and other emotional and mental health problems.
This priceless discovery can function as a shield against fears and low self-esteem.
One of the most important lessons that the Japanese philosophy of ikigai gives us is that happiness is not a general concept that means the same thing to everyone.
Your happiness can never be the same as what others understand or enjoy.. The challenge is to dare to find that inner essence that guides your vital purposes and act accordingly. In this case, you will always be closer to true personal growth and full satisfaction.
Furthermore, ikigai is not something fixed, it can evolve with age and become something different. Different life stages can mean searching for another ikigai.
How to find the “reason for being”?
The only way to find that “reason for being” that illuminates your life is abandon all apathy and passivity.
When you have clear and well-defined purposes, your nonconformist side will come out and you will be in a position to enhance it for your benefit to live with greater well-being.
We have already pointed out that it is not an easy task: we often have vital objectives that do not connect with our essence. Family, education, society in general, leads us to assume values that may be false for us, even if we are not aware of it.
So, locate your desires and passions, what you identify with and that will help you define how you want to live.
According to ikigai there are four basic dimensions: passion, vocation, profession and mission in life. Harmonizing them and finding a balance between all of them is vital to being happy.
5 guidelines to discover ikigai
- It’s time to turn off autopilot and change your approach. Are you really happy in your day to day life?
- Be your own reference, avoid comparisons with others.
- Be aware that you have talent and that your traits differentiate you from others. Take advantage of them.
- Do not understand ikigai only as a mere aspiration. Think of it as a way of life that must be evident.
- Surely, living in tune with this “reason for being” means getting rid of what does not serve you and overcoming many obstacles in your environment. You must be brave.
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