Ikigai is a Japanese concept that refers to a reason for being or the sense of purpose that gives life meaning and fulfillment. The word "ikigai" is derived from "iki," which means "life," and "gai," which means "value" or "worth." Being of Japanese descent, learning about ikigai has helped me deepen my understanding of myself and stay connected to my ancestry.
Being multiracial and growing up in so-called Canada, I’ve struggled with finding my place and purpose in life. Feeling lost, I assumed something was wrong with me. Why couldn’t I figure out what I wanted to do with my life? Why wasn’t I satisfied with what I was doing? It wasn’t until I noticed that I wasn’t alone that I reflected on the narratives I had about how life is supposed to be lived. Grand goals of being famous, rich, and powerful seemed to be the ideal and yet, part of me wasn’t interested in those things. Logically I could put together a plan for a fulfilling life but I didn’t feel excited about it—something was missing.
One day, I stumbled upon the concept of ikigai and felt the relief of realizing that there is more than one way of living a fulfilling life. Every culture has its own definition for a life well lived and maybe I, and others like me, just needed an updated definition.
An element of ikigai is that everyone has a unique combination of values and characteristics that creates their own personal sense of purpose and fulfillment. When these values and characteristics come together, they create a sense of purpose and fulfillment that gives life meaning. In other words, there is more than one way of finding your purpose.
What ikigai is not:
There is a popular diagram depicting ikigai as the overlapping of 4 different aspects: What you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Although a diagram like this can be helpful for clarifying purposes, it is not the essence of ikigai. Your ikigai:
Doesn’t need to make you money
Isn’t always something the world needs
Isn’t something you need to be exceptionally talented at
Isn’t always something you love or enjoy doing
You can learn more about ikigai and how it has been misinterpreted here.
Ikigai doesn’t need to be complicated. Society has a way of convincing us that we need the latest gadget, an attractive partner or loads of money to feel fulfilled but that simply isnt true. Satisfaction can arise from simple acts or beliefs. Noticing the quality of a relationship or having gratitude for something usually overlooked can bring forth a sense of meaning and satisfaction.
It is more about living life in alignment with your values than it is about achieving a specific goal. Ikigai involves a mindset of growth over accomplishment and community care over individual care. It can be concerned with the future and can provide hope when feeling stuck or low.
Ikigai can be useful for folks seeking greater fulfillment and meaning in their lives. By exploring their passions, strengths, values, needs, and culture, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of what gives their life purpose and meaning, and work towards creating a life that is fulfilling and satisfying.
Ikigai can be different for each individual and can change over time. It may involve a hobby, a career, a relationship, or a cause. The important thing is that it gives one's life meaning and purpose, and provides a source of motivation and satisfaction.
With warmth and purpose,
Ikigai ni neno la Kijapani linalomaanisha kusudi la maisha, maana ya maisha na kusudi la maisha. "Jina ""ikigai"" linatokana na neno ""iki"" linalomaanisha ""maisha"" na ""gai"" linalomaanisha ""thamani.""" Kwa kuwa mimi ni wa asili ya Kijapani, kujifunza kuhusu ikigai kumenisaidia kuelewa zaidi kuhusu mimi mwenyewe na kuendelea kuwasiliana na mababu zangu. Kwa kuwa nina makabila mengi na nimekua katika nchi inayoitwa Kanada, nimekuwa nikijitahidi sana kupata mahali pangu na kusudi la maisha. Nilipokuwa nimepoteza fikira, nilidhani kwamba kulikuwa na tatizo fulani. Kwa nini sikuweza kujua nilitaka kufanya nini maishani mwangu? Kwa nini sikuridhika na yale niliyokuwa nikifanya? Ilikuwa ni mpaka nilipoona kwamba sikuwa peke yangu kwamba nilifikiria hadithi nilizokuwa nazo kuhusu jinsi maisha yanapaswa kuishi. Malengo makubwa ya kuwa mashuhuri, matajiri, na wenye nguvu yalionekana kuwa bora na bado, sehemu ya mimi haikuwa na nia ya mambo hayo. Kwa mantiki ningeweza kuweka pamoja mpango wa maisha ya kutimiza lakini sikuwa na hisia ya msisimko kuhusu hilo kitu kilikuwa kikikosa. Siku moja, niligundua wazo la ikigai na nikafurahi kujua kwamba kuna njia nyingi za kuishi maisha yenye kuridhisha. Kila utamaduni una ufafanuzi wake mwenyewe wa maisha yaliyoishi vizuri na labda mimi, na wengine kama mimi, tunahitaji ufafanuzi uliobadilishwa. Ikigai ni aina ya utamaduni wa watu ambao kila mtu ana sifa na maadili ambayo huunda hisia yake mwenyewe ya kusudi na kutimiza. Maadili na sifa hizi zinapokusanyika, huunda hisia ya kusudi na kutimiza ambayo hutoa maana ya maisha. Kwa maneno mengine, kuna njia zaidi ya moja ya kupata kusudi lako. Ikigai ni mchoro wa kuvutia ambao unaonyesha mambo manne: unavyopenda, unavyofanya vizuri, unachohitaji na unachohitaji. Ingawa mchoro kama huu unaweza kuwa na manufaa kwa madhumuni ya kufafanua, si kiini cha ikigai. Ikigai: Haihitaji kupata pesa, sio kitu ambacho ulimwengu unahitaji, sio kitu ambacho unahitaji kuwa na talanta ya kipekee, sio kitu ambacho unapenda au unafurahia kufanya, unaweza kujifunza zaidi juu ya ikigai na jinsi imefasiriwa vibaya hapa. Ikigai haihitaji kuwa ngumu. Jamii ina njia ya kutushawishi kwamba tunahitaji kifaa cha hivi karibuni, mwenzi wa kuvutia au pesa nyingi ili kuhisi kutimizwa, lakini hiyo sio kweli. Kuridhika kwaweza kutokea kutokana na matendo au itikadi sahili. Kuona ubora wa uhusiano au kuwa na shukrani kwa kitu ambacho kwa kawaida hupuuzwa kunaweza kuleta hisia ya maana na kuridhika. Ni zaidi ya kuishi maisha kulingana na maadili yako kuliko kufikia lengo maalum. Ikigai inahusisha mtazamo wa ukuzi juu ya mafanikio na utunzaji wa jamii juu ya utunzaji wa mtu binafsi. Inaweza kuhusisha wakati ujao na inaweza kutoa tumaini unapohisi umeshindwa au umeshuka moyo. Ikigai inaweza kuwa na manufaa kwa watu wanaotafuta kutimiza na maana zaidi katika maisha yao. Kwa kuchunguza shauku zao, nguvu, maadili, mahitaji, na utamaduni, watu wanaweza kupata uelewa wa kina wa nini hutoa kusudi na maana ya maisha yao, na kufanya kazi kuelekea kuunda maisha ambayo ni kutimiza na kuridhisha. Ikigai yaweza kuwa tofauti kwa kila mtu na yaweza kubadilika kadiri wakati unavyopita. Huenda ikawa ni jambo la kupendeza, kazi, uhusiano, au kusudi fulani. Jambo la muhimu ni kwamba linatoa maana na kusudi la maisha ya mtu, na hutoa chanzo cha msukumo na kuridhika. Kwa joto na kusudi,