Ikigai (生きがい) is the Japanese idea of a reason for being, the quiet sense of purpose that makes getting up in the morning feel worthwhile. Most of us know the opposite feeling. It’s a Monday, the alarm goes off, and you open your eyes just long enough to press snooze before getting dressed and heading to work. After a long day you come home and think, “Is this all my life amounts to? A nine to five, five days a week?”, then go to bed and repeat it the next morning.
Have you ever wished that something, anything, would change your life?
Modern life moves so fast that it is easy to feel discontent. Status, money, even love: so much of what we chase feels competitive. Many of us were taught about emotion young yet never learned how to find happiness in ordinary days, so we end up unhappy without quite knowing why.
This is where ikigai comes in. One book that helped me understand it is Ikigai by Yukari Mitsuhashi, and the idea it explores is deceptively simple: what makes you get up in the morning?
Ikigai: What You'll Learn
What is Ikigai?
Ikigai (生きがい) stems from two Japanese characters: iki, meaning life, and gai, meaning value or worth. It can be read simply as the things in your life that bring you joy and make it feel worthwhile.
Pinpointing a singular definition does not do ikigai justice. It is a multifaceted concept reliant on individualistic traits and has endless possibilities, meaning it is unique to individuals.
Ikigai focuses on all aspects of our lives, meaning it can be found in work, family, a hobby, an event, or something that brings small joy in the mundane, everyday life. For instance, people that enjoy baking do so not only for their own pleasures but also to share their experiences with other people.
Why is Ikigai important?
A common misconception is, perhaps, that happiness is reserved for people who are seen as “successful” or have climbed higher up on the corporate ladder.
The reality is that happiness is deeply rooted in your ikigai. Everyone, whether they are aware or not, has something that grounds them, outside of the stress and a world of uncertainty. This is crucial when figuring out what truly makes you happy and especially when setting out to live your ideal lifestyle.
Ikigai also teaches you to overcome a difficult situation by staying present and valuing each moment as it comes.
For instance, the struggle that you feel when you’re falling behind on work ultimately helps you in the long run. How many times have you finished an arduous task and felt proud afterwards? Recognising that these challenges can make you feel accomplished, later on, can help you focus on the present.
Identifying your own ikigai can present many benefits, such as mental clarity, and improving the quality of your life.
Specific elements can be considered to make up your ikigai and converge into your ‘purpose’ in life. No matter how small the impact of your actions may be, it will motivate you to continue on your life’s mission.
The Fundamentals of Ikigai
Although most of Ikigai comes from within, it’s not entirely internal because your interests connect you to the outside world. Ikigai can influence the lives of the people around you, thus surrounding you with more ‘reasons to live’.
Most people find it difficult to link areas of their lives with their ikigai. However, to find your ikigai, you must look firstly at your interests. It’s important to fill your life with things you enjoy doing. What do you actively pursue without someone asking you to?
Taking a proactive approach and being present can close the gap between things you like doing and things that perhaps you struggle to do.
For instance, if you dislike taking meeting minutes, you could swap the task with a fellow co-worker and instead take on their task.
By questioning the default, it can inspire you to find alternative ways to work and generate new ideas. The exchanging of wisdom can positively contribute to the lives of others, which not only promotes your own ikigai but other peoples’ too.
In the book, Mitsuhashi mentions the term ‘job crafting’ which is about shaping your job to fit your motivations, strengths, and passions, e.g. taking on different responsibilities at work. Showing initiative is seen to be an ideal characteristic in an employee and taking on work you enjoy can boost your productivity levels.
How do I find my Ikigai?
Once your ikigai influences the actions you take and the direction you go in, your happiness and stability improve tenfold.
Begin by asking yourself these questions:
What tasks do I like doing?
How do I feel about these tasks?
How am I spending my time?
Who am I connecting with virtually/ in reality?
The author suggests that you make according to adjustments, one step at a time.
As time passes, it’s inevitable for your ikigai to grow or change. The book also recommends reviewing these prompts as frequently as you see fit, as external factors may influence your ikigai. Identifying our passions, not only can it align us with our goals but prepares us for the next challenge life throws at us.
What have I learned?
Mitsuhashi wrote about beginning with reflecting on your past and identifying elements in your life that spark joy, e.g. skating or completing a particular task at work that you enjoy. I think one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that picking up an old hobby and starting again is not as scary as it seems. Most people, due to numerous reasons, may have forgotten about their childhood pastimes. I realised both the new and old in my life can bring a different sensation of ikigai.
Growing up, I have always disregarded my curiosity. I felt that I wasn’t able to do something at the standard others could, so “what’s the point?”. At school, I enjoyed playing Netball despite being terrible at it. Little did I know that not joining any sports clubs during that time would affect my willingness to try other sports as an adult and that one day I would come to regret it.
Curiosity is a good thing. In fact, having this mindset ultimately leads to achieving your dream life. In my case, if I took on Netball back then, maybe I would’ve discovered my ikigai earlier.
If you’re struggling to find a career path that you will love, I would suggest you go out and learn as much as you can. Start with a self-reflection and then create a realistic, step-by-step plan. It all boils down to thinking about what makes you happy in life and working backwards to put together a list of future actions.
Final Thoughts
At the beginning, it was not easy narrowing down my ikigai but with time, I realised that I was the one, not anyone else, that had the power to make a change in my life.
Now Monday mornings will never be the same again.
Related Japanese concepts
Ikigai is one of several Japanese ideas about how to live well, and each makes more sense alongside the others.
- Wabi-sabi, the art of finding beauty in imperfection and impermanence.
- Kintsugi, the philosophy of repairing what is broken with gold and valuing the cracks rather than hiding them.
- Mono no aware, the gentle, bittersweet awareness that nothing lasts.
- Shikata ga nai, the mindset of accepting what cannot be changed, and knowing when to let go.
- Oubaitori, the reminder that, like the cherry, plum, peach and, apricot, everyone blooms in their own time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ikigai mean?
Ikigai combines iki, meaning life, and gai, meaning worth or value. It describes a reason for being: the source of meaning and motivation that gives daily life direction. In Japan it is often found in small, ordinary things rather than one grand purpose.
How do you find your ikigai?
There is no formula. In Japan ikigai is usually discovered through everyday life, work, relationships, hobbies and routine, rather than a single dramatic calling. Reflecting on what absorbs you, what you are good at and what feels worthwhile is a common starting point.
Is the ikigai Venn diagram authentic?
Not in its popular form. The four-circle diagram that overlaps what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs and what you can be paid for is a Western adaptation, not a traditional Japanese concept. The original idea of ikigai is broader and not tied to work or income.
