How to find your IKIGAI
Enter ikigai, a centuries-old Japanese philosophy linked to the country’s long life expectancy. ikigai is a Japanese word that combines the terms “iki” (which means “life”) and “gai” (which means “value or worth”). It is all about finding joy in life via purpose.
Your ikigai, in other words, is what gets you up in the morning and keeps you going.
What exactly is IKIGAI?
The word ikigai can be traced back to the Heian period (794 to 1185). Akihiro Hasegawa, a clinical psychologist and ikigai evolution expert, published a study article in 2001 claiming that the word “gai” stems from the Japanese word “kai,” which means “shell.”
Shells were exceedingly valuable during the Heian period, therefore the value connotation is still present in this word. It’s also found in related Japanese phrases like hatarakigai , which means “labor value,” and yarigai ga aru , which means “it’s worth accomplishing.”
Gai is the key to discovering your life’s meaning or meaning. Looking at the ikigai Venn diagram, which depicts the overlapping four primary qualities: what you are good at, what the world needs, what you can be paid for, and, of course, what you love, is the greatest method to truly absorb the overarching idea of ikigai.
Why is IKIGAI important?
Many sociologists, academics, and journalists have studied and speculated the utility and veracity of this phenomenon, and they’ve come up with a variety of intriguing results. According to one notion, ikigai can help you live longer and more purposefully.
While the link between having a hobby you enjoy and increased DHEA has yet to be scientifically confirmed, many sociologists have stated that having that one thing that keeps you motivated, engaged, and satisfied in life may raise your youth DHEA hormone, resulting in a longer and happier life.
How to find your IKIGAI?
Begin by making a list of the top ten things you’ve spent your time on this week. After you’ve written them down, consider whether they give your life a meaning. By asking yourself four questions, you can subdivide:
Is this something I enjoy doing?
Is this something that the world requires?
Is this something I excel at?
Is this something I can get paid for?
If this all feels a bit too set in stone and you’re having difficulties committing, don’t worry; study has shown that, like music taste, fashion, and opinions, a person’s ikigai can change and morph with age, so they’ll probably benefit from a semi-annual checkup.
That’s it for this article. I will see you with more interesting articles in the future. Until then, Goodbye
