Ikigai — A Japanese concept which translates to ‘a reason for being’
Background
Ikigai combines the Japanese words ikiru, meaning “to live”, and kai, meaning “the realization of what one hopes for”. Together they form the concept Ikigai.
Ikigai is found at the intersection of:
- What we love
- What we are good at
- What we can be paid for
- What the world needs
In his Ted Talk, Tim Tamashiro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk-PcJS2QaU explains how Ikigai is an action meaning to nourish, heal and delight. Essentially we can think of Ikigai as serving our soul, feeding it that which it craves to feel fulfilled.
How do I know if I have found my Ikigai?
If you are anything like me, you might have a vague destination or an image for what a successful and happy life means to you. That north star is often seen as a far away goal in which we must complete a number of sub-goals to achieve. However what is life if we are delaying gratification 30/40+ years down the line?
We must enjoy the journey but how can we if we don’t know our Ikigai?
American mythologist Joseph Campbell explains, “My general formula for my students is “Follow your bliss.” Find where it is, and don’t be afraid to follow it.”
Philosopher Howard W Thurman explains it slightly differently, “Ask what makes you come alive and go do it.” … “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
When assessing Ikigai through the lens of Joseph Campbell we may associate it with a zen like state of bliss. If we apply Howard W Thurman’s thinking then Ikigai can be seen as a state in which we feel truly energised. Whether Ikigai means bliss or a sense of feeling alive, in my mind Ikigai is a feeling of fulfilment.
So, do you feel fulfilled?
Fulfilment is not a destination but a state. Everyone has their own Ikigai which is truly personal to themselves. By understanding our own Ikigai, we can start to live our lives seeking to maximise that which fulfils us.
Signs you are still searching for your Ikigai
“If you are depressed, you are living in the Past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the moment.” — Lao Tzu
Here are some signs I noticed in my life when I wasn’t feeling fulfilled:
- Constant feeling of searching. It was frustrating as I had no clarity what I was searching for but I knew in my gut it didn't feel right.
- Inability to truly switch off. Whether I was on holiday or relaxing with friends, my mind wasn’t able to stop projecting to the future, I couldn’t fully enjoy the moment.
How I found my Ikigai and how you can find yours
I initially broke down the Ikigai concept into its four component parts. I tried answering the questions but I found my answers somewhat disjointed and impersonal to my own situation. After much experimentation I found the following 6 questions helped me understand what Ikigai meant for my life.
- What makes me feel most alive?
2. What makes you feel most at peace?
3. What frustrates you?
4. What worries you?
5. What are you good at?
6. What do you do in your free time, how does it make you feel and why do you enjoy doing it?
I’ll talk through how I answered these questions for myself and therein how I used these answers to find my Ikigai.
- What makes me feel most alive?
Any time I challenge myself to do something that feels ‘uncomfortable’. Starting from scratch at anything excites me as then there’s so much room to grow and improve. Competition.
2. What makes you feel most at peace?
Watching the sun rise on a 5:30 am morning surf in a tropical location. The peacefulness of a major city whilst everyone else sleeps before the day breaks. The smell of the grass on a golf course on a warm summers day teeing off in the morning with my friends and family.
3. What frustrates you?
Going through the motions. Feeling as though I am stuck in a routine without making any headway in my life. A feeling of having a barrier and a ceiling to growth. A lack of variety or spontaneity.
4. What worries you?
Looking back on my life with a feeling that I didn’t push or challenge myself. A feeling I led an ‘ordinary’ life.
5. What are you good at?
I think my biggest strength is my self motivation and my mindset to push myself out of my comfort zone.
6. What do you do in your free time, how does it make you feel and why do you enjoy doing it?
I’m not good at switching off. I have to feel like I’m always making progress to be satisfied. I spend my free time learning new things. For example at the moment I’m learning to play the guitar and to code. I feel the most energised when I am with friends discussing business opportunities, new markets, ways we can build something from nothing. I’m the type of person who goes on holiday and still goes to the gym and goes surfing or plays golf, explores new areas, cultures etc…
Interpreting the results to find your Ikigai
A very clear theme emerged when I answered these questions. It is clear that my Ikigai revolves around the concept of ‘growth’.
I am at my most alive when I am pushing myself to grow. I am frustrated when I don’t feel I am progressing in life, which was even evident in how I choose to spend my free time. Even when I reflect upon what makes me feel most at peace, it is interesting to see that I focused on the start of the day and in particular often before others had woken up. I interpret that as though I’m getting a head start to achieve something with my day. Maybe it’s a competitive thing?
Coming full circle
For the last 3 or 4 years I have become increasingly obsessed with the blockchain and cryptocurrency ecosystem. I was recently asked by a friend ‘why are you so passionate about it?’. I couldn’t answer succinctly why, but now I understand my Ikigai, I feel I can. It is an industry in its infancy which is growing rapidly. There are constantly new projects, use cases and innovative ways to apply the technology every single day. In my mind this technology can be as transformational and impactful as the internet has been across the world, that to me is a growth opportunity!
I hope this article helps you find your Ikigai. Please comment below if it helped or if you have your own set of questions that worked better for you.
