What Is Ikigai - The Japanese Secret of Meaningful Life
Sometimes we may have felt less passionate, lacking, and lazy. Often we also feel bored, tired, and feel erratic when going through our daily routine.
As a human being, it is natural to occasionally feel such a thing. However, if the condition persists, it will interfere with your daily life.
Well, if you have never heard, it turns out that there are principles of a happy and meaningful life that help you not be overwhelmed with your daily routines. Well, the name of the principal is Ikigai.
In this article, CupsFinance.com will dive deep into Ikigai, The Japanese Secret of Meaningful Life. What is Ikigai and what is my Ikigai? Let's learn with us!
If you also want to improve your life significantly, try to apply Pareto Principle, what it is and how will it help you?
What is Ikigai?
If interpreted, Ikigai is a combination of two words "Iki" which means "life" and "Gai" which means "value". So that when the two are combined, the concept of Ikigai can be interpreted as the value of a person's life.
How does the concept of Ikigai help you in life? The benefit of Ikigai is that it brings out the spirit of life and allows people to live meaningful lives and step well for the future.
Ikigai is also done to make our life not easily overwhelmed and always happy to face the new day.
The Concept of Ikigai
The concept of Ikigai was originally a Japanese medical tradition that stated that physical well-being is influenced by one's mental-emotional health and life goals. But with the development of the times, this concept has developed into a basic principle of Japanese life.
That is to say, a person's reason for getting up early in the morning is not always one big thing that means so much. However, sometimes it is precisely the small things that can make this meaningful.
For example, enjoying the sunset while accompanied by a cup of coffee and warm food. Or any other small simple things that can unwittingly give happiness and a sense of encouragement to the person who does it.
Everyone has Ikigai inside of them. However, it is only a matter of time and how the person can feel it. The reason is, the journey to get Ikigai may take time, deep self-reflection, and effort.
What is My Ikigai? How To Discover Ikigai
Before discovering the Ikigai inside of you, first you need to know that this concept is built of the four elements in the form of Passion, Mission, Vocation, and Profession. To find it, you need to balance the four elements to form a meaningful and purposeful life goal.
1. Passion: What Do You Love Doing
The step of discovering Ikigai can be taken by answering the necessary question to yourself "What do you love doing?" So, you will need to find something you like to bring out your passion.
Our spirit will arise when we already have it because we can do what we like. Thus, we will not feel tired anytime soon. So, working on what you love will help you find happiness in life.
2. Mission: What Does The World Need
Seeking the meaning of life needs to be more meaningful if others are beneficial to others. This is following the Ikigai diagram where passion also intersects with the question. For example, Ikigai is when you make clothes because of hobbies.
Then, people around you like beautiful clothes. So, you can make them so that they are happy. Finally, there is a sense of pleasure if the person likes the work so that it adds enthusiasm to work.
3. Vocation: What Can You Be Paid For
Work that you loved and at the same time is paid will make you even more excited. This will make life more meaningful. In the diagram, adequate income/pay goes into Ikigai's vocation slice.
4. Profession: What Are You Good At
The skills you have mastered will make the job you do properly. So, the opportunity for development becomes greater.
For example, when you have a passion for making clothes. Finally, take a course to improve professionalism. With the increased expertise, the clothing business has become more developed. Thus, the income to be obtained also continues to grow.
The Example of Ikigai's Life
Understanding is certainly not as simple as shown. For that, here is an example of life with the concept of Ikigai that you can understand.
an example that can be taken is the story of a famous sushi chef in Japan, Jiro Ono. Chef Ono gives illustration of the meaning of Ikigai's life which he summarizes from his devotion to work and has brought a sense of satisfaction or accomplishment.
Until now, Chef Ono has achieved the highest Michelin restaurant guidance rating of three stars, as well as being considered the most accomplished sushi chef globally.
From Chef Ono's small sushi shop, he can more easily observe the reactions of his customers to his food. So a sense of satisfaction will be formed when seeing the reaction of customers to the sushi combined.
The 5 Pillars of Ikigai
In the book published by Ken Mogi, The Book of Ikigai, there are 5 important pillars of Ikigai, which are as follows:
1. Start With a Small
As mentioned earlier, Ikigai is a "reason to get up early". So that the little thing that can be started is to get up early with gratitude that will give encouragement and positivity to start the day.
To be happy, you need to start with something small. Someone can't start a big thing right away. What is done at this time may not mean much to the world. Like a child who is curious about big things. This is important for discovering Ikigai.
2. Release Yourself
Accept yourself and be aware of your limitations. This will make you happier. Accepting oneself is the easiest thing to do. Don't think that you are the figure everyone wants.
You can also live freely like a child who thinks as you are. Let life flow by itself to help improve the quality of life and work. In addition, breaking free can also help you reduce your depression and feel more enjoyable in living the day.
3. Harmony and Sustainability
On a social level, Ikigai's philosophy will make you the most important thing to be in sustainability and harmony with those around you. It is this alignment that must be maintained onwards.
Social beings certainly need to coexist with each other. It's the same with the concept of Ikigai. We need to respect and respect the characteristics of each person around us to establish close relationships and harmony with the environment and people around us.
4. The Joy of Little Things
As is well known, Japanese people are known to value the little things in their lives. It has become a tradition for them to appreciate a small thing, which can give a great result that is extraordinary. This method can also be applied to us by appreciating the little things around us, which can give us happiness.
The joy of a small thing turned out to be much needed. Start to be grateful for the slightest favor. For example, relaxing on the balcony after waking up, drinking a cup of tea while reading a book in your spare time, etc.
5. Being Present
The last pillar of Ikigai is to enjoy the time and situation felt at that time. Although simple, the attitude of mutual respect and enjoying the time given will certainly have an impact on their pleasure and make life feel more meaningful.
This has to do with the excitement you are feeling at present and now. There is no need to think about the past and the future too seriously. Make a clothes design that you like even when no one wants to wear it. Sing to your heart's content even if no one hears it. All of those that is enough to make you happy.
Conclusion
That's the concept of Ikigai, the philosophy of life living happily and meaningfully in the style of the Japanese. How about, have you felt the presence of Ikigai in life?
Let's start small by getting up early so that you can find happiness and balance in life with Ikigai.
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