What is Ikigai

Last time, I talked about the theme of "Can good luck be attracted?"

I listed three points: "be positive," "think beyond your goals," and "never forget a heart of gratitude."This time, I would like to think about "what 'ikigai' is."

“Ikigai,” in other words, meansa reason to live, the value of living, the joy of living, and something that makes life worth living.It is something that
allows you to feel happiness, satisfaction, and a sense of purpose in your existence.

Interestingly, this word "ikigai" is a unique Japanese expression and does not seem to exist in foreign languages.
It is wonderful that Japanese has a word that can express such complex nuances in a single term.

Let's organize what kind of things can be considered "ikigai."

• Things where you can demonstrate your presence at work and gain a sense of fulfillment or achievement.

• Things that become a source of strength for living by supporting each other while being with loved ones, such as children, a spouse, or a partner.

• Being immersed in something you love and feeling happy while doing it.

• Times when you can study to improve your skills and feel your own growth.

• Times when you are doing something good for others, such as volunteering.

These are some examples.

When you feel a sense of ikigai, you have less stress and become mentally stable, which also has a positive effect on your physical health.

I was able to grow rapidly in windsurfing, which I started at age 47, and at the time, this became my "ikigai."
I have written about it in an article, so please take a look if you like.

However, as I got older, it became difficult to continue this as well. Windsurfing is quite an intense sport.
Even if you find an ikigai, it can be lost.

After retiring like I did, it is a time when you have handed over all your work and are no longer relied upon by employees, leading to an increased sense of loss.
If you cannot find an "ikigai" that outweighs this, your old age will be a sad one.
It is an age where many things and many people are lost.

"I must find a bigger, more solid ikigai."

At first, that is what I thought. However, I realized something.
There is no need to think about it in a difficult way.
I wrote about this in a previous article as well.

"Ikigai" is the same thing.
It is fine to have many ikigai.
They do not have to be big ikigai.
It is fine to have many small, little ikigai.

This is one of the essential elements for maintaining motivation at work, which is
"experiencing many small senses of achievement."It is the same as that.
Instead of goals that are too high, you strive toward goals that are within reach if you try a little, and you taste a sense of achievement many times.

If you can feel happiness, joy, and satisfaction from small things, that becomes your ikigai, and by accumulating them little by little, you can turn them into a great ikigai.

"Spending a relaxing moment with a cup of coffee you are particular about,"
"Looking up at the sky and watching the clouds every morning,"
"Finding a small flower on the way for a walk,"
even such small things can become an "ikigai."

Finding many "small ikigai" is perhaps the easiest way to
"live life happily." Don't you think?

Thank you for reading today as well. If you enjoyed this, please consider liking and following. I will continue to strive to write good articles, so thank you for your support.

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