Ikigai: a Japanese concept of the meaning of life

Japan's own philosophy of life has its own way of approaching self-realization.

If we talk about human needs, Maslow's pyramid probably comes to mind, whose theory is the best known among those dealing with positive psychology and the pursuit of happiness and personal satisfaction. But it is not the only one.

In addition to this there are multiple perspectives, even philosophical, that deal with the subject. Some of them come from the East, specifically from popular wisdom and Japanese culture. For them, one of the main needs and at the same time one of the main keys to achieve happiness (although it is not necessarily synonymous with it) is to find our ikigai. is to find our ikigai or reason for being..

What is ikigai?

Within Japanese popular culture, ikigai is understood as that element that is our reason for being in the world, the motivation that drives us to act and to live. It is about seeking and recognizing one's place in the world, that which makes our life worthwhile.

It is important to keep in mind that ikigai is not identified with happiness, although knowing it makes it easier to be happy. Ikigai allows us to look to the future with hope in the certainty that we are doing what we believe we came here to do. that we are doing what we believe we came into the world to do.. The ikigai is linked to self-realization and is something intrinsic and spontaneous, which means that our actions are not experienced as imposed by society or the world but are carried out with pleasure and cause us satisfaction in themselves.

This vital sense is also something related to the work environment, our occupation, and how our interests interact with the world. In this way, the meaning of our life is also linked not only to our being but also to what happens in the world in which we move. It is not only intrinsic but also extrinsic.

However, it is important to keep in mind that it is not enough to identify our life purpose(s), but it is also necessary to set ourselves in motion in order to achieve it. It is a matter of seeking and exercising this purpose in order to have a fulfilling life. In addition, it is necessary to keep in mind that this purpose does not have to be stable. It can be an element that varies throughout life. It must also be taken into account that it includes and requires both a component of self-fulfillment and one of commitment to the role or the people to the role or the people who are part of it.

How to identify it?

The ikigai can be found at the confluence of what we love, what we are good at, what we can be paid for, and what the world needs. These aspects may be related in different ways, but it is difficult to perceive that we are at our reason for being if there is no balance.

The interaction between what we love and what we are good at is our passion, which if it in turn converges with our profession (which arises from the confluence between what we are good at and what we are paid for) gives us great satisfaction. However, we perceive it as useless unless it is connected to what the world needs.

The interaction between what the world needs and what we can be paid for allows us to find our vocation, which if in turn is related to our profession generates comfort but the feeling of existential emptiness if it is not linked to our interests and what we love.

On the other hand, what the world needs and what we love converge in what we understand as our mission. If our mission and our passion coincide we will feel fulfilled and enjoy ourselves, but we cannot achieve a position and sustain ourselves if it is not coupled with what we can be paid for. If mission and vocation are in relationship, we will be in front of something that will excite us and make us feel that we are doing a useful task, but if we are not doing something we are good at we will be insecure and uncertain about our actions.

In conclusion, we need a perfect balance between the different elements mentioned above to achieve and identify our ikigai. It is about finding that our vocation, profession, mission and passion coincide in one or more themes or aspects, in such a way that it becomes a central element in our life. This allows us to be in tune with what we come into the world to do and to be more authentic, natural and connected to ourselves.

That said, it may seem that this is something very difficult to identify. However, the truth is that on many occasions and for a large number of people, it is a knowledge that they already possess to some degree and that they can find in the most obvious and natural. The problem is that it is often mutilated, sublimated or distorted by elements such as social desirability, the search for stability and security and the lack of reflection on what we truly consider important.

A Japanese philosophy of life with many advantages

Considering the ikigai, or sense of life, can have great repercussions on the lifestyle can have great repercussions in terms of lifestyle or even reduce the risk of various diseases. Not surprisingly, some of the regions with the greatest longevity on the planet are in Japan, and this type of concept could be one of the possible facilitators of this.

In this sense, in areas such as Okinawa, for example, it has been observed that the number of cardiovascular problems and even Cancer are less frequent, as well as their evolution. We have to take into account that it has been observed that aspects such as hostility and competitiveness (typical of a type A personality) facilitate the former, while type C personalities that inhibit the expression of negative emotions are more predisposed to cancer.

It is also common for them to experience lower levels of stress, anxiety and depression, because an attitude in accordance with what we consider our life goals and our meaning in the world facilitates a contemplation of our day to day life as something more positive. They can have a more committed and at the same time freer life, something that influences a great diversity of vital areas.