Ikigai: Living a Meaningful Life for Greater Wellbeing

Everyone is looking to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life — so much so in their personal life, but also in their professional one as well. Ikigai — meaning “a life worth living” in Japanese — presents a consistent, long-term solution for boosting wellbeing. Be it the little joys in everyday life, or those grand dreams that give us a reason to get up every morning, your ikigai lies somewhere between patience and happiness in everything you do.

Ikigai is not a point — but a lifestyle that contributes to our mental/emotional health and ultimately social wellbeing as well. In this article, I will share how ikigai leads to much more wellbeing focusing on the intersection between personal fulfillment and social connectedness, illustrating how it nurtures a sense of harmony in both the self and with those around us.

?Introduction

The word ikigai consists of two parts: iki, means "living," and gai, means "worth doing something." Together, they describe what makes life worth living, a reason for living (Takeda, 2000). Though ikigai is sometimes characterized as the Japanese version of purpose or passion, it encompasses a great deal. Living largely is more than just having grand plans and making big things happen; it includes the little mundane joys and the greater life defining milestones. Balance is not limited to only the importance of your job but it's the whole spectrum from a sweet rosy morning coffee till striving for something by making some contribution in community (professional achievements).

Today, as the world turns towards work-life balance and other aspects of mental wellbeing ikigai has successfully made its way out to a larger audience. It gives us a perspective to view our lives with and helps remind us of what we really care about (our personal values), the significance of our connections & roles (personal + professional contexts), other safe places / communities, and what experiences help us feel valued. What is so lovely about ikigai is how simple it seems, and yet the way in which you discover meaning in all the normal and extraordinary moments of your life.

The Pillars of Ikigai

Before we can talk about ikigai in any meaningful terms — we need to know about the five pillars below it. Mogi (2017) describes ikigai in terms of five pillars for a guideline to a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

1. Starting Small:

Ikigai is all about doing those little things that satisfy and brings a smile on our faces every time we perform them. This could be anything, a nice cup of tea, walking in the park or listening to music. This simplifies that if we take time to really savor these little brief moments of grace, this comprises a full meaningful life.

2. Releasing Yourself:

In a world that is obsessed with gaining more and more, ikigai teaches to let go. It is about separating self from burden and understanding who you truly are. You have the freedom to live your truth and remain always at peace with yourself.

3.?Harmony and Sustainability:

There is also a distinct accent on balance as part of ikigai—whether you consider balancing work and play, or personal ambition versus social responsibility. This balance is vital to individual wellbeing and ensures harmony with those around us and with nature. It encourages living in a way that promotes sustainability, both for us and our world.

4.?Joy in the Little Things:

Ikigai encourages us to cherish the tiniest things. The pleasure of an ordinary conversation with a friend, the smiles exchanged over in a family meal or the feeling of completed task —these moments embellish our lives and remind us that happiness is rarely derived from grand accomplishments.

5.?Being in the Here and Now:

This is the only way to truly enjoy life, by showing up and being present in the moment. This keeps you grounded, helps prevent stress and anxiety, fostering an overall feeling of balance and wellbeing.

The Social Element of Ikigai

Though it may sound like an egocentric pursuit, ikigai is ultimately social. There is a component of ikigai that arises from our relationships with family, friends, and community. Kono and Walker, in their research showed that Ikigai includes meaningful relationships. They provide us with our sense of ibasho — "an authentic place" where we belong, we are accepted for who we are and most importantly can be who were meant to be.

Ibasho cultivates our ikigai by nourishing it with the ties of self-identity and bond. Whether it is the warmth of family, or the camaraderie felt among friends and co-workers, these shared experiences breed trust and confidence — enabling us to succeed, bringing delight into our lives and add enriching value in enhancing the quality of life.

?Ikigai and Wellbeing

On the brighter side, ikigai plays a role in promoting good wellbeing as it gives us a purpose, connects us socially and keeps our emotions balanced. In fact, according to the research of Kono and Walker (2020), individuals with a well-defined ikigai fulfill their interest in life hence report higher happiness, less stress, and more life satisfaction. Whether through small daily pleasures or fulfilling relationships, ikigai helps us align our inner values with our external reality, reducing the dissonance that often leads to stress and dissatisfaction.

Steps to Uncover Your Ikigai

Finding your own ikigai doesn't have to be intimidating. A good place to start is to ask yourself these questions.

• What little things bring me joy every day?
• What activities make me lost track of time?
• What can I do to make somebody else happier, whether in small or large ways?

As you start asking yourself these questions, add some of the actions to your daily life. For instance, if you love getting together with others, plan to spend time weekly with friends or family. If you enjoy reading, you can set a goal to read or take an online course for even 10 minutes/day and that still is progress. Slowly, you will start to see how these small changes equate to a larger sense of self-satisfaction.?

Conclusion

Ikigai is a journey rather than a destination that invites us to live with more acceptance, harmony, and connection. By focusing on the small joys in life, letting go of unnecessary pressures, and nurturing our relationships, we can build a life that is both fulfilling and sustainable for the long term.

Remember to be patient with yourself and allow your ikigai to evolve over time. The road to your wellbeing is not always a straight line, but with ikigai as your guiding principle, each step of the way will reveal itself as sacred.

References:

1. Mogi, K. (2017). The Little Book of Ikigai: The Essential Japanese Way to Finding Your Purpose in Life. Quercus Publishing.
2. Kono, S., & Walker, G. (2020). Theorizing the interpersonal aspect of ikigai (‘life worth living’) among Japanese university students: A mixed-methods approach. International Journal of Wellbeing, 10(2), 101-123. doi:10.5502/ijw.v10i2.979.
3. Takeda, A. (2000). Meaning in life among Japanese elders: Development and validation of a four-factor Ikigai scale (Doctoral dissertation, University of Tennessee, Knoxville). UMI Microform 9973511.