Our ikigai is different for all of us, but one thing we have in common is that we are all searching for meaning.
Fabio Moioli
Executive Search Consultant and Director of the Board at Spencer Stuart; Forbes Technology Council Member; Faculty on AI at Harvard BR, SingularityU, PoliMi GSoM, UniMi; TEDx; ex Microsoft, Capgemini, McKinsey, Ericsson
Ikigai (生き甲斐, pronounced [ikiɡai]) is a Japanese concept that means "a reason for being". The word refers to having a direction or purpose in life, that which makes one's life worthwhile, and towards which an individual takes spontaneous and willing actions giving them satisfaction and a sense of meaning to life.
Ikigai can be described as an intersection between 4 different elements: what you're passionate about, where your skills lie, how you can earn a living and what the world needs.
Our ikigai is different for all of us, but one thing we have in common is that we are all searching for meaning. When we spend our days feeling connected to what is meaningful to us, we live more fully; when we lose the connection, we may feel empty.
You may find your own IKIGAI by asking yourself how you want to serve your community and the world. If you are undecided, remember your dreams from when you were younger, maybe in your youth.
The complexity of Ikigai actually reflects the complexity of life itself.
Founder & CEO, Group 8 Security Solutions Inc. DBA Machine Learning Intelligence
8 个月I appreciate your post!
Digital Transformation - Manager of Sales & Strategic Selling | SaaS Could solutions CX-ERP-AI and Data management
3 年Thanks Fabio Moioli for this interesting post -You made my day ! Now I will have to hardly work to find mine ! Will do this when I go to the beach :-)
Executive Search Consultant and Director of the Board at Spencer Stuart; Forbes Technology Council Member; Faculty on AI at Harvard BR, SingularityU, PoliMi GSoM, UniMi; TEDx; ex Microsoft, Capgemini, McKinsey, Ericsson
4 年If you can know the core of your self,you can decide your own path/goal. Profoundly true, Chandana!
Ikigai Keynote Speaker, Author, Facilitator, Coach, Podcaster | Founder of Ikigai Tribe | Offering an evidence-based coaching program on the ikigai concept.
4 年Hey Fabio, while this Venn diagram framework is inspiring and helpful, perhaps for finding purpose in one's work, this is not what ikigai means to the Japanese. The "Ikigai Venn diagram" is actually the Venn Purpose diagram created by Spanish astrologer Andrés Zuzunaga (with just the word "purpose" replaced with "ikigai"). Full credit should go to Andrés for its creation. There is no Ikigai framework that Japanese follow. Ikigai is not a sweet spot to strive for in your work. It would be more appropriate to think of ikigai as a spectrum or life philosophy involving daily rituals, living your values, building intimate relationships, fulfilling your life roles, and for some, pursuing a life goal with a healthy sense of urgency.? I hope this offers some insight into what is greatly misunderstood outside of Japan.
Consultant at Juvenile Detention Home,working as a psycho analyst in individual practice.
4 年Thanks for posting.....this is an unique concept but not new. It's an age old concept in ancient culture of Hinduism.The great swami Vivekananda was in search for that truth and finally He reached his goal.It tells," know thyself".If you can know the core of your self,you can decide your own path/goal.