Ikigai

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that blends two words: “iki” meaning “to live,” and “gai” meaning “reason,” which translates to “a reason to live.”

The Japanese believe that if you can define what is at the cross section of 1. What you love, 2. What the world needs, 3. What you can be paid for and 4. What you are good at then you have found your reason for being. Easier said than done right?

Image Credit: The Government of Japan www.japan.go.jp

Like many other concepts that formed the Japanese culture for generations, National Geographic reporter and author of The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest Dan Buettner suggests that Ikigai may be one of the reasons for the longevity of the people of Okinawa, Japan who frequently home supercentarians (110 years or older), with the current oldest living resident being 112.

For me, I was first introduced to Ikigai by a mentor and friend Brian Klindworth during one of his professional development training sessions back in my recruitment days, almost 10 years ago now.

And man, did it stick. It just resonated with me so strongly that I knew it was something that I would carry for the rest of my life. What a dream come true to actually know and live a purposeful life.

If you attend any of my Women's Connection Circles, you will see a copy of Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles in circle with us as a gentle reminder to find and live your Ikigai.

For me, the interesting thing is, I didn't know what my Ikigai was until I had it. For which I mean, there wasn't a particular goal I was working towards that once I achieve the goal, I had achieved Ikigai.

It came so much more gradually, and dare I say unintentionally.

But what I think has been the most profound and life changing realisation on this journey to find my Ikigai has been the mindset shift and the trust that I am becoming the version of me that was ready to find/create and live my Ikigai. And also the trust that it might just be my "right now" Ikigai, and that in 1, 10 or 20 years, it may not be my purpose anymore, and that is OK.

I am not sure if I even want to live to be a supercentarian, but for now, as long as I am living my life as the best version of my self, surely that is all I can ask for.

If every day is a snippet of your whole life, isn't it worth it to live today as if I am fulfilling my life's work, even it during my lifetime, I have 5 different careers or Ikigai's?

So what I want to share with you today is that life is a journey, and as James Clear speaks of over and over again in his book Atomic Habits is that it is more impactful to be the human being who is capable of achieving such goals rather than the human doing who just ticks tasks off a list.

Question to ponder…

What is your Ikigai? Or, if unknown, who do you need to become for your Ikigai to reveal itself?