Have You Found Your Ikigai?
April 18, 2021 | Sage Capone
Ikigai is a Japanese word that is translated to “reason for being.” This new lifestyle concept from Japan is said to help individuals find the secret to a long and happy life. The concept originates from the Japanese island of Okinawa, which is home to the worlds largest population of centenarians!
Ken Mogi, the author of Awakening Your Ikigai, states that finding your personal ikigai is about focusing on the five pillars. Ken states that the five pillars are: starting small, accepting yourself, connecting with the world around you, seeking small joys, and being in the here and now.
Questions you can ask yourself to find your personal ikigai:
- What is something that I love?
- What activity am I good at?
- What current activity could I be paid for now or in the future?
- What do I think the world needs?
Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles, authors of Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, outline the ten rules to unlock your Ikigai.
- Be active and don’t stop working
- Live life at a slower pace and let go of urgency
- Eat until you are 80 percent full
- Stay connected with good friends
- Maintain daily activity and gentle exercise
- Smile and be present with the people around you
- Make time to reconnect with nature
- Show appreciation to anything that brightens your day
- Remember to live in the moment
- Realize your Ikigai
Finding your Ikigai can be as simple as changing your morning routine. Morning meditation, affirmations, and reading are all great examples of activities that I enjoy before the work day. Start small, connect with the world around you and focus on being present in the here and the now. Take some time to disconnect from day to day activities and enjoy things that make you happy and at peace with life.