Ikigai is a Japanese secret to a long and happy life. IKIGAI roughly translates to the reason for living. It says that every human being has some sort of purpose in life. A job that they are obligated to do as a payback to nature like a tax for their living, Ikigai says that if a person can fulfil all these responsibilities and find the real purpose of their life, the person will be happier than ever, it is what makes your life worthwhile. Iki means life and Gai means worth it. Together, they represent the idea of having a life worth living.
The concept of IKIGAI can be laid like a Venn diagram.
What you love( Your passion)
What you are good at( Your Profession)
What the world needs (Your mission)
What can you be paid for
If all these 4 laws align to make a Venn diagram, you have found your ikigai.
Do What You Love ( Law 1)
The first law of Ikigai is to do what you love. An activity that brings about some sort of bliss to you. A job that fills you with pride and satisfaction. this law can be subdivided into many parts
Find your Passion
Try to experiment. Try to do as many new things as much as you can. You will not like many of them but you will surely like a few. Out of the Hundred you are doing, you will only like ten. Those ten can be imprinted on a Word document or a paper and hung on the wall of the bedroom such that every time you wake up you see that poster imprinted on the wall motivating you, giving you that adrenaline hit. Soon those activities will make you lose track of time and when that happens you can say that you have found your passion.
It's the Little Things
Try to find happiness in small things, whether there is a flower blooming in your garden. Or snowfall from the distant mountain. Try to find satisfaction in the little things. You will be happier than ever. Look for things that you love and repeat those things. Even if you look stupid, don't care. Do what you love. Find your Passion.
Balance Passion and responsibility
It is extremely easy to get carried away in your passion. While it's important to do what you love, it's also crucial to balance it with your responsibilities and obligations. Try to keep a time limit such that from xx: xx to yy: yy you will do one thing and similarly to your responsibility. Responsibility and your obligation play hand and hand in obtaining your IKIGAI
Do what the world needs (Law 2)
The third law states that one should do something for the world, and do something for the planet because you owe them a lot. This debt cannot be repaid by money but by your wealth, your time and your determination. Doing for the world will make you feel happy. Your smallest contribution can make a significant difference on this planet. If you will start, others will follow suit. This law can also be broken into several sub-points.
Make a positive impact
You should engage in activities that bring about a positive impact on others. even if it is the smallest task that puts a smile on people's faces, it makes a difference. This could be through volunteer work, social enterprises, or your career.
You can regularly remind yourself about the good you are doing which will constantly motivate you to achieve more how it aligns with your IKIGAI
Do what you can be paid for (Law 3)
The fourth law of Ikigai is to do what pays you. This means to monetize your passion, to monetize your skill and talent. One can look for opportunities in any field they want. There are millions of untapped opportunities waiting to be tapped. It can be a job or a business you are a part of. You can also monetize your hobby, if you are a great person you can sell your painting and monetize on it. You can offer your service to others at a charge, this does not involve a philanthropic one. This could be through freelancing, consulting, or starting your own business
Ensure that monetary gain does not become what drives you to do that work, it should be the passion that drives you. If money is what drives you to do that job, you will never find that ikigai. Never get greedy or take money in the frontier of your passion. Don't run after money, money will run after you.
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image credits: Photo by Acy Ian Malimban on Unsplash
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