#japanese concept of ikigai explained

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Book Summary : Ikigai - The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

Book Summary: Ikigain – The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life Introduction “Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life” by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles explores the Japanese concept of ikigai, which translates to “reason for being.” This internationally acclaimed book reveals how the pursuit of ikigai can lead to a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life. The authors…

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Ikigai Explained: Key Lessons from the Book

Book Summary of “Ikigai”

Ikigai: Your Reason to Jump Out of Bed Every Morning

Ever wondered what makes life truly fulfilling? What gets you excited to wake up every morning? The Japanese concept of “Ikigai” might hold the answer. Think of it like your life’s purpose, your reason for being.

What is Ikigai?

Ikigai is often represented as the intersection of four elements:

What you love (your passion): Activities that bring you joy and satisfaction.

What you’re good at (your skills and talents): Things you excel at and find easy to do.

What the world needs (your mission): Ways you can contribute to society or make a difference.

What you can be paid for (your profession): Work that provides value to others and supports your livelihood.

Finding your Ikigai isn’t just about having a dream job. It’s about finding meaning and purpose in all areas of your life – work, relationships, hobbies, community, and spirituality.

Finding YOUR Ikigai: Tips for Indians

Reflect on your values: What matters most to you? What kind of impact do you want to make in the world?

Explore your passions: What activities make you lose track of time? What brings you joy?

Identify your strengths: What are you naturally good at? What skills have you developed over time?

Consider the needs of others: How can your skills and passions be used to help others or solve problems in your community?

Ikigai in Action: Real-Life Examples in India

The concept of Ikigai resonates deeply with Indian philosophy, where concepts like “dharma” (purpose) and “karma” (action) emphasize living a meaningful life. Here are some examples of how Ikigai can manifest in India:

The village potter: Who finds joy and purpose in creating beautiful pottery that serves the needs of their community.

The passionate teacher: Who loves educating young minds and sees their work as a vital contribution to society.

The dedicated social worker: Who finds fulfillment in helping the less fortunate and making a positive impact.

Why Ikigai Matters

Having a sense of Ikigai has been linked to various benefits, including:

Increased happiness and well-being

Reduced stress and anxiety

Improved longevity

Greater work satisfaction and productivity

Life Examples (If Any):

Local artisan: A potter in a village who finds joy in creating beautiful pottery, fulfilling a community need and earning a livelihood.

Social worker: Someone dedicating their life to helping others, finding purpose in making a positive impact.

Successful entrepreneur: A business owner who has combined their passion with what they’re good at and what the world needs, creating a thriving enterprise.

Conclusion

Finding your Ikigai is a journey of self-discovery. It’s about identifying what truly matters to you and aligning your life with your passions and values. It’s about finding the sweet spot where you can do what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. By embracing the concept of Ikigai, you can unlock a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

Important Links (if possible):

Ikigai: Buy on Amazon

[rowan-crowan]

every so often i'll see something pop up on the internet about the japanese concept of ikigai, this philosophical idea of finding your purpose in life, and it always makes me laugh. the idea is that you have your "ikigai" (which just means "reason to live") that you can find through some combination of four things, which is all explained in this helpful venn diagram. you give everything a coat of ~exotic~ paint and package it off as this mystical japanese concept

^ the venn diagram in question

but it's all bullshit! it's literally all bullshit! even ignoring the problems inherent in tying your reason to live to your ability to make money, this venn diagram has nothing to do with japan. the concept of "ikigai" gained traction in the motivational thinking/life coach spaces through a ted talk about the long life spans of okinawans, and then some blogger STOLE A VENN DIAGRAM FROM A SPANISH SELF HELP BOOK, TRANSLATED IT AND REPLACED "PURPOSE" WITH "IKIGAI", and suddenly you have a whole new "japanese" concept.

i repeat, THE VENN DIAGRAM IS FUCKING SPANISH.

i just... one of my high school teachers once spent a whole class lecturing us about this (middle aged white guy, of course). afterwards i looked up information in japanese about this because i thought "surely this isn't some traditional philosophy, right? there's no way this venn diagram is legit". aaaaand one of the first results was called "On Ikigai: The Overseas Craze"

like, how do you talk about this stuff all day for work and then sleep at night. how do you live with yourself, knowing you have disappointed me personally.

ok rant over

[readitreviewit]

Book Review: Ikigai - The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life Ikigai [Ee-key-guy], the Japanese concept of finding a reason for living, has been the topic of many conversations lately. The pandemic has forced us to re-evaluate our lives, our jobs, and our priorities. This book, written by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles, explores the meaning of ikigai, its importance in Japanese culture, and how it can help us lead a longer and happier life. The book is divided into ten chapters, each focusing on a different aspect of ikigai. The first chapter introduces the concept and its origins in Japanese history. The authors explain that ikigai is a combination of four elements - what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. When these four elements overlap, you find your ikigai. The second chapter explores the importance of staying active and having a sense of purpose. The Japanese believe that staying active is the key to a long and happy life. They don't retire in the traditional sense because they have found work that they enjoy and that gives them a sense of purpose. The third chapter focuses on the importance of taking care of your body, mind, and soul. The Japanese have a holistic approach to health, and they believe that taking care of your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being is essential for a long and happy life. The next few chapters explore the importance of connecting with others, fostering community, and finding joy in everyday activities. The authors share stories from the residents of a Japanese village with the highest percentage of 100-year-olds, known as one of the world's Blue Zones. They explain how these people have found their ikigai and how it has helped them live a long and fulfilling life. The book also provides practical tools to help readers discover their own ikigai. The authors have included exercises and questions to help readers identify their passions, strengths, values, and goals. What I loved about this book is its straightforward, simple, and practical approach to finding your ikigai. The authors have used real-life examples and anecdotes, making it relatable and easy to understand. The book has a gentle tone, and the authors have sprinkled it with humor, making it a joy to read. The illustrations in the book are beautiful and add to the overall aesthetic. The use of the Japanese language throughout the book gives it an authentic and cultural touch. However, some aspects of the book felt repetitive, and the authors could have explored some of the concepts in more depth. Also, some of the advice may not be applicable to everyone, especially if you live in a culture that values different things. In conclusion, Ikigai is a book that everyone should read. It offers a new perspective on life, work, and happiness. Its message is simple yet profound - find your ikigai, and you will live a long and happy life. The book is a reminder that we don't have to do something grand or extraordinary to find our purpose; it can be found in the everyday things we do. It is a book that will leave you feeling inspired, hopeful, and motivated to find your own ikigai. "Ready to dive into an unforgettable story? Get your hands on the book now or try Audible FREE for 30 days to experience it through your headphones. Don't wait - start your adventure today!" Price: [price_with_discount] (as of [price_update_date] - Details)

[sahilkasera]

IKIGAI

What is Ikigai? Ikigai is a Japanese concept that can be explained as “the reason for being” or “the reason to wake up in the morning.” It is a unique blend of four elements: what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Finding your own ikigai is like discovering a true sense of purpose and fulfillment in life. It’s about finding that sweet spot where…

[murryenglard]

Thats a wrap! Xerocon Sydney highlights from day two

That’s a wrap! Xerocon Sydney highlights from day two https://www.xero.com/blog/2023/08/highlights-from-xerocon-sydney-day-two/ It was great to see so many new and familiar faces from Xero’s accounting and bookkeeping community at Xerocon Sydney 2023. As always, day one featured a packed agenda – and you better believe the pace didn’t let up on day two. Sharing insights and inspiration  We had another busy morning on the main stage. The day kicked off with a moving welcome from Te Raranga Whanui Kapahaka group, followed by an insightful conversation between Xerocon host Julia Zimero and Xero CEO, Sukhinder Singh Cassidy. They discussed everything from Sukhinder’s upbringing and early career to life lessons and the importance of finding your superpower. Next up, we heard some fascinating insights on high performing practices from Australian Country Manager, Will Buckley. He also talked about the ikigai – the Japanese concept of finding a greater purpose or sense of being – to encourage the audience to find deeper meaning in their work.  Keeping AI centre stage We were lucky to have futurist and entrepreneur Mark Pesce get us thinking about how artificial intelligence (AI) might impact advisory in the years ahead. He spoke about the new landscape of large language models (LLMs) and explained how to harness tools like Chat GPT.  The lasting message from Mark’s session, however, was that the true power of AI lies in collaboration with humans. He stressed that automation will never replace accountants and bookkeepers, only enhance trusted advisory with smarter and more intuitive tools. Closing Xerocon on a high After two packed days, we spent some time in the afternoon being reminded about the importance of mental health and wellbeing. Emma Murray, founder of High Performance Mindfulness, spoke to attendees about various ways to manage the rigours and pressures of business and life, sharing several practical takeaways to put to good use. Then, myself and the rest of the APAC leadership team – Bridget Snelling, Country Manager for New Zealand; Koren Wines, Regional Director for Asia; and Will Buckley, Country Manager for Australia – shared our highlights and learnings from an incredible couple of days.  We were also thrilled to announce that Xerocon will return to the US in 2024! That’s right, after we head to London in June, we’re taking the ‘Coachella for accountants’ to Nashville from August 14 to 15 next year. We’re super excited to give our accounting and bookkeeping community in the States, Canada, the UK, and beyond a chance to reconnect.  Finally, we wrapped things up with a memorable performance from Australian music icon Daryl Braithwaite. He returned to the Xerocon stage, playing classic hits like ‘The Horses’ to get everyone on their feet!  A final message from the APAC team It’s now time to have a lot of fun at the infamous Xerocon wrap party – hosted at Sydney’s iconic ivy bar this year – to get together and celebrate. But before we sign off, a huge thank you to the accountants and bookkeepers who made the effort to join us over the past couple of days, and to our exhibiting app partners, guest speakers, and everyone involved in bringing this event to life – we couldn’t do it without your support. The post That’s a wrap! Xerocon Sydney highlights from day two appeared first on Xero Blog. via Xero Blog https://www.xero.com/blog August 24, 2023 at 02:37AM

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Describe An Interesting Thing You Have Learned From A Foreign Culture

Describe an interesting thing you have learned from a foreign culture. What it is How you learnt it Why you learnt it and explain how you think it will help others. Sample Answer of Describe An Interesting Thing You Have Learned From A Foreign Culture One interesting thing that I learned from a foreign culture is the Japanese concept of “ikigai.” Ikigai can be translated to mean “reason for…

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Introduction of Ikigai / raison d’être

1. What is the meaning of my life? 2. Is the point just to live longer, or should I seek a higher purpose? 3. Why do some people know what they want and have a passion for life, while others languish in confusion?

This Japanese concept, which translates roughly as “the happiness of always being busy,” is like logotherapy, but it goes a step beyond. It also seems to be one way of explaining the extraordinary longevity of the Japanese, especially on the island of Okinawa, where there are 24.55 people over the age of 100 for every “100,000 inhabitants—far more than the global average.

...one of the keys—in addition to a healthful diet, a simple life in the outdoors, green tea, and the subtropical climate (its average temperature is like that of Hawaii)—is the ikigai that shapes their lives.

Okinawans live by the principle of ichariba chode, a local expression that means “treat everyone like a brother, even if you’ve never met them before.”

It turns out that one of the secrets to happiness of Ogimi’s residents is feeling like part of a community. From an early age they practice “yuimaaru”, or “teamwork”, and so are used to helping one another.

Nurturing friendships, eating light, getting enough rest, and doing regular, moderate exercise are all part of the equation of good health, but at the heart of the joie de vivre that inspires these centenarians to keep celebrating birthdays and cherishing each new day is their ikigai.

Because those who discover their ikigai have everything they need for a long and joyful journey through life. Happy travels!

Excerpt From: Héctor García. “Ikigai.”

[languagebraindump]

Catford’s translation shifts VS language learning 

I’m not going to grace your eyes with some fancy definitions of translation theories. Believe me, the fancier/smarter something sounds, the worse it is to understand. Instead, I’ll try to present a brief and easy-to-comprehend explanation and examples. 

I majored in translation, and while I thoroughly don’t enjoy it, I find some strategies and theories extremely useful in language learning. 

Check out this post to learn more about the application of translation theories in language learning. 

John Catford’s TRANSLATION SHIFTS. 

 First things first, what are shifts? 

: to exchange for or replace by another: change (Merriam-Webster)

In translation, they refer to changes/shifts in language form. 

There two types of shifts:

LEVEL SHIFTS

CATEGORY SHIFTS

LEVEL SHIFTS

Simply put, the target language doesn’t have a corresponding word but a grammatical construction. We replace grammatical constructions with words or vice versa.

Off-topic

Halliday states that language is realized at 4 different levels: lexis, phonology, graphology, and grammar. I’m not sure if graphology can influence a language learning process, but lexis, grammar, and phonology surely can. I mean, graphology (the way we write) can definitely slow down the whole process (looking at you Japanese! You and your kanji… ugh). Studying phonology (comparing sounds in different languages), on the other hand, can help you work on your accent (studying phonetics would be even better in this case).

To put things into perspective, let’s look at some examples:

I’m working  VS  Teraz pracuję  

Present Continuous indicates that the action is happening NOW. We don’t need to add the word now because the tense alone is enough. 

In Polish, you must add the word TERAZ (now) to show that the action is happening now. The verb alone could indicate Present Simple as well. 

We changed the PRESENT CONTINUOUS to TERAZ. GRAMMAR -> LEXIS 

My car has been repaired VS Moje auto zostało naprawione

Here, we have the Present Perfect Tense in its passive form and “zostało + adjective (naprawione),” which indicates passive voice in Polish. GRAMMAR -> LEXIS 

CATEGORY SHIFTS 

which consist of changes in:

Structure (syntax)

It refers to changes in word order. Polish is a very flexible language. We can start sentences with adjectives, verbs, nouns, or even adverbs. In English, unless we need to emphasize something, we start sentences with nouns.  

Class (parts of speech) 

Adjectives change to verbs, or nouns to verbs, etc.

I’m thirsty (adjective) VS Chcę (verb) mi się pić (verb)

I want (verb) a dog VS Inu ga hoshi (adjective)

Unit (sentences, clauses, phrases, words, morphemes)

Some languages are wordy (Polish is) and some are rather concise and flexible when it comes to word-formation. Japanese is a perfect example here. 

Ikigai (single word) VS a reason for being (phrase)

Mono no aware(phrase) VS a whole description because we can’t even put the meaning into one sentence

Nii-chan (word) VS older brother (phrase)

Intra-system changes 

It refers to grammatical constructions that are present in both languages but are used differently. In Japanese, plural nouns are technically non-existent. The context will tell you if we talk about one thing or many things. However, we can create plural nouns when we talk about animate objects. The concept of plural nouns does exist but is used differently in Japanese and English. 

Bonnie –tachi VS Bonnie and friends/and others

In Japanese, we used a suffix indicating that there is more than one person, but in English, we used an extra plural word to show it. 

 So, how this knowledge can help you?

It will help you ask better questions in class.

Understanding how your native language works will speed up your learning process tremendously.

If comparing languages is your favorite language learning method, Catford’s translation shifts can give an idea where to start and what to notice.

If you’re a teacher, it can help you explain some grammatical phenomena.

If you help others learn your native language, you’ll be able to explain grammatical issues, or at least give examples.

You’ll speed up your translation abilities.

 References 

Halliday, M.A.K. 1961. Categories of the theory of grammar.

[konmarkimageswords]

“Ikigai” is a classic Japanese concept that basically translates as “a reason for being”, which invites us to look at our own life purpose from four different angles -what we love, what we are good at, what the world needs, and how we make our living. It is believed that everyone has an ikigai, although not everyone has yet understood, discovered or developed it.

The Venn-diagram is widely used to explain the four components to finding purpose and embracing your life. When all four intersect, that’s your ikigai.

https://integrallife.com/inhabit-your-life-purpose/

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2016/03/discover-your-ikigai-your-reason-for-living/

https://wanderiscalling.com/ikigai-japanese-concept/

https://www.thebigidea.nz/stories/feeling-unfulfilled-the-japanese-concept-of-ikigai-could-reveal-your-true-purpose

https://instituteofyou.org/what-ikigai-means-and-how-to-find-yours/

[unchartedterritoryblog]

Making a Living, Making a Life for Ourselves 

Many students seek purpose. They search for work that is meaningful as they prepare to move into the first years of adulthood. In a world that can distract us from what is truly important, we often benefit from a model or guidelines to consider as we navigate our way through the various stages of our lives. One such set of guidelines is offered in the Japanese concept of ikigai, which you can learn more about in the following reading. 

Questions 

Explain the idea of ikigai as it is described in the article. Be specific about what it is and is not all about.

Infographics, such as the diagram included in this article, are often used to illustrate connections that are difficult to express in words. Discuss how the diagram differs from the writing in the article. Which of the two—the text or diagram—do you find more effective?

Use the four questions provided in the article as a guide for reflecting on how ikigai applies to yourself.  

[accumatchbi]

Who Do You Need To Be In Order To Have Success This Year?

Let me start by introducing you to an old Japanese model called "IKIGAI" pronounced in English 

This concept introduced as far back as the 800'th century had played an important role back then, and maybe even more important today for many reasons. The fast paced lives of the big cities, technological advancements, and the pressures that come from the wealth of information available via the internet today.

We can be easily consumed by these and be totally immersed without realizing it's happening. All of which can ultimately lead to the plethora of health issues that we observe increasingly all around the world.

While there's been a lot of talk over the past decade or more about "Life-Balance" this model is somewhat different.

Life-Balance has often resulted in an imbalance.

Some people take Life-Balance to mean more personal time, or more family time rather than work time. A very time focused need for balance.

While others have referenced the same to mean Quality not Quantity. The quality of work experience and the quality of personal experience.

Who's right? Is it important to have a right and a wrong? Probably not.

It's not possible to dictate to others how they should or shouldn't feel about life balance, or what meaning they give to it. The meaning each one gives to Life-Balance is very subjective to those that look at things subjectively or emotionally, and it is very objective to those that are more logical and objective in their thinking patterns or style. (But that's a topic for another day as it is more to do with how we are programmed to think, and our ability to be intelligent about the behaviors of others, not just our own.)

Back to our topic: WHO before WHAT.

When setting goals first you need to know WHO you are today, and WHO you might need to become. After all, the WHAT activities you set yourself as part of your goals, need to be aligned with your values and beliefs. They need to be ecologically balanced with your values and beliefs, as well as be ecologically appropriate to the world around you. Otherwise either your brain will reject your efforts to achieve these goals, or society will reject you. Just like some of what we do to the planet causes imbalances in other parts of the world.

It's a Yin and Yang effect.

When goals are aligned with WHO you are and WHO you believe yourself to be able to become, then goals are easy.

Keep in mind that these are never fixed. Each step you take towards your goals, will likely open up new opportunities you were not aware of.

Will these distract you from WHO you want to become, or will they further enhance it and contribute to your evolution into that person.

You are either Evolving or your are Dying - I am not sure if this a quote by anyone in particular, so if it's not I I'll claim it - lol.

I've heard this quote quite a bit over the last few years "What do you want your tombstone to say about you and the life you led, and what you leave behind as a legacy?"

Often a far stretch for young people to think about their tombstone, while for the older generations it results in a panic to do something meaningful because time is running out.

And again, if you noticed, the word WHAT shows up.

Better to have said "How do you want to be remembered? When people remember you, WHOM will they recall? WHO will they say you were?"

What makes IKIGAI relevant and important to our topic today? It is an amazing tool not just a philosophical model.

You can use this to identify with who you are today and expose the gaps into whom you would like to be at the end of your journey on this earth. Religions aside.

Let's do an exercise together. Take a copy of the diagram above, or create your own, whatever works for you.

Use pen and paper or use technology. It doesn't matter.

Before you start;

Find a quiet space where you can spend a good hour in this first go around to work through this exercise. If that's not possible right this instance, then continue reading so you know what we are going to do, and make time to do this later.

Next, we need to set a context for this exercise otherwise people get confused. So we'll focus on WORK as the context.

Let's start at the top:

1 At work last year, when people think of the quality of your work, skills, and abilities, which of these would they say that you do well. You might want to list main tasks you preform, and give this to a few people you work with and ask them to rate  you out of 3 - where 1 is not good, 2 is average, and 3 above average.  NOTE: People get hung up on giving perfect scores, which is why the top score doesn't use words like Great or Perfect - the work just needs to be recognized as above average, or better than average. Leave your own subjectivity out of it, right now, we'll get to that in the next point. For now we need to be objective. Other people's perceptions are really important. They provide a reality check. Be sure to make it so that these score are; Anonymous You DO NOT LOOK AT THESE till Step 3 below. 2 Looking back at the things you did last year at work, what did you enjoy the most? What do you still love to do? Maybe it's being creative, or helping people. Perhaps it's making money. Don't be skewed by the scores you received in the first exercise. In fact don't look at those scores, but use the same list to give yourself a subjective score in a similar way. Where 1 is least favourite, 2 is just ok, and 3 is Love it. Now let's put these on a sheet (a spreadsheet is a good idea if you are a bit of techie). On the left hand side, in a single column, list all of these tasks that you have performed. Then create a couple of columns to the right of these, and transfer your scores and the scores given in Step 1 to these two columns​; In the first column: Total up all the scores from all the people who responded to your feedback survey. In the 2nd column place your score to the right of that. Now multiply the two numbers so that the end result more significantly separates the gap between these. One more thing: There is going to be some things where people didn't score you, either because they were not aware of that activity for you, or it just wasn't something they observed or could score you on. Give all these people a 2 on their score card. Now that you have these scores you can see which ones really stand out, but there is potentially a mismatch between what you Love - subjective you, and what people believe you to be good at. If you really love something but you are not yet good at it, then this represent a gap which you can work on. Maybe you need some training or education in this area. Maybe you just haven't had enough opportunity to build your experience, or for others to observe you doing that. Take a highlighter pen and highlight these. We'll come back to these later. 3 Does the world need that, which is different from will they pay for it. This can be a little contentious. For instances: The world needs more volunteers to help in 3rd world countries, and it doesn't have any monetary compensation. So let's keep the focus on the context of WORK. Here is where you can roll up your sleeves and ask Google to help you with some market research. There are many sites that provide statistics on growing or declining markets. This would be a good place to start. NOTE: New markets can show fast growth because 100% of $0 is a pretty significant growth percentage compared to 5% of $millions. Be careful with these, because (as I explain in another blog) there is such a thing as Bleeding-edge. Early adopters pay the price. Take some of the scores, or score these yourself. Use the same scoring system - 1, 2, and 3. Then again multiply these scores by the previous column. The scores should really start to separate out some key tasks, or roles you perform. Tasks you love and perform well might lose lustre if there is no need for them, or might stand out if they are aligned with world needs. 4 Now IKIGAI focuses on human traits, which I would identify as NEED. Humans like to be needed, and we all have survival needs. Based on your own economics, each person has a unique measure of this. IKIGAI refers to this as "Will people pay for that?". Step 3 above will have already started to apply a monetary weight to the areas of desire and skills. IKIGAI suggests that "Your reason for being" which satisfies  you and gives you peace of mind needs to be aligned with what the world needs and will pay for. But there are roles that are very satisfying and which do not pay well if at all, and yet provide the same if not a greater satisfaction. This concludes the first part of the process to answer the question in the context of WORK:

WHO ARE YOU? WHOM DO YOU WANT TO BE KNOWN AS/FOR?

Take your time to complete this, so you can look at this anytime over the coming years and adjust it to improve your clarity. When you have done this, the WHAT stuff that you need to do will easily come to you, and will feel right.

You will no doubt have gaps from WHO you are today and WHO you want to be in the future. That's the whole point. No one should start with WHAT if they have clarity on WHO/WHOM they wish to be.

BTW, we're not quite done yet. Would you have more clarity if you repeated this exercise while changing the context of WORK to HOME? Yes. Of course you would.

WHO YOU ARE IS MORE THAN JUST - AT WORK.

Take your time to complete this again but this time you are going to ask your family and friends.

If you get stuck and need help, feel free to reach out to me and schedule a quick call by clicking here.

Hope you found this useful.

For more info : https://accumatchbi.com/

[rajeswari]

Book Review- Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

"Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life" talks about the Japanese island of Okinawa and explains the various blue zones that are the reason for the longevity of its residents. The concept of Ikigai, or a deep purpose of life, is an important factor in achieving this longevity. Each one of us carries this sense of purpose within us. All that is needed to lead a fulfilling and enriching life is to unearth and discover it.

10 rules of ikigai

Stay energetic; don’t retire.

Take it gradually.

Don’t fill your abdomen.

Surround your self with good mates.

Get in the form of your next birthday.

Smile.

Reconnect with nature.

Give thanks.

Live in the moment.

Follow your ikigai.

A few key takeaways

What is your cause for being? Find that means in life, as a result of there’s a passion inside you, singular expertise that’s the driving power to turn into the very best you.

Eat sufficiently so your abdomen is full for around 80%, do not overeat and exhaust your physique. There are scientific causes behind this which yow will discover within the e-book.

Create robust bonds with folks. Other individuals are the very best answer to scale back worries. Talking to an in-depth good friend or a member of the family can lighten stress ranges in your physique.

Always keep energetic, don’t sit at residence languishing.

A smart individual mustn’t ignore life’s pleasures, however, ought to at all times stay acutely aware of how simple it’s to be enslaved by them. You must be ready for these pleasures disappearing very quickly.

The current is all that exists and is the one factor that we are able to manage.

[readitreviewit]

Book Review: Ikigai - The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life Ikigai [Ee-key-guy], the Japanese concept of finding a reason for living, has been the topic of many conversations lately. The pandemic has forced us to re-evaluate our lives, our jobs, and our priorities. This book, written by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles, explores the meaning of ikigai, its importance in Japanese culture, and how it can help us lead a longer and happier life. The book is divided into ten chapters, each focusing on a different aspect of ikigai. The first chapter introduces the concept and its origins in Japanese history. The authors explain that ikigai is a combination of four elements - what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. When these four elements overlap, you find your ikigai. The second chapter explores the importance of staying active and having a sense of purpose. The Japanese believe that staying active is the key to a long and happy life. They don't retire in the traditional sense because they have found work that they enjoy and that gives them a sense of purpose. The third chapter focuses on the importance of taking care of your body, mind, and soul. The Japanese have a holistic approach to health, and they believe that taking care of your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being is essential for a long and happy life. The next few chapters explore the importance of connecting with others, fostering community, and finding joy in everyday activities. The authors share stories from the residents of a Japanese village with the highest percentage of 100-year-olds, known as one of the world's Blue Zones. They explain how these people have found their ikigai and how it has helped them live a long and fulfilling life. The book also provides practical tools to help readers discover their own ikigai. The authors have included exercises and questions to help readers identify their passions, strengths, values, and goals. What I loved about this book is its straightforward, simple, and practical approach to finding your ikigai. The authors have used real-life examples and anecdotes, making it relatable and easy to understand. The book has a gentle tone, and the authors have sprinkled it with humor, making it a joy to read. The illustrations in the book are beautiful and add to the overall aesthetic. The use of the Japanese language throughout the book gives it an authentic and cultural touch. However, some aspects of the book felt repetitive, and the authors could have explored some of the concepts in more depth. Also, some of the advice may not be applicable to everyone, especially if you live in a culture that values different things. In conclusion, Ikigai is a book that everyone should read. It offers a new perspective on life, work, and happiness. Its message is simple yet profound - find your ikigai, and you will live a long and happy life. The book is a reminder that we don't have to do something grand or extraordinary to find our purpose; it can be found in the everyday things we do. It is a book that will leave you feeling inspired, hopeful, and motivated to find your own ikigai. "Ready to dive into an unforgettable story? Get your hands on the book now or try Audible FREE for 30 days to experience it through your headphones. Don't wait - start your adventure today!" Price: [price_with_discount] (as of [price_update_date] - Details)

[fusonzai]

Salvation through writing 2: Life goals and horny Frank Ocean

There’s a phrase in Japanese called Ikigai, it contains the character for living 生 and the character for worth 甲斐 combining to mean “reason for being’’. There’s a philosophy around it mainly dissected on Youtube about how Japan believes everyone has a job that they’re right for. You know you’re ‘doing Ikigai’ when you find a job nourishes your soul whilst benefiting society. Finding a job that you’re good at, you enjoy doing, something that benefits society and puts food on the table is the path to a fulfilling life.

This concept of Ikigai is applies to everyone. Not everybody wants to be a rich professional entrepreneur/snake oil salesman. Everybody has their own unique skillset, strengths and weaknesses that suit a variety of vocations. Ikigai asserts that some people genuinely enjoy and take satisfaction in performing tasks others might deem menial. Therefore, anybody can find their Ikigai; be it a janitor, bureaucrat or international hip hop artist.

After the decade defining album ‘Blonde’, Frank Ocean graduated from teenage melancholy and angst with a drip feed of more upbeat, confident tracks. In one of these tracks ‘In My Room’ he raps “got this lust for life in me, horny for the game,” and then precedes to wax lyrical about all his achievements and bravado. These post Blonde tracks have this maturity and confidence to them. If he was reminiscing about uncertainty and the teenage experience in Blonde, he was well and truly growing up now. Forging deeper connections and leaving deeper scars.

(In My Room cover art, I tried to recreate this shot and failed)

Frank Ocean writes music, he seems to enjoy it and he’s damn well good at it too. He profits from it and, if the amount of times Blonde appears on Best Album of the decade lists is any indication, his music is well received by society.

So, if Frank Ocean’s Ikigai is being horny for the game? What’s mine?

In 2014 I went through what is still up until this day the lowest point in my life. To begin with I’d graduated university with a useless degree and was having a very hard time finding any work relating to it all. My casual job had dried up,I wasn’t only wayward but poor now too. The final blow was realising I was romantically interested in my best friend’s sister, only to then be rejected and see them both fade from my life in quick succession.

I was alone, I was embarrassed, and I actively hated waking up every day. I dreaded consciousness itself. I didn’t want to think about anyone or anything. I’d dull myself with junk food and video games. Holed up in my room for 14 hours a day, trying to get to the gym or even take my dog for a walk was a challenge. I got to the point where I tried to make a schedule for myself. Really small goals like going for a walk or going to the gym. The hardest thing I had to do was watch an arthouse movie a day, and I couldn’t even manage that.

I was in this state and I felt I had nobody I could turn to. I didn’t know how to explain it to my friends my own age and I didn’t want my parents to worry any more than they were. Then I remembered a mature age student from university, who would always have this way of making me feel alright about life when we chatted. I still had his number from months prior and when I felt I was at breaking point, I called. He listened to my ramblings and even gave me part time work at his cafe. He then sincerely said to me that I should seek some professional help, be that counselling or psychiatry. I truly valued his opinion in that hearing this didn’t feel like something I could blow off. It felt like a shockwave. He was genuinely worried for my wellbeing. I owed it not only to myself but also to him to seek help. So I did exactly that.

I visited the doctor’s office I’d been going to for years (often with embarrassing issues) yet talking about my mental health felt leagues more difficult. He asked if I wanted to see someone that could prescribe me drugs or if I just wanted to see a psychologist. I recall jokingly saying something like ‘it wasn’t real depression so a psychologist would be fine.’ He didn’t smile or laugh and just gave me a referral.

I drove to Sunshine and attended my first session of five free counselling sessions.

Throughout these sessions, it was honestly hard to gauge if I got anywhere. After all, you’re just talking and it’s really your actions outside the room that facilitate the change. As we talked, the psychologist suggested that the cause of almost all my issues was not having a steady job and if I just got one of them, then I’d be fine. If I just filled my time with work, I’d be too busy to really think about everything else that mattered. He believed it was the joblessness that was causing all this; I needed to get out of the muck immediately. However, I was on the other end of the spectrum, I wanted to go down as far as I could. I had romanticised reaching some sort of true rock bottom because I thought then, and only then, could I build myself back up. The five free sessions ended and I was convinced I wasn’t ‘really depressed’ and stopped going after that. What I got out of it was that I needed to work.

While not knowing the full brunt of what was going on with me, my friends and family also encouraged finding some kind of permanent job. After some failed attempts and Centrelink lines, I struck gold. Through sheer luck I landed a full-time job at a pretty nice cafe. This wasn’t a career or some sort of path forward, it was a plug to stop the depression. I told myself if I’m working, then nearly all my problems would go away. I never stopped and asked myself why at the time though. Why am I working? Am I working towards something or just working?

(Blonded)

I’d hole myself up at the cafe for the next 2 years of my life. Those two years were pure autopilot. I didn’t have any goals, I was working five days a week, seeing my friends on my days off, rinse and repeat. The only thing I remember about this time was the vague goal of moving to Japan for a year; which eventually became a reality.

The word ‘brave’ got thrown around a lot when I told people I was leaving. I liked the compliment, but it didn’t sit right with me. By the time I was about to move, I’d spent the previous 3 years working almost exclusively with people who weren’t from Australia originally, or people who were here on working holiday visas. I was just doing the same as they were. Another language and a completely different culture didn’t make me brave all of a sudden. I wasn’t entering a new country with rose coloured glasses or illusions about what I was doing there.

(Back when study was a lot easier)

So I set off and spent a year bumbling around in Tokyo, being poor, having little breakdowns and locking myself away when it got too tough occasionally. This didn’t feel brave. I’d work in cafes and restaurants in the upper class areas of Tokyo, my bosses would tell me x person was famous for this and y person was famous for that. I’d see these excessive bills and displays of wealth every day and every night. I’d then ride the shabby elevator down to the staff room and get changed out of my uniform as I tried to figure out if I had enough cash to get a snack from the convenience store. I was doing the exact same thing as I was in Australia just with a different background, I wasn’t improving. There was no job trajectory. Another loop of nothing. Killing more time, I could have done this forever and fool myself into thinking it was alright because it had a different coat of paint.

So I left Tokyo.

I went North to Hokkaido, hoping to find something better, and for a time I did. It was a barista job like the others, but with opportunities to do more. I went from just making coffee to modelling, translating (badly), interpreting (also badly) and eventually roasting coffee. I felt on the up. I was getting pretty damn good at my job: bringing in people from overseas, helping my company forge new friendships and leave a mark on the Japanese coffee scene. After 18 months of hard work and study I finally had a working visa, a semblance of normalcy and a direction.

I began to envision myself in the future with an even better job and a better grasp of the language. I’d made friends and I could even see myself living in Japan permanently. Also, I was in love. Boy, was I convinced I was in love. This feeling just gripped me, overwhelmed my senses and completely rearranged my priorities. Up until now, such feelings had always been one-sided or unreciprocated. Although this time the feelings flowed both ways. I’d light up to see her name on my phone; we’d talk about the future for hours on end as I’d envision us growing old together. I’d imagine our families meeting for the first time, moving in together, getting engaged, getting married, having kids. Things that felt so foreign, now seemed obvious with her. I felt like I had at least figured out one aspect of my life by now; I had someone beside myself to strive for. I wanted to make a future not only for myself, but for us.

My life finally felt balanced, I was doing a job that I was good at it, I was making a living abroad and my personal life finally felt at peace.

Yet here’s the thing, I began to realise I wasn’t doing any of it right. I wasn’t as satisfied as I was tricking myself into thinking I was. To begin with, I couldn’t see myself doing this job for the rest of my life. The merit of it being a stepping stone onto something better also seemed farfetched now. I’d never get fully out of coffee while still being in coffee.

Once I realised how much this job wasn’t right for me anymore, I began to notice the red flags. The days felt more repetitive and repetitive, my higher ups got verbally abusive, and I didn’t stand up for myself. I was demoted and sent to work far off in a ski resort nobody else wanted to go to. Back to serving the people rich enough to be in a such a resort reminded me of how little I’d really done. I felt like I was back in Tokyo spinning my wheels. The distance of the resort also meant I went from seeing my friends almost every day to about once every couple of months. The isolation began to kick in.

At least I still had my relationship, right? Well, those feelings I wrote about; I fought myself in an attempt not to show them. I spent all of my energy trying to fight them at the time because I thought it was too much. I’d not reply to messages, be vague and try to pretend our relationship wasn’t all I thought about it. I had all of this inside me, wanting to show the world and my partner how I felt. Yet I never matured to that point; I never had the confidence to just say how I felt in the present.

Relationships can’t live on lies for long and before I knew it mine had slipped through my fingers as well.

(Shaved my head and flew to Tokyo for a $500 cup of coffee)

It was now the end of 2019: work was awful, I’d self-sabotaged a real relationship, and I was stuck in this ski resort doing nothing. I felt like I had done all this work only to end up back to where I’d started; I was looping. I seriously contemplated ending that loop. Unlike the way I was in 2014, I felt like I’d actually tried this time. I’d gotten out there, found work, found meaning, found substance. Yet it felt so moot. I felt like I’d done nothing for anyone around me except, at the least, inconvenience them, and at worst, hurt them. I was making the same mistakes, wasting my own time and everyone else’s. For the first time in years, I broke down crying on the phone to my close friend, just despairing over the futility of it all.

That spiral continued on through all of 2020. I made more mistakes. I revisited places I shouldn’t have and before I knew it, it was snowing, and I was back in the same damn ski resort. I knew something had to change, yet I was doing absolutely nothing about it. This mediocrity was crushing me spiritually, but I was safe inside the familiarity. I could do that job until I died.

I was back to being scolded from superiors, being disconnected from my friends (again) and most of all being dishonest to myself. People often say of life changing moments, things like ‘I knew at that moment what I had to do’ or ‘I decided then and there’. I’ve always stumbled in and out of life changing events, never quite prepared and never sure things are going to be as definitive as they become. This time though it felt different. I sat down with my boss and heard about his ideal future for me. I realised I wanted nothing to do with it. So I told him as much and fortunately, he understood.

Now, for the first time since leaving university I’m about to become unemployed.

Here’s what surprises me upon reflection. I’m not nervous about it at all. That huge sense of dread that accompanied me when I finished university isn’t here. Leaving on my own terms feels good. It feels empowering and often overwhelming, yet knowing I put myself into this situation makes me believe that it’s all going to be alright. There’s nobody nudging me to quit, I just know I’m done with this part of my life. I need to do more; I can do more. It’s imperative for my own health and for those around me that I do more. I know what my own hell looks like because I’ve been there for the last 18 months. It stands to reason that to get out of it I need to do the opposite of what I’ve been doing. There isn’t a blueprint to follow so much as there’s pages of journal entries guiding me on what not to do. I have one page in my diary that is just ‘I HAVE GIFTS AND I SQUANDER THEM’ written until the page ends.

Yet there’s something still lingering. A question I ask myself more and more often. Why though? Why do I need to do more? What am I working towards? What am I doing it for?

Self-help books, Instagram influencers and Jordan Peterson lectures talk about envisioning a future and then aiming for that, using an ideal future as something to strive for. Take a second, imagine what you would want if there was nothing stopping you (within reason), then make a plan, and strive for that. You can then categorise whatever you do on a daily basis as things that either help or hinder that ideal future. My problem with this is that I can’t write up an ideal future because I honestly don’t know what I want for myself. I’ve sat myself down on occasion and tried asking myself. I’ve been writing these pieces as a way to flesh thoughts out in an attempt to strike gold. There are things I’m interested in, but not all that good at, when I go to study them or get better, I don’t see an endgame to it. If I’ve got enough media, friends and a work life balance it seems I can keep sailing by, but I really want to know what is the point of heading any direction?

I can’t envision a future with me in it, let alone an ideal one where I’m ‘living my best life’. It is almost as if I have replaced my fear and anxiety about the future with ambivalence. Whereas I used to think about the future and break down, I now just think about it and refuse to believe it will ever happen. I don’t associate negative emotion with these thoughts, I just think it’s useful to observe them. Barring a miracle, I don’t think I’m going to wake up one day and never think these thoughts again. I oscillate between the above nihilism and this belief that I can do more, be better and improve myself. I’m writing in an attempt to reconcile such a contradiction.

We arrive back at Frank Ocean, his lust for life and Ikigai. While Frank seems to have taken time to work something out with himself, I’m still not quite there. I haven’t found my passion (horny for the game, in other words) yet given time I know I’ll be lusting for life, too. It’s a selfish journey for now, but it’s one that’s arguably made progress. I look back at 20-year-old me, slumped down on the kitchen floor bawling my eyes out, my dog trying to nudge her way into my face to see what’s wrong. I realise now that I was at that rock bottom I wanted to reach. I had zero clue about what to do with myself then and really no forward trajectory. Now I at least have some sense of where to go, obtained through mistakes, courage, and self-inquiry. It’s not the inspiring 180 that people like to read, but it’s an improvement nonetheless. I’m still figuring it out as I go. I can be certain of one thing, I’ll keep making mistakes. I can take those mistakes and turn them into progress. Little by little that progress may one day account for something amazing.

[dissertationprepsami]

Week 1

This week we went through the brief with Kat, the aim of this brief is to start prep for our dissertation to give us a rough idea of what we would like to pursue in third year. This is a research orientated project where we will have to write a 2500 word essay, we will need primary and secondary research in this and also referencing academic publications,books, article, exhibitions, websites, blogs, forums etc.

The components of the project are;

1. Identify and formulate a lead question

2. Gather primary research such and interviews and questionnaires.

3. Gather secondary research from books and articles.

4. Outline the problem.

5. Explain your proposed solution.

To get us started into looking into what we want to do and focus on for this, Kat got us to look at Ikigai which is a Japanese concept, usually used to indicate the source of value in one's life or the things that make one's life worthwhile. The word translated to English roughly means "thing that you live for" or "the reason for which you wake up in the morning.". So by doing a chart like this it gave us an idea of what we would possibly be interested in.  

Using this chart kind of gave me a break down of what I enjoy combined with what I’m good at and passionate about so I could do my project of something that I’m actually interested in too. 

First idea

My first idea that I could look into is social media addiction and the effects it has on people, I can look at the serotonin released when people get likes or comments on pictures compared to when they don’t get ‘enough’ likes etc, to see the effect it can have of peoples mental health and how they think about ourselves. I could also link it to the negative impact that social media can and has had on people vs the positive effect it has, and if people even know that it has this effect on them. I could look at the mental health of someone who has addiction to social media and their phone compared to someone who doesn’t have it. I want to also look into the changes that social media platforms like Instagram are making by taking things like likes off of peoples posts which will obviously lead to users getting less obsessed with this and focusing on enjoying the social aspect.

Second idea

Adverts and campaigns representing false body image to consumers giving people a false impression of what the ‘perfect’ body is and that there is only one admirable body image. Campaigns like Protein World’s ‘Beach Body ready’ which suggests to audiences that you have to look that certain way to have a body that can be seen on the beach but in reality every body is different and you are never gonna get two bodies the exact same. I would talk about how it can effect children's self-esteem at an early age which may effect their mental health in their later life if they are being exposed to it from an early age and then grow up thinking that this is the ‘norm’.

Third idea

Legalizing the death penalty in the UK. I think that if America have it then why can’t the UK have it for severe and high profile criminals like rapists and murderers when they have been proven guilty of the crime and there is evidence that they have done it and are guilty. I could also look into using lie detecting as a reliable source to be used in the courtroom, as this would be 100% real evidence that this person has commit the crime, so situations that have happened before where the offender has been sentenced to the death penalty but once its happened there has been evidence found or it has been proven that they were not guilty and a massive mistake has been made, but there is obviously nothing they can do about it now and no reversing it.