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IKIGAI
YOUR LIFE PATH
The Concept of IKIGAI
With its roots in Japanese tradition, the term IKIGAI can be translated as “your reason for being” or your “the meaning in your life”, and has long been believed to be a source of inner peace, deep satisfaction and even longevity.
Often Ikigai is described as the feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment that follows when people pursue their passions. Inherently, this is not something than can be imposed or coerced, but rather a result of personal choices, willingly engaged in and often rooted in a sense of humility or grace.
Structurally, Ikigai is the convergence (we use the term “confluence”, a coming together, to underline the fluid and dynamic aspects of Ikigai) of four areas of life:
What you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what people will value and be willing to trade for.
LOVE
What we love, our passion, our joy, is often the most powerful of the four pillars of this concept. And that is easy to understand, since we lose ourselves in that which we love, and often the doing is the reward.
STRENGTH
What we are good at works in synergy with what we love: we are likely to be good at, and get better at, those things we love. And often the ease that comes from doing something naturally and with skill and talent contribute to our enjoyment of it.
NEED
As inherently social animals, humans have a desire to help others. And finding a burning need can often create a craving desire to fix it. And when coupled with a strength and a passion for that thing, can result in a great sense of fulfillment or satisfaction.
VALUE
On the surface, this last area seems contrary to a philosophy based on contribution and fulfillment, but when considered from the perspective that contributing and helping others is only possible when our own basic needs are met, and that the fulfillment of these needs is often directly linked with our ability to acquire (pay for) them.
Originally, Ikigai was described as a way of contributing to society, of being a good citizen. Today, it has become a way for people to find personal fulfillment while doing something that benefits others as well.
Flow (being in a flow state, as described by psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi in the 1970s) is often one effect of having found one’s Ikigai. People in flow lose a sense for time, and feel energised even after long hours of work.
We will work with you in an iterative process to identify the four pillars of Ikigai that are relevant for you, and help you determine how you can bring your Ikigai to life.