Interpreting Life with the Concept of Ikigai

Sometimes we’ve felt less passionate, lackluster, and lazy. Often we also feel bored, tired, and feel erratic when do our daily routine.

As a person’s being, it’s natural to occasionally feel such a thing. However, if the condition continues, it’ll obviously interfere with our daily lives. Then, how to solve everything so that life feels more meaningful?

Have you ever heard of the term Ikigai? Ikigai (生き甲斐) is a term from the Japanese language to describe the pleasures and meanings of life. Literally, the word Ikigai comes from the word “iki” which has meaning life and “gai” which means value, so Ikigai are often interpreted as the reason we live.  This ikigai are often as simple as answering questions like, ‘why are you awakening from sleep?’ or ‘what do you want to be old later?’.  This interrogation point is a big question for ikigai adherents, and it’s actually good to emphasize intentions and rectify life motivations, that we are not just surviving but trying to live a meaningful life.

A.   Ikigai Concept

The concept of Ikigai has been lived by most Japanese people. Japanese people believe that by cultivating Ikigai in life, they increasingly find meaning in life and this makes most Japanese have a high life expectancy. It’s evident that Japan is the second country with a high level of life expectancy after Monaco.

The basic concept of Ikigai teaches us that life is like two sides of a coin. Life isn’t only about pleasure and happiness, but there’s also sadness and suffering. There must be times when things are out of our daily control. like congested roads, rainstorms, and other things that suck and assume that we are during a state of suffering. Ikigai makes people see the longer term positively despite suffering, and therefore the suffering is solely complementary in life.

The reason for a person to wake up in the morning is not always something big. Sometimes from small things, we discover the meaning of happiness. for instance, enjoying the sunrise, drinking warm bitter coffee, cooking food to eat with the family, or other simple things that we will unknowingly make this heart excited and happy when doing it.

Someone who applies Ikigai will know the rationale they have to get up early, need to fight for something, and that they have hope. If we live without knowing Ikigai, life will feel lonely without meaning.

B.   The Way to Find Ikigai

For those of you who want to try to apply the concept of Ikigai, you must be curious about how to find Ikigai in life.

Basically, Ikigai may be a slice of four elements, namely Passion, Mission, Vocation, and Profession. find Ikigai, the foremost important thing is to balance the four elements to fill each other in forming a sustainable life goal.

The four elements must complement one another. If you simply find a few of them then it cannot be said that you have found Ikigai’s way of life. If we will bring these four elements together, then we’ll find the meaning of Ikigai that can make life more meaningful. the subsequent is an explanation of the four elements of ikigai.

1.    Passion: What You Love

Passion is an action that an individual performs according to his motivation and desires so that he can get excited. passion is that the feeling of enthusiasm or excitement to do something. Some people say that zeal is a trace of life’s purpose and a call from the heart. When someone does employment according to their passion, they’re going to feel more alive and feel unencumbered in doing work. those that already have a passion will be willing to do various things in achieving something. In fact, they’re willing to spend their time, energy, and thoughts in achieving something.

Although it’s a bit similar, actually hobbies and passions are two various things. A hobby are some things that a person does to fill his spare time, and also to entertain himself. additionally, one’s own hobbies can change counting on the level of saturation of a person, it’s not even a problem if someone intends to abandon their hobby. While passion are some things that a person does on the basis of love. When an individual loves something so much that it becomes a part of his own soul. In other words, passion is more inherent and not easily replaced than hobbies.

2.    Mission: What the World Need

Missions are things that are needed by our surroundings. it’s going to not be in accordance with our passion but it is possible that we can contribute with small things that we can do for the environment around us.

3.    Vocation: What You‘ll Paid For

It is undeniable that in order to survive, of course, we must have income. Vocation are some things we can do and generate an income for us.

4.    Profession: What You’re Good at

Profession are some things that we feel an expert in the field of. we will get this skill by studying or taking training courses.

C.   Five Important Pillars in Ikigai

There are five important pillars that support the principle of Ikigai. The five pillars  include:

Pillar 1: Start with a little thing

A little thing that can be the beginning of our day, can be by getting up early. When we wake up, start the morning with gratitude, it will provide a positive feeling that is useful for starting the day. In the morning, when you have enough sleep, your brain will be refreshed and ready to digest new information.

Pillar 2: Free Ourselves

Freeing oneself from the burdens of life like a child. Little ones think innocently and as they are. It would be nice if we could maintain the perspective of a child throughout our lives.  Being in a state of flow and being free from one’s own burdens will improve the quality of life and work. Being in a flowing state makes the work sustainable and feels good.

Pillar 3: Harmony and sustainability

As social beings it is only natural that we live in harmony and side by side. Similarly, in the Ikigai principle, by respecting and respecting the characteristics of each person around us, there will arise a “golden triangle” between Ikigai, flow, and creativity. Ikigai is closely related to maintaining harmony with the environment, the people around it, and society at large. Without it, sustainability would be impossible.

Pillar 4: Respecting Every Little Thing

Something big starts small, and is built through continuous small steps, to make consistency in building small steps a success, an appreciation of each process is the main key.   The Japanese people are famous for their appreciation of small things. They are used to appreciating from the smallest things so as to produce an outstanding work.

Pillar 5: Enjoying the time and current condition

Enjoying the time and current conditions is one of the pillars of Ikigai. The simplicity that arises from our surroundings whatever it is, when appreciating and enjoying the time that has been given will make life feel more meaningful.

Well, that’s the concept and value of life from Ikigai. Do you already feel like you found Ikigai in your life? Or even, maybe someone has been living life with the concept of Ikigai?

Let’s improve ourselves with ikigai to get balance and happiness in life. Good luck.

 

Best Regards,

Yusli Anggita

Improveourself