{"id":13,"date":"2025-03-08T09:35:30","date_gmt":"2025-03-08T09:35:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saltnpepper.sg\/blog\/?p=13"},"modified":"2025-03-17T07:29:57","modified_gmt":"2025-03-16T23:29:57","slug":"ikigai-the-japanese-philosophy-of-finding-purpose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/saltnpepper.sg\/blog\/2025\/03\/08\/ikigai-the-japanese-philosophy-of-finding-purpose\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Ikigai?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

[Freebie Alert]<\/strong> Purpose Framework worksheet<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever wake up and just stare at the ceiling, and think to yourself: \u201cIs this it? Just work, eat, sleep, repeat?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re not alone. A lot of us; especially in modern societies, get caught up in the grind. We\u2019re told to study hard, get a stable job, and settle down<\/strong>. Don’t stray, just follow the prescribed path. But somewhere along the way, many of us realise… we\u2019re just going through the motions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s where the Japanese term, Ikigai<\/strong>, <\/strong>comes in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is Ikigai?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to the bestseller book “Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life<\/em>“, Ikigai (\u751f\u304d\u7532\u6590) combines 2 Japanese words; \u751f\u304d which means “life<\/strong>“, and \u7532\u6590 meaning “to be worthwhile<\/strong>“. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ikigai has also been translated loosely to \u201creason for being\u201d<\/strong>, and for ease of use and articulation in modern societies, it’s associated with “having a purpose<\/strong>“. It\u2019s that magical thing that gives you a sense of purpose, excitement, and fulfillment<\/strong> in life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For some of us, Ikigai is found in our work<\/strong>. For others, it\u2019s in family, hobbies, <\/strong>or contributing to a cause<\/strong>. In the book, the authors observed that in Okinawa, many of the long-living elderlies were still working their craft despite their age. It’s never about retirement. Totally different concepts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think it’s erroneous to assume that having a long life naturally means you are happy, there are people who just have sad long lives – and that can be torturous! But rather the concept of being happy first, and longevity as a by-product, a bonus, that resonates with me better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet for many of us, it feels like we\u2019re just working to survive<\/strong>. (How sad if you think about it.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do we shift from just earning a living<\/strong> to actually feeling alive<\/strong>? That’s where discovering our Ikigai can help us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ikigai <\/strong>is <\/strong>that famous Venn diagram that I see online right? The mainstream understanding of Ikigai comes from something known as a purpose diagram attributed to Andres Zuzunaga. The diagram suggests one to find the balance between four key aspects<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. What You Love<\/strong>: The things that bring you joy and energy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. What You\u2019re Good At<\/strong>: Your strengths and skills.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. What the World Needs<\/strong>: Ways to make a positive impact.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. What You Can Be Paid For<\/strong>: The practical side of making a living.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The sweet spot where these four overlap<\/strong> is thus often taken at full value as ikigai itself but we need to recognise that the Japanese understanding of Ikigai is more than that. Nonetheless, I find that the four questions provides a good framework for introspection and serves as a good foundation to map one\u2019s purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    How to Start Finding Your Ikigai (Please don’t rage quit yet.)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Finding your Ikigai doesn\u2019t mean making a drastic career switch overnight<\/strong>, or experiencing a change of life immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It starts with small, intentional steps<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Identify What Already Sparks Joy<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Think about the last time you felt truly engaged and excited<\/strong>. What were you doing? Who were you with?<\/p>\n\n\n\n