The Japanese art of cultivating a purposeful life
The quest for meaning in life is something that humans have pursued as far back as we have scripture. From philosophers and artists to your own quiet moments or dinner table conversations, the questions continually surface for individuals: “What is the meaning of my life?”, “How do I find my passion?”, “Can I wake up with joy for what I do each day?” and “What is the secret to longevity?” Turning to the wisdom of the Japanese culture, the mysteriously beautiful yet pragmatic concept of ikigai is a time-proven compass, stemming from ancient tradition to modern day application, to cultivate a long life of purpose and happiness — and you can apply it to your earthly experience too.
The meaning of ikigai
( ) is composed of Japanese characters that translate to “life” and “to be worthwhile”, or the overarching meaning of “a reason for being”. It is a Japanese concept referring to something that gives a person a sense of purpose in life. Ikigai is your reason to wake up in the morning and have the willingness to do something. When thinking of ikigai, it may be helpful to envision it as the rather than In this way, ikigai is too elusive and diverse to pin down into a rigid dictionary definition. It is the incentive of doing things to fulfil your purpose and imbibe meaning into each moment of your existence, and is as unique as each individual who holds it.
