Last week’s Simple Living Sunday post discussed mindfulness and the value of being fully present. This week’s post builds on that theme with a look at the Japanese concept of Ikigai. Roughly translated as the meaning and purpose of life, it’s a subject that is getting a lot of attention lately. Are you ready to get started on finding your Ikigai?
“Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.
Joseph Addison
Three simple pleasures and highlights
Continuing my practice of celebrating the simple things in life, here are three simple pleasures and highlights of the last week.
- On Saturday, my band Wichita opened the show at a charity gig to raise money for the MS Society of Canada. I had a blast! After our set, we danced the night away while the other two bands performed. It was one of the best nights out I have had in a while. Here are a couple of video clips if you’re interested in watching them.
- My friend Pat Keachie has just published a new book of poetry called Medals and Memories: And a Prayer for Peace. It’s wonderful collection of poems that pays tribute to the military tradition in Pat’s family, and the need for peace and healing in the world. The copy I ordered arrived on Wednesday, so I spent Remembrance Day on Friday reading it and reflecting on the tragedy of war and the need for peace in our world. The book is available on Amazon if you’d like to order a copy.
- Summer in November continued this week with several days of temperatures approaching 20° C.
This week’s simple living focus: Ikigai and the meaning of life
In The Ikigai Journey, authors Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles define Ikigai as “The meaning of life, the thing that makes you get out of bed each day in eager anticipation.” We don’t have a similar word in English, but it’s what the French would call your raison d’être.
I first referenced Ikigai (pronounced ee-key-guy) in Retire Retirement! Plan Your Best Years Now! In his books Victory Lap Retirement, Retirement: Heaven or Hell, and Longevity Lifestyle By Design, author Mike Drak introduces readers to this concept as an essential part of creating a lifestyle plan for their retirement years.
From his personal experience, and his work as a retirement coach, Mike has seen the effects of what he calls Sudden Retirement Syndrome. Work adds structure to our lives and gives us a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Take that away—even in the case of a much-anticipated retirement after a long life of hard work—and many people end up in retirement hell, struggling to add meaning and purpose to their days.
Learnings from Okinawa
The island of Okinawa in Japan boasts the world’s longest living population, with many residents living past age 100. More important than lifespan, though, is healthspan. Residents of this island off the coast of Japan enjoy great health with lower-than-average rates of heart disease, dementia, and breast and prostate cancer.
What’s their secret? In IKIGAI: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, Garcia and Miralles explain that Okinawans fully embrace the principles of Ikigai. They lead busy and active lives. Instead of whiling their later years away in a rocking chair, they engage in outdoor activities and community projects. In fact, retirement isn’t even in their vocabulary. The word simply doesn’t exist.
Only staying active will make you want to live a hundred years.
Japanese Proverb
While many people fear aging, Mike Drak, along with many other smart seniors like him, has figured out is that finding your Ikigai can make your senior years the best years of your life.
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To do this week – Get started on finding your Ikigai
So, how can you find your Ikigai? Just seeing the words “meaning of life” written down can be intimidating. But you don’t have to sell all your belongings and go wandering in the wilderness to find your purpose.
There are lots of books, tools and worksheets available to help you figure this out, but you’ll find your Ikigai at the intersection of four things: your skills, what you love to do, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.
To get started, grab a blank piece of paper. Draw four overlapping circles on the page like you see in the picture above. Now you’re ready to start writing lists.
Your skills
On the left side, write a list of your skills. What are you really good at? These can be skills you’ve learned during your career, or from your hobbies.
If this is hard for you, ask a friend for help.
Things you love to do
The happiest people are not the ones who achieve the most. They are the ones who spend more time than others in a state of flow.
Hector Garcia Puigcerver
Next, think about what do you love to do. At the top circle, write down things you’re passionate about. These are activities that put you in a flow state where you lose all track of time.
You might find some of the same things on your list of skills and things you love to do. That’s a good thing!
Things the world needs
Then, move on to the right circle. Here, you’ll make a list of what the world needs. What problems can you solve for others using your skills and the things you’re passionate about? What do people need help with?
Activities you can be paid for
Finally, how can you turn your skills and passions into a source of income? Look at the things you’ve written so far and think about services people will pay for.
Putting it all together
I’ve been working on this for the last little few months. Here’s what my completed Ikigai worksheet looks like at this point.
Here’s a simple example to pull it all together. Let’s say you’re a good writer and find you lose all track of time when you’re writing. You know people starting a business and wanting to create an online presence may need help writing blog posts and articles for their websites. That’s one example of something you could be paid for. Maybe writing is your Ikigai!
We all need something to add meaning and purpose to our lives. Applying the principles of Ikigai can help in many different areas of your life. To learn more, I highly recommend you check out some of the books I’ve referenced in this post. It might set you on a new path.
What kinds of things add meaning and purpose to your life? Tell me your thoughts below.
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I have been exploring this exact term recently. Been looking to live in a way that I can grow through. My challenge is now finding a vocation that I can support myself with. Writing seems to be it, but simply being a content mill person isn’t cutting it, and fiction doesn’t really pay. So the quest continues. Thanks for this post!
Thanks Stuart. I can totally relate to what you say about being a content mill person. I applied for a position in our editorial team at work a couple of years ago. I decided writing “someone else’s words” wasn’t the right direction for me.
It is hard to turn what you love into a source of income but many people are finding a way of doing it. It’s just a matter of finding the right niche. I know you’ll do it!
I had never heard of “Ikigai” before reading your post, Michelle! It is very inspiring and encouraging!
Thank you also for including the amazon link!
Cher xoxoxo
Hi Cher! I am happy to hear you enjoyed the post. Ikigai is definite an inspiring concept.
It sure is, Michelle! I’m always in awe of something so profound and cannot help but think, gee, why did I not know of this before? Inspiration is vital, and this certainly has provided me with a boost of it!
I’ve heard of this concept before. It is important to have a purpose in life. I know of people who went back to work, after retirement, due to boredom!
Also, it’s good to see your band videos; especially the ‘Zombie’ performance. 😀🎤🎶🎵
Thanks Rachel. It is so important to have a purpose. Too many people think retirement will solve all their problems. It won’t and it might even create some new ones.
Zombie is one of my favourite songs to sing. 😀
What a terrific post! I love that some cultures have a word for this idea/concept of ikigai or raison d’etre. I think in recent years I’ve managed to find a — very modest — balance between my skills (singing, writing, working with others), things i love to do (sing, share music with others, dance), things the world needs (music, collaboration, affirmation of feelings, being in the present moment, creativity, empathy, awareness of ecological truths), and activities I can be paid for (leading Music Together classes, performing at retirement communities, recording/releasing songs). My life doesn’t earn me a lot of money, but I do have a reason to get out of bed most mornings… And I also find myself writing a lot of songs encouraging/inviting people to get out of bed in the morning! One specifically says “A beating heart means you’re not dead, a brand new start — get out of bed! Your mission calls, and we all hope that you’ll succeed. The time is here, the time is now; so persevere — embrace the Tao. Dear Lao Tse once decreed: only change is guaranteed.” Here’s a link to that song (https://songwhip.com/willmcmillan/a-beating-heart) if you or any of your readers/commenters is curious to hear it… and maybe even find some inspiration regarding THEIR ikigai!
Hi Will! It definitely sounds like you have found your Ikigai and have found a way to share the message with others through your music. Your song “A Beating Heart” definitely sums up the whole idea of Ikigai perfectly. Thanks for sharing it.
Thanks .for listening, Michelle. Your blog post has inspired me to write one (which will include a link to this post…) Deep breath in. Deep breath out. Thank you again for your inspiring blog!!!
YEAH! I am so happy to hear that Will. I look forward to reading it.