In Search of My IKIGAI, the Purpose of My Life!
Tim Tamashiro starts his book How to Ikigai by saying, “Ikigai is your life’s worth. Ikigai is the reason you get out of bed in the morning. It is what you do, every day, that’s meaningful to you and others.”
He further says Ikigai is the purpose of life, it is part of a balanced life that is productive and enjoyable.
I was surprised to note that I could not answer the question, “What’s my life’s purpose?” when I started reading his book. The worst thing is that I had never asked that question to myself before!
Like every other person in the world, I have also been told that when you get a good education, you will get a good job, and then you live a good life. Recently, when I was feeling empty with all the good education, good job, and good life I have, I understood that there is something more than just education, job, and money! Incidentally, at that time, one of my friends asked me to write on Ikigai! I searched the internet and got the ‘Wow’ feeling when I found the Venn diagram provided by Marc Winn!
Ikigai has just four directions:
- Do what you love
- Do what you are good at
- Do what the world needs
- Do what you can be rewarded for.
The Venn diagram clearly explains, that life’s purpose, Ikigai, is realized where all four circles come together! Even if any one of the four is missing also, you are not complete! For example, if you are privileged to do what you love to do, that is what you are good at and also the world needs that you will experience delight and fullness but you might not have enough money if you are not paid for what you are doing! Can you see this?
Another case: when you are not doing what you love, even though you are doing what you are good at, what the world needs and you are rewarded for, you will feel the emptiness. When I started exploring this concept Ikigai, I was shocked to note this is what my state of living!
I am working from Monday to Friday doing something that pays me well. And then enjoy(!) Saturdays and Sundays, worried about Mondays. The same thing I was repeating till this time and am I going to continue the same until I get retired?
Before I was introduced to Ikigai, when Niranjana and Devesh said they were going to take up arts as their profession I was very much worried about their safe and secured life. We, Arun and I, advised them to have their present job as a backup and proceed with their passion as part-time. That was our gesture to show our concern for their future.
We think that a career in arts is irrational. The first thought is “How will you make money? How will you pay rent? How will you feed yourself, get ahead in life, be successful, etc?” How is an art career a rational path? Actually, it is a path of fulfillment!
But, though I have not completely understood and not found my Ikigai yet, with this little reading about Ikigai now I can see they are the ones who are living their life’s purpose.
When I started reading the book for the second time, I was trying to answer those four questions and stuck with the first one itself! What do I love to do? Having lived a machine-like life it was shocking for me when I could not get an answer for this. I have forgotten my loud laughter! What makes me happy, what is my passion, what is that I want to do, no answer to these questions!.
At the same time, I could realize what Niranjana and Devesh were trying to make me understand. They wanted to take arts as their career, Niranjana wanted to start a dance studio and Devesh a music class.
Now, I can say they have realized their Ikigai, their life’s purpose.
They ‘love to do’ dance and music. They ‘are good at’ dance and music and they are making efforts to improve those skills. The ‘world needs’ dance and music to be taught for future generations to enjoy their life. And, of course, they ‘are rewarded for’ their dance and music.
So, now tell me is it not that they both are living a fulfilling life?
Recently, when we were talking about the dance classes and the behind-the-scenes work, I just remarked that they might be tired of doing all that work and managing everything might be difficult. Devesh said the work is going on very tightly, but we do not feel tired as we love to do that and get a feeling of satisfaction at the end of the day!. I admired his response and I admit that I could see a thin line of jealousy also!
Life becomes enjoyable when you follow your Ikigai and share it with the world! Tim says, “A life of Ikigai makes purpose a high priority to take action with each day. A little bit of meaning every day will turn into a lifetime of joy”. Further, he writes, “Are you waking up to merely survive the day? You deserve more than that. When you put your Ikigai into action, you will wake up each morning with greater purpose. You will awaken to each day full of wonder.”
“How to Ikigai” by Tim Tamashiro
The starting point of Ikigai asks the two most obvious questions we could ask ourselves and there is no direction forward without answering those two questions: What do you love? What are you good at? Sometime back, Niranjana told me to do things which I like rather than talking about empty nest etc., after her wedding. I was clueless and asked her whether she can tell what’s that I am interested in. Now, I am in search of the answers for those two questions!.Those who know me personally, you may please help me in finding that!
Thank you Kalpana for asking me to write about this concept! That was the motivation to introspect the life I am living!
I will share what I have understood about finding your Ikigai and start living it.
Comments (7)
Anita daniel
Amazing post… Usually I never comment on blogs but your article is so convincing that, I never stop myself to say something about it. You’re doing a great job Ma’am…
Kuzhali
…Thank you, have not dissected life this particular way…a completely different view
.S.Thanga Ramya
An eye opening review ma’am . It made me to view my ikigai differently. Your writting style is incredible ma’am.
Geetha Ramadas
Hearing it for tge first time. Fully agree with your thought process. When I look at myself, there is a very big question mark on what is my itigai. I am sure that none of tge things i did in past qualify to be my itigai
Subhashini Krishnan
Dear Madam,
It was actually an eyeopener. Thank you mam for this post. You have putforth two questions before us. I used to admire certain qualities. Few of them i mention below. You have a good leadership quality (giving space for the team, getting the best output by providing comfort zone, making them to realize their potential, standing behind them during the success and failure), the passion you have towards teaching, the counselling skills, showing empathy, helping others to find solution etc. Hope Introspection of these may help you in finding the answer for the question “What you love to do?” mam
Thank you
M.Rubitha
What are you good at?
Ma’am, you possess excellent leadership qualities. I am truly impressed by your ability to balance both personal and professional life which is not that easy being in a higher position. Your kindness and consideration for fellow human beings are qualities that I admire the most in you.
What do you love?
I have observed that you have a deep love for the beauty of nature and art. Additionally, you have a remarkable empathy for others, especially young children. Involving in nature-based activities such as volunteering with environmental groups that focus on tree planting, conservation, educating others about nature and being part of art therapy programs, or youth development initiatives for underprivileged children in a way of giving them emotional support gain you a higher level of satisfaction.
As you mentioned, I’ve often felt that I don’t get mentally exhausted when I do what I love, and I thank you for the clear explanation of the Ikigai concept. Now I could connect that “What I love to do” which benefits me and others serves my purpose of life.
M. Ravi Kumar
True Mam. Meeting both ends in our life is challenging. One is fulfilment of job and another one for satisfaction.
Our life becomes meaningful when we live for our aspirations.
More than money, gratitude, mercy, dedication etc are essential for one.
The article provokes to think about the real meaning of life.
Thanks for inspiration Mam.