Ikigai: The Japanese Philosophy of Happiness and Finding Purpose
Why do you get out of bed every morning? Do you feel joy on Mondays, or are you just waiting for Friday?
In Japanese culture, there is a concept called "Ikigai". This word has no direct translation, but its essence can be described as "a reason for being," "the thing that makes life worth living," or simply "the zest for life." It is the intersection point of your desires, talents, financial stability, and contribution to the world.
Let’s explore this concept in more detail, based on the classic four-circle diagram.
The Four Cornerstones of Ikigai
According to the concept, true Ikigai is found at the very center where four spheres overlap. To find it, you need to honestly answer four questions:
1. What You Love (Passion & Interest)
This is your internal motivation. It includes everything you do with joy, even if you aren't paid for it.
- How to find it: What can you do for hours while losing track of time? What do you read about in your free time? What fills you with energy?
2. What You Are Good At (Skill & Mastery)
These are your competencies. This includes both natural talents and skills acquired through learning and practice.
- How to find it: What do you do better than others? What do people usually ask you for help or advice with?
3. What The World Needs (Mission & Necessity)
This is your utility to society. Ikigai cannot exist in a vacuum—it must resonate with the needs of other people.
- How to find it: What problems can you help solve? What can you give to people to make their lives easier, better, or happier?
4. What You Can Be Paid For (Market & Resources)
This is the economic component. For a sustainable life in the material world, your activity must generate income.
- How to find it: What are people willing to pay for right now? Which of your skills are in demand in the labor market?
The Intersections: What Happens When We Only Combine Two Spheres?
The most interesting part begins when the spheres overlap. This is where our life roles are formed:
- Passion (What you love + What you are good at). You do it well, and you enjoy it. But if no one needs it and no one pays for it, it remains just a wonderful hobby.
- Mission (What you love + What the world needs). You feel spiritually uplifted by helping others. But without skills and payment, it can turn into volunteering that is hard to sustain long-term without resources.
- Vocation (What the world needs + What you can be paid for). You are doing something useful and getting paid. But if you don't love it and lack great talent for it, you become an executor who is easily replaced.
- Profession (What you are good at + What you can be paid for). The classic job. You are a professional, and you get paid. But without love for the work and a higher purpose, it turns into a routine paycheck.
The Traps of Imbalance: What is Missing?
The diagram clearly shows emotional states when even one of the four elements is missing (the outer sectors of the scheme):
- Satisfaction, but a feeling of uselessness. (You have love, skill, money — but no contribution to the world). You might be a successful egoist, but eventually, an existential crisis arrives: "What is all this for? What will I leave behind?"
- Delight and fullness, but no wealth. (You have love, skill, contribution — but no money). This is the path of the "starving artist" or the eternal enthusiast. You are spiritually happy, but the constant struggle for survival drains you and ultimately kills creativity.
- Excitement and complacency, but a sense of uncertainty. (You have money, contribution, love — but lack skill). You feel like an "imposter." You were lucky to occupy a niche, but a lack of professionalism creates constant stress and fear that it will all end soon.
- Comfortable, but a feeling of emptiness. (You have skill, money, contribution — but no love). This is the "golden cage." A successful career in a corporation that doesn't resonate with your soul. Burnout is inevitable here because it is impossible to spend your whole life doing what you don't love, even for big money.
How to Find Your Ikigai? A Practical Exercise
Ikigai is not a destination, but a journey. To get closer to the center of the diagram, try this exercise:
- Make 4 lists. Take a piece of paper and write down answers for each of the four circles. Don't limit yourself; write whatever comes to mind.
- Look for overlaps. See if there are items that repeat in different lists. For example, you love to draw, you are good at it, it is needed for design, and you can get paid for it.
- Start small. You don't have to quit your job immediately. If you have a profession that provides money ("Profession" sector), try adding elements of what you love to it, or find a social project ("Mission" sector) for your soul.
- Experiment. Ikigai can change throughout life. What was your meaning at 20 may differ from what it will be at 40.
Conclusion
Ikigai is balance. It is the state when you wake up in the morning knowing that the day will not be wasted. It is when your passion brings value to people, and the world rewards you with resources for life.