If any country has discovered the secret to longevity, it’s Japan. Not only do the Japanese live longer than any other nationality in the world, but they’re generally healthier too. While the Japanese diet certainly plays a part, many citizens put their health and happiness down to something called ikigai.
Ikigai (pronounced ‘ee-kee-guy’) is a concept that’s deeply rooted in Japanese culture and history. The term is a combination of the words ‘iki’ (to live) and ‘gai’ (worth) which, when put together, are often translated as ‘reason to live’.
But according to many Japanese followers, ikigai actually translates closer to ‘happiness to be alive’. It’s a way of finding joy through purposeful, meaningful actions, and many Japanese believe that ikigai is the key to a long, healthy, and happy life.
What’s particularly interesting about ikigai is that the western interpretation is very different from the traditional Japanese philosophy – yet both can be used to help you find joy, purpose, and meaning in life. So, let’s delve into the ikigai, the Japanese secret of a joyful life.
The role of ikigai in Japanese culture
To understand how ikigai can positively impact your life, it’s important to understand the role it plays in Japanese culture.
While, in UK society, ageing used to mean slowing down, this has never been the case in Japan. Japanese people believe that if you don’t keep your mind and body busy, your soul becomes disconnected from your ikigai. This is one of the reasons that there’s no word in Japanese that means ‘retire’ in the way we mean it over here.
Its believed that one of the reasons Japanese people have the longest life expectancy in the world is because they do things they love every day. They don’t slow down, but continue to do things they’re good at long after they’ve retired. And, while studies suggest that staying in the workplace for just one extra year is linked with an 11% lower risk of death, this doesn’t mean you need to keep working to find purpose and meaning.
While researching his book, Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, author Héctor Garcia interviewed more than 100 elderly residents of Ogimi Village, which enjoys the highest life expectancy in the world. One thing all these residents had in common, aside from being healthy and active, was that they each had an ikigai. For some, this was gardening, or doing art, while, for others, it was spending time with family and friends, or forging connections with their peers.
While each person’s ikigai could vary, everyone knew what theirs was and engaged with it every day. Living energetically, whether that’s enjoying hobbies or continuing working, is characteristic of many Japanese elders, not just the residents of Ogimi Village. It’s also a trait seen in other ‘blue zones’ around the world – places where a high proportion of people live much longer than anywhere else.
These blue zones, like Sardinia’s Barbagia region, and the Greek island of Ikaria, for example, may not have their own word for ikigai, but the concept still exists. Finding your purpose, staying active, and nurturing social connections are traits seen in all blue zones.
Finding meaning and purpose in a way that relates to others
Dan Buettner, author of Blue Zones: Lessons on Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest, says that because, in Japan, “older people are celebrated, they feel obligated to pass on their wisdom to younger generations.” And this gives them a purpose in life outside of themselves.
To many followers, this is what separates ikigai from similar philosophical concepts, like the French ‘raison d’etre’ (reason for living). Ikigai often refers to finding your personal purpose and fulfilment in a way that relates to other people. It can be a personal pursuit that also benefits others – a way to find purpose and meaning while also contributing to the good of society.
The Ikigai diagram
The concept of ikigai is captured by the well-known ikigai diagram, which actually originates from western culture. This venn diagram helps you find your ikigai by exploring four elements…
- Your passion (what you love)
- Your vocation (what you’re skilled at)
- Your mission (what the world needs)
- Your profession (what you can be paid for)
It’s worth mentioning here that while traditional Japanese philosophy focuses on finding your joy and purpose, the western interpretation uses ikigai as a way of finding your dream career. If you’re paid for what you’re good at, what you love doing, and what the world needs then, according to the westernised interpretation, you’ve found your perfect job.
But according to traditional Japanese ikigai followers, not all the dimensions of the diagram are necessary components.
Authentic ikigai has little to do with professional success, entrepreneurship, or financial freedom, and a person’s ikigai doesn’t have to be something they can get paid for. Neither does it have to be a talent. It doesn’t even have to involve something the world needs – because it’s not meant to be a “lofty and formidable goal to achieve”.
Instead, traditional ikigai is closer to a Zen Buddhist mentality, which emphasises the importance of embracing the small joys in life, living in the moment, being active, and having a healthy, happy frame of mind. This seems to be the outlook shared by the residents of Ogimi Village, who find their ikigai in simple yet purposeful activities like growing crops, playing sports, and doing arts and crafts.
How to find your ikigai
While the ikigai diagram may not be traditional, filling it in can still be useful. Even if you’re not looking to make a career change – or have been retired for years – it can be helpful to understand what your personal ‘sweet spot’ is; where do your passions and talents converge with what society needs?
Finding purpose and meaning in life is one of our most basic human needs, but many of us struggle to know what we want in life – or who we truly are. Finding your ikigai can give you perspective and direction, particularly if you’re going through a challenging time, or are feeling lost or rudderless.
Consider what gives you meaning
For people who’ve always found their ikigai through work, retirement can lead to a profound sense of loss and emptiness – so the importance of identifying other ways of finding purpose and meaning can’t be minimised.
If you’ve always enjoyed talking and have a natural ability to connect with other people, for example, you might find your ikigai by volunteering for crisis counselling organisations. Or maybe you could work for charities like Age UK’s The Silver Line, providing friendship and conversation for older adults.
Or, if you’re interested in making a career change, you might want to consider putting your talents and interests to good use and training as a counsellor or therapist. But it’s also important to note that to many followers of traditional ikigai, your ikigai doesn’t have to involve something the world needs, or even be something that benefits society. It can simply be something that gives you meaning.
Remember that ikagai can be as small as making someone smile
Remember that the idea of ‘making a difference’ doesn’t have to be a grand concept. It can be an act as small as making someone smile.
As scientist Ken Mogi wrote in The Little Book of Ikigai: “the Japanese don’t need grandiose motivational frameworks to keep going, but rely more on the little rituals in their daily routines.” So, if we approach ikigai from this perspective, ikigai doesn’t have to be a powerful passion or a life purpose. It can be found in daily rituals, side projects, and meaningful conversations.
While filling in the venn diagram can be informative, it’s also not the only way to discover your ikigai. Practising mindfulness, trying new things, aligning your actions with your values, engaging in self-reflection, and seeking feedback are all believed to be ways you can discover your ikigai.
Embrace lifelong learning
And, however you decide to find your ikigai, remind yourself that you don’t need to seek your One True Passion. Instead, embrace lifelong learning, keep asking questions, and learn through your mistakes.
Remember that you don’t need to save the world. Focus on the positive impact you can have on the people around you instead, and the ways you can connect with others in meaningful ways.
Final thoughts…
Finding your ikigai – just like figuring out who you truly are – isn’t always easy. It might involve a lot of time, effort, and trying new things. But for many people, the act of searching for ikigai is what gives them meaning.
Pursuing our passions and developing our skills are basic human drives, and if these can make you feel like you’re making any sort of difference, or living a fulfilling life, that’s something that should be celebrated.
For more on finding direction and joy in life, you might want to read our articles; 5 ways to find meaning and purpose in your life and Who am I? 7 tips to figure out who you truly are.
Have you found your ikagai? Had you heard of ikagai before reading this article? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.