ikigai - thoughts, part one
Have you heard of ikigai? It's a concept I keep coming back to.
Ikigai (生き甲斐) is the Japanese concept which simplifies to "reason for being": iki (生き) is "life", and 甲斐 (kai) is "meaning".
Modern day, westernized, and popular commentary on this idea breaks this concept down into a four part Venn Diagram1 where the intersection of it is your "ikigai". You'll find it in a lot of "self-help" books, LinkedIn, and in popular psychology, and spiritual help commentary; it's provided as a step-by-step process to identify your "true" meaning in life - the thing that will make you happy and live long for the rest of your days.
I struggle with that.
The challenge in that is many of those things, for me, evolve on a daily basis. Sometimes, even on a moment to moment basis.
Also, I want to point out that this breakout of "ikigai" is not really found in Eastern culture. I believe the phrase is simpler than that - it really is what is: "life meaning". I think that concept is easier for me.
Today, the rain gives my life meaning. It doesn't pay for the bills and I'm not good at it (or at least controlling it).
Yesterday, interacting with others gives my life meaning. But is it what the world needs?
Perhaps the simplicity of finding meaning, even in the smallest, most mundane things is ikigai.
And, perhaps, that is enough.