Ikigai, An Art to Help You Find Your Life Purpose

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Ikigai is a Japanese word that translates as ” the reason we exist” or “the reason we wake up every morning “.

For the Japanese, we all carry our own ikigai within us and it is very important to discover and own it. Because then we will have what it takes to overcome the difficulties. Few psychological and existential principles are as fundamental to our daily life as this term encompasses. Finding meaning in yourself, having reasons to live… is the key to keeping hopelessness at bay. And it’s fundamental to dealing with one of today’s worst evils: depression.

Many of our psychological problems can be healed by finding the ikigai, which is sometimes hidden, suppressed, or even silenced. It has the power to fill our lungs with air and give us back our will to live. For example, many mood disorders are known to see clear improvement when the person makes a commitment to themselves by simply doing what they love.

Soon, these positive thoughts and beliefs will act as a buffer, protecting us from suicidal thoughts and limiting beliefs and fears. But we also know that it is not easy to dedicate ourselves to our ikigai, our life purpose. Therefore, the Japanese remind us to be like a loyal and energetic warrior who achieves a very specific goal : to maintain their integrity and love of life.

Ikigai

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Your ikigai wants only one thing: to “shake” your passivity.

Sebastian Marshall is a famous author who a few years ago gave us a book with a very simple title: Ikigai.

Of all that has been published on the subject, it must be said that this book has had the most influence. It also avoids some overused words and concepts related to personal development. The first lesson we must learn is not to crave the “so-called” happiness of others. Most of the time it’s not real. If we become obsessed with owning and doing the same thing as those around us, we become like 99% of the population.

On the other hand, if we dare to act according to our dreams, desires and life purpose, we will be unique. We will be in the 1% who desire authentic realization. And this can only be achieved in one way: to leave our passivity behind and find ikigai. Once we clarify and define, a few things will happen.

First, we won’t be any more conformists, and that’s fine. Second, we will eventually realize our own potential to turn it into ‘dynamite’.

How do I find my life purpose?

It may seem like a funny question to many of our readers. Who doesn’t know what their life purpose is? Curious as it may seem, it’s not always clear.  In fact, we have goals, ideals, and goals that are sometimes a little distorted or impregnated by values ​​that do not belong to us.

Pressures from our upbringing, family, and social circles shape us in ways we are not always fully aware of.

We must stop putting off the needs, pleasures, and passions that make us who we are and that may eventually determine our path. It’s not easy, but we have to do it. We will now explain how to identify your ikigai.

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7 keys to shape your ikigai

Your ikigai is shaped by the intersection of four fundamental aspects: your passion, your vocation, your vocation, and your mission in life. To clarify each of these key aspects, these strategies will help:

  • Stop living on autopilot: Ask yourself if what you do every day makes you happy.
  • Don’t compare yourself to anyone. Don’t try to be the same as others. You are your own reference point.
  • We all have talent. We all have an exceptional talent that sets us apart from the rest and we should take advantage of it. Make it yourself and enjoy.
  • Ikigai is not just a life purpose or aspiration, it is a way of life that must be felt in the here and now.
  • It’s something that energizes us every morning and translates into things we do every day and want to invest in getting better.
  • Sometimes  living according to our ikigai means letting go of much of what surrounds us. Therefore, we must be clear that this will take courage.
  • Ikigai is the opposite of passivity or conformism. It demands everything from you, regardless of your age or physical condition, and it makes you feel alive, free and full of energy because above all it is a state of mind…

In conclusion, if you haven’t found your ikigai yet, that’s fine. Sometimes in the journey of life, the awakening happens so undeniably that there is no going back. This is when you will have no choice but to follow it.

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