Your ikigai can be understood as your specific reason and individual inspiration for getting up every day with enthusiasm and passion. The concept of ‘ikigai’ is something that has been widely recognised as originating in Japanese culture, a culture which has some of the healthiest and longest-living residents in the entire world.
Reports believe that the reasoning behind Japan being home to many of the world’s oldest people is because of their deeply vast connection with their ikigai. If you’re curious as to discovering your own fulfillment, through uncovering your own ikigai, keep reading!
Take Note of Things That Make You Filled with Gratitude
Recording down situations and moments that make you light up with joy is a crucial tool in helping you sort out what ingredients are needed to unlock your ikigai. You ‘happiness list’, as I like to call it, will provide you with an invaluable reference when you are down in the dumps over not knowing what direction to take, whenever you’re caught at a crossroads. It’s also helpful to carry a version of your happiness list with you at all times. This special list can be saved on your phone, written down in your diary / organiser, or even tattooed on you!
Declutter What Is Not Essential
That’s not to say that you should become a strict minimalist and get rid of everything that you do not necessarily need, such as house plants; nor does it mean that you ought to donate every little thing that you possess that doesn’t “spark joy”. An important aspect in strengthening your connection to you and your ikigai is to dedicate more time and effort to the activities, people and activities that are related to your special list of happiness. The things that you have identified in your happiness list will guide you with your decision-making. If you choose to prioritise activities on your list, you will find that your process of decluttering the unessentials will be super duper easy!
Connect with Your Closest Relationships
Sometimes, you will find out that your most intimate connections know you more than you know yourself. At times when you have no idea whether your happiness list reflects who you are, ask your closest relationships about their thoughts on your little cheatsheet of happiness. You may even discover that they may have some tools that you can utilise to boost your ikigai connection and implementation. Working on your ikigai with others, and developing a support community with your closest relationships, will greatly help you in keeping grounded on your values and purpose.
