Life Satisfaction

Written By Colēgia

Finding your purpose along with life satisfaction is a very different concept depending on the culture. One school of philosophy we want to explore today comes from Japan and is known as Ikigai. Today we want to talk about what this is and how to work towards the things that make you satisfied.

What is Ikigai?

Originating as an extension of health and wellness concepts, there is a belief in the correlation to one’s physical and mental health along with an alignment of your life purpose. This is important for several reasons. For one it is meant to help with managing stress which can take a toll on our health. It can give us a newfound sense of happiness by letting us live a life that goes in line with what we want. One important thing to note about this is that Ikigai revolves around a balance of our personal desires along with what the world needs. This is good to bear in mind because this approach keeps us mindful that we ultimately live in a social world and working alongside it rather than against it can help us discover our purpose. There are four key elements of Ikigai that involve a combination of: what you're good at, what you love, what you can be paid for, and what the world needs.

“One important thing to note about this is that Ikigai revolves around a balance of our personal desires along with what the world needs.”

What You Love And Your Talent

One interpretation of Ikigai can be seen in the school system with students finding out what major they are interested in. This is good to know because many of us spend the bulk of our early years in school and having this drive can give you the push and motivation to succeed. Loving what you do is extremely important because it fulfills you with a sense of passion that can radiate happiness. A key factor in this when it comes to finding your purpose also involves what you are skilled at. Enjoying something for fun is perfectly fine but there is a sort of subtlety that goes into mastering your craft and honing your skills. Working toward something you are naturally good at can increase your confidence and overall happiness by displaying these skills to the world.

“One interpretation of Ikigai can be seen in the school system with students finding out what major they are interested in.”

What The World Needs And How it Affects You

It's important to recognize that while passion and skill are extremely important on an intrinsic level for motivation, there are many other factors to consider when it comes to purpose and being practical. It's good to consider both what the world needs along with what you can be paid for because both of these factors are real hurdles that many of us need to overcome once we move past our education. While the importance of this is different depending on the person, having this practical balance can keep us centered and give us the necessary foundation for being self-efficient. It's good to keep in mind that this is one of many different perspectives when it comes to purpose and while it is ultimately something that affects us on an individual level, the lessons learned from this can be applied in many helpful ways.

Colēgia

Colēgia

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