Publish at June 05 2024 Updated June 05 2024
"Let yourself be silently drawn in by the strange force of what you really love. It won't be able to lead you astray."
Rumi - Persian poet
Ikigai is a Japanese concept that can be roughly translated as "raison d'être" or "reason for living". The term is derived from the Japanese words "iki" (life) and "gai" (value), suggesting the idea of a life worth living.
Ikigai has its roots in Japanese culture, where it is deeply rooted in the philosophy and practices of daily life. In traditional Japanese society, ikigai is often associated with a sense of personal satisfaction and meaning. It is not simply linked to work or professional success, but encompasses all aspects of life, including personal relationships, hobbies and passions.
The concepts of longevity and well-being are also linked to ikigai, with studies showing that people who have an ikigai tend to live longer, healthier lives. (Sone et al 2008, Tanno, et al 2007 and Koizumi, 2008).
Ikigai is generally described as the intersection of four main elements:
When these four elements come together, they create a deep sense of satisfaction and meaning, forming ikigai. This concept is accompanied by related concepts that give full scope to this meaning of life.
Ikigai is part of this quest for a simple life connected to oneself and to the world, taking advantage of each moment to taste its beauty.
By providing a deep, personal meaning to life, ikigai increases intrinsic motivation to learn, as individuals seek to develop skills and knowledge aligned with their passion and mission.
Lifelong learning enables individuals to explore new passions and vocations, facilitating the discovery of their ikigai by broadening their horizons and uncovering new aspects of their identity and interests. Educators can encourage students to identify their passions, missions, professions and potential vocations, guiding them towards activities and projects that reflect their personal interests, thus reinforcing commitment and motivation to learn.
By combining ikigai and learning, individuals can pursue careers that not only match their professional skills but also their personal passions and values, leading to greater professional satisfaction and fulfillment.
By having a clear and meaningful reason for living, individuals are better able to overcome obstacles to learning by remaining motivated and resilient in the face of challenges, as they see these obstacles as necessary steps towards realizing their ikigai. Self-directed learning allows individuals to take control of their educational journey, enabling them to pursue subjects they are passionate about and develop skills that are aligned with their mission and vocation, leading to the realization of their ikigai.
Mentors and role models can offer guidance, inspiration and practical support, helping individuals navigate their passions and missions. They can also provide concrete examples of ikigai-aligned lives, encouraging learning through imitation and inspiration. Individuals guided by their ikigai will choose subjects of study or areas of research that resonate deeply with their passion and mission, which can lead to significant and innovative contributions in their chosen field.
Understanding one's ikigai transforms the educational experience, making it more personal and meaningful. Students become more engaged and motivated, as they see education as a means to fulfill their raison d'être, rather than a mere obligation. Aligning ikigai with learning goals improves overall well-being by providing a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. Individuals feel a sense of harmony between their educational activities and their life purpose, fostering a state of mental and emotional well-being.
Sources
Garcia, H., & Miralles, F. (2017). Ikigai - The Japanese secret to a long and happy life
Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life. Penguin Books.
https://www.decitre.fr/livres/ikigai-9782266286688.html
Juniper, A. (2003). Wabi Sabi: The Japanese Art of Impermanence. Tuttle Publishing.
Imai, M. (1986). Kaizen: The Key to Japan's Competitive Success. McGraw-Hill.
LaFleur, W. R. (1983). The Karma of Words: Buddhism and the Literary Arts in Medieval Japan. University of California Press.
The conversation. Do you know your ikigai? - https://theconversation.com/connaissez-vous-votre-ikigai-108379
Sone, T., Nakaya, N., Ohmori, K., Shimazu, T., Higashiguchi, M., Kakizaki, M., ... & Tsuji, I. (2008). Sense of life worth living (ikigai) and mortality in Japan: Ohsaki Study. Psychosomatic Medicine, 70(6), 709-715.
https:// www.hsph.harvard.edu/health-happiness/ikigai/
Tanno, K., & Sakata, K. (2007). Psychological factors and mortality in the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study for Evaluation of Cancer (JACC). Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 8(Suppl), 113-122 .
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/health-happiness/ikigai/
Koizumi, M., Ito, H., Kaneko, Y., & Motohashi, Y. (2008). Effect of having a sense of purpose in life on the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases. Journal of Epidemiology, 18(5), 191-196.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18753736/
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