What Is Ikigai? Meaning & Philosophy Behind This Japanese Concept

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Learn the true meaning of ikigai & how it can transform your life
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Maybe you’ve heard the term “ikigai” but have no idea what it means, or maybe you’re curious to learn more about this fascinating Japanese concept. Ikigai (pronounced “ee-kee-GUY”) is, essentially, the sense of satisfaction and fulfillment that one gets from pursuing one’s passions and purpose in life. The popularized Western interpretation of ikigai also includes a framework of sorts for finding your ikigai at the intersection of passion, profession, vocation, and mission—and in this article, we’ll show you how to find your ikigai, too. Keep reading for a complete guide to ikigai, with additional tips from life coaches and spiritualists.

The Meaning of Ikigai & Its Significance

Ikigai (pronounced “ee-kee-GUY”) is a Japanese concept; it refers to having a sense of purpose and the fulfillment one feels from pursuing one’s passions. In a book on ikigai, the concept of an ikigai diagram was also introduced, with ikigai being at the center of passion, vocation, mission, and profession.

Section 1 of 4:

Ikigai Meaning & Philosophy

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  1. Ikigai is a concept that captures the idea of having a motivating force in your life, something that gives you purpose and a reason for living. The Japanese government posted an articl e on ikigai in 2022, defining it as something that “brings value and joy to life; from people, such as one’s children or friends, to activities including work and hobbies.” [1]
    • In Japanese, the feeling of ikigai has been described as a sense of fulfillment—one that people get when they follow their passions in life.
    • There aren’t any pre-defined activities guaranteed to give a person the feeling of ikigai; rather, such activities must be determined by each individual.
    • In other words, ikigai is a deeply personal thing, dependent on a person’s inner desires, goals, and values.
    • Ikigai is a combination of two Japanese words: iki and kai. Iki (生き) means “life, alive,” while kai (甲斐) means “effect.” Combined, the two words refer to a reason (or effect) for being alive—something that gives meaning to life, or makes life worth living. [2]

    Meet the wikiHow Experts

    Giselle Baumet is a mindset and wellness coach based in Orange County, California. She specializes in helping others, particularly parents, navigate life’s challenges.

    Sixu Chen is a career and relationship coach, a certified life coach through the Life Purpose Institute, and the founder of SCcoaching Group.

    Elianne El-Amyouni is a spiritualist, writer, reader, speaker, content creator, and doctor of philosophy with a following of over 1.5 million subscribers across platforms.

  2. In the publication Psychology of Aging , Japanese psychologist Katsuya Inoue has defined each aspect of ikigai, one being “sources or objects that bring value or meaning to life,” and the other as “a feeling that one’s life has value or meaning because of the existence of its source.” [3] Inoue also defined three types of ikigai: social, non-social, and anti-social.
    • Social ikigai is the type broadly accepted by society, and involves activities that benefit the community (like volunteer work or activism).
    • Non-social ikigai involves activities and pursuits that aren’t immediately related to society, including faith.
    • Anti-social ikigai is all about basic motivation and what drives a person to keep living despite obstacles or difficult emotions.
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  3. Decades earlier (as early as the 1960s), the Japanese idea of ikigai had two forms of manifestation—in “subordinating one’s own desires to others” or “following one’s own path.” Older generations associated ikigai with the betterment of society and service to family, according to anthropologist Chikako Ozawa-de Silva, while younger generations used the concept of ikigai to dream about their own passions and ideas for the future. [4]
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Section 2 of 4:

The Ikigai Diagram

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  1. Authors Héctor García and Francesc Miralles published a book called Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life in 2017. [5] In the book, García and Miralles also included a Venn diagram (created by Mark Winn) made up of four key elements: what a person loves, what a person is good at, what the world needs, and what can be rewarded. At the center of these overlapping elements is a person’s ikigai. [6]
    • Additionally, the intersection of each pair of circles indicates a significant aspect of life:
      • The intersection of “what a person is good at” and “what can be rewarded” is your ideal profession.
      • The intersection of “what a person loves” and “what the world needs” is your mission in life.
      • The intersection of “what the world needs” and “what can be rewarded” is your ideal vocation.
      • The intersection of “what a person loves” and “what a person is good at” is your passion in life.
    • However, this is very much a Westernized interpretation of ikigai. While the true “ikigai” is about things that give meaning to your life, it doesn’t have strict rules or a detailed system behind it.
Section 3 of 4:

Finding Your Ikigai & Incorporating It Into Your Life

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  1. If ikigai is made up of things that give your life drive, meaning, and purpose, then your job is to figure out what those things are! Do some soul-searching (with the ikigai diagram in mind) and work to understand your passion, mission, vocation, and even ideal profession in life. In theory, this should lead you to a sense of ikigai! [7]
    • Passion can refer to activities that make you feel happy, eager, and enthusiastic. Ask yourself what you most enjoy doing (even when you’re not getting paid for it)—and that’s your passion.
    • Mission is more about what you can do to improve society and make a difference in the world. Ask yourself what issues you feel strongest about solving, and you’ll find your mission.
    • Vocation is all about the things you’re skilled in, perhaps more so than other people. Ask yourself what skills you excel at, and you may find your vocation!
    • Profession is how you make a living, right? So, to bring ikigai to your life, your profession should also incorporate your passions and mission. A profession like that is more likely to bring you a sense of fulfillment!
  2. “The practice of mindfulness is to become keenly aware of your sensations, the things surrounding you, and being present with the people you engage with,” says mindset and wellness coach Giselle Baumet. “It means slowing down, pausing, and appreciating. The more you practice being mindful, the more present in your day you will be.” [8] This can help you reflect on the things that really matter to you in life.
    • For instance, practicing mindfulness can give you the opportunity to reflect on your passions, values, and the things that bring you the most satisfaction.
    • You can also incorporate mindfulness exercises into your daily routine—like deep breathing , observation, and present moment focus.
  3. “To find what [you] love to do, [you] can ask questions such as, “What’s natural for me, that I’m good at? What makes me forget about the passing of time? What things come effortlessly for me ?” advises life, career and relationship coach Sixu Chen. Your ideal vocation and career should be a mix of talent, skills, passion, and values. “Talent is what you're good at. Skills are what you learn. Passion is what you love. And value is what you care about most.” [9]
    • “Somebody who will find what they love to do will also need to know what they care about. For example, the reason I became a life coach is because I care about helping people.” [10] So, you might say that Chen’s ikigai comes from being a life coach!
    • For another example: if you absolutely love to bake, from the preparation of your ingredients to watching people enjoy your hard work, then your ikigai might have something to do with a career in baking.
  4. “Meditating is not about silencing the mind, which is a big misconception in a lot of spiritual circles,” says spiritualist Elianne El-Amyouni. “You’re not supposed to silence your mind...The idea is to be able to sit with the mind and watch it have thoughts without having to get embroiled and caught up in every single thought and become attached to every single thought.” [11]
    • In other words, meditation is a highly beneficial tool for self-reflection, and it can help you gain clarity on your life—and what you want from it.
    • Try making time for meditation in your routine, even if it’s just for a few minutes a day.
  5. Which issues really move you, or make you want to take action yourself to solve them? How can you help people or contribute to the betterment of society? And how can you use your skills and talents to solve the issues you care most about? Once you figure out what sort of mission you want to undertake, make specific goals to get yourself started. [12]
    • You might find there’s a job where you could use your skills and work to solve an issue you care deeply about at the same time. For example, you could become a lobbyist or work for an organization that aligns with your values!
    • On the other hand, you might simply make it a goal to volunteer every month or do community service in a way that allows you to utilize your talents.
  6. Maybe you don’t have a hobby or activity that sparks the kind of passion we’re talking about—and that’s okay! That just means it’s time to experiment a little and explore new activities. You could try something you’ve always wanted to do, or pick up a hobby you’ve never made time for before. Look for opportunities to learn something new , and embrace them all!
  7. Finally, don’t rush ikigai—it’s not something you can rush! Ikigai is a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment in life, and the discovery of what gives your life meaning; it can take a long time to cultivate. So, don’t get frustrated if “ikigai” doesn’t come to you right away. Give it time, take small steps, and be true to yourself. You can do it! [13]
    • It can also help to talk to trusted confidantes. They might have insights or advice that might not occur to you on your own.
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Section 4 of 4:

Potential Benefits of Finding Your Ikigai

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  1. Finding your ikigai could bring happiness and fulfillment to your life. While there aren’t definitive medical benefits to finding your ikigai (although National Geographic reporter Dan Buettner did suggest that ikigai has contributed to the longevity of people in Okinawa, Japan), the concept of ikigai is meant to be beneficial. It’s an ideal based on growth and finding satisfaction with oneself, with potential benefits such as: [14]
    • Happiness. Living in accordance with your passions should, naturally, bring you more joy, thus contributing to a happier mood and outlook on life.
    • Fulfillment. Getting to do what you love (and what you’re good at) in a way that also improves the world around you is definitely a fulfilling, enriching thing!
    • Motivation. As we’ve discussed, getting to do what you love and feel strongly about can, in turn, motivate you to keep going (even through rough times).
    • Stress relief. Lack of motivation, purpose, and satisfaction can all contribute to a person’s stress levels. So, when you’re happier and doing what you love, you’re also more likely to be less stressed.
    • Self-improvement. In the process of finding your ikigai, you’ll likely have the opportunity to learn new things about yourself and the world around you. It’s a chance for personal development!

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.japan.go.jp/kizuna/2022/03/ikigai_japanese_secret_to_a_joyful_life.html
      2. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20170807-ikigai-a-japanese-concept-to-improve-work-and-life
      3. ↑ https://www.google.com/books/edition/高齢者の_こころ_事典/aLt9AAAACAAJ?hl=en
      4. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8887802/
      5. ↑ https://www.google.com/books/edition/Ikigai/CbouDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=isbn:9780143130727&printsec=frontcover
      6. ↑ https://becomingbetter.org/ikigai/
      7. ↑ https://imagine.jhu.edu/resources/ikigai/
      8. ↑ Giselle Baumet. Mindset & Wellness Coach. Expert Interview
      9. ↑ Sixu Chen. Life, Career, and Relationship Coach. Expert Interview
      1. ↑ Sixu Chen. Life, Career, and Relationship Coach. Expert Interview
      2. ↑ Elianne El-Amyouni. Spiritualist. Expert Interview
      3. ↑ https://www.hult.edu/blog/ikigai-find-purpose/
      4. ↑ https://imagine.jhu.edu/resources/ikigai/
      5. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8887802/

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