Ikigai, The Japanese Secret To Live Better
The ikigai is known as “reason for being”. In Japanese culture , each of us is believed to own an ikigai . This word, unknown to many, refers to what gives meaning to our life. What is our goal? What are we here for? This reason for being resides in each one of us and is born with us. However, there is a problem.
The problem with ikigai is that, although we all have it, not everyone finds it. It takes some years to find it; to others, only months, because these people know their reason for being since they are little.
Find your ikigai and be happy
According to Japanese culture, when you have found your ikigai it is impossible that you are not happy. You have found what gives meaning to your life and you wake up every day with enthusiasm and energy. This is a problem suffered by many people in Western culture. Few know their reason for being and act as if they are on autopilot. They do not savor life, they live almost by inertia.
Do you want to know how to find your ikigai or, if you have found it, what to do not to lose it? So, pay attention to these keys.
Follow your ikigai
Even if you haven’t found your ikigai yet, it is important that you know that there is something inside you. It is a passion or a talent that you have not paid due attention to. For example, you may not have realized that you have a special gift for motivating your friends.
Perhaps your ikigai is rescuing animals or volunteering at a shelter, or participating in other social projects in your community. Search within yourself. That’s your goal, and then chase after your ikigai with every step you take.
Live the present
As we already said, there are many who live on automatic pilot. Fortunately, this does not happen to those who know what their reason for being. They live in the present and push aside thoughts about the past and the future that occupy valuable space in their minds.
Try practicing mindfulness or some type of meditation. You may discover what gives your life meaning when you least expect it.
Don’t settle, move
Sometimes we wait for the holidays so we don’t have to do anything . Other times, we long for enough money to live without working. However, spending money and doing nothing that makes us rich could become a torment over the years, so don’t settle.
Don’t settle for that mediocre job that doesn’t fill you up. Nor, with doing things fairly well. Push yourself, surpass yourself and move on. You have something to contribute to this world; don’t waste time.
Do what you love
What do you like to do? Skiing, playing an instrument, reading, traveling maybe? Do what you love and don’t make excuses for yourself. With excuses, you will lose your ikigai and have to come back to look for it.
Sometimes “I don’t have time,” “I don’t have money,” or “I’ll put it off later” help us put off what we want to do now. Sometimes, we think that we will live forever or that we will soon do what we want when in reality we will not. Remember that you have to live in the present, so stop putting off what you want.
Take care of your environment
The environment is something very important. Surrounding ourselves with nature and walking through it, taking care of having healthy friends around us and being positive will help our ikigai. Many times, we complain, we stick with people who do not do us good and who do not allow us to set healthy limits. So that? This is of no use; well, maybe to take steps backwards.
Take care of your environment, enjoy nature. You will realize that everything is much simpler than it seems and that your ikigai is there, just around the corner.
Haven’t you found your reason to get up every morning? That won’t appear out of nowhere if you don’t look for it, if you don’t get moving. Regretting and getting frustrated about it won’t help you. Be more positive, take small steps forward. Get to know yourself better and, when you least expect it, you will know what you are here for, in this world.
