Md Consulting

We are just starting 2024 and as every year, some of us are starting with new resolutions. A good one could be to find your IKIGAI in 2024.

In our everyday life, we have constantly strived to find the perfect balance of happiness, purpose and success. While some might have easily found that balance, others are still working on it. Staring a new year is always a great moment for self-introspection, wondering where your life is heading? What is your purpose in life? What is the source of your happiness? Figuring out the right path towards your happiness and success can sometimes feel like solving a puzzle. 

But did you know that the Japanese have already figured out the formula to finding the right balance of purpose, happiness and success? It is called IKIGAI. Let me first bring you back where this concept is coming from. IKIGAI is born in Okinawa. Okinawa Prefecture (沖縄県, Japanese: Okinawa-ken) is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of almost 1.5 million people and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi).

Karate evolved in East Asia over a period of centuries, becoming systematized in Okinawa in the 17th century, probably by people forbidden to carry weapons. It was imported into Japan in the 1920s. Several schools and systems developed, each favoring somewhat different techniques and training methods.

I am practicing Karate for more than 15 years, starting Kata competition in 2022. Starting competition is a real challenge for me and I really enjoy this martial art as Karate showcases a series of Values that represent the main differentiating element of the discipline. Values such as honor, respect, tradition, altruism… are at the core of the sport; every karateka gets to know the strength and importance of these values from day one, and their application is fully connected to the true nature of the sport.

So, Okinawa is also home to IKIGAI. IKIGAI is a concept that has been rooted in the cultural fabric of Japan for centuries and simply means, “reason to live.”

IKIGAI (生き甲斐) (pronounced [ikiɡai]) compounds two Japanese words: iki meaning “life” and gai meaning “result”. Hence, Ikigai is a Japanese concept that means “a reason for being”. The word refers to having a meaningful direction or purpose in life. IKIGAI is a sense of meaningful direction or purpose in life, that lies at the intersection of 4 areas of your life: what you LOVE, what you are GOOD AT, what you can be PAID FOR, and what the world NEEDS.  

For those who are fortunate to be living in the zone of their IKIGAI, work never feels like work. They have the sense that they are lucky to be getting paid for what they love to do, since it is something that they would be doing without the need for compensation. Ironically, since they are so good at it, and it is something that the world needs, people value it, and are willing to pay them for their service.

If you want to understand better IKIGAI, you can read this international bestseller, with more than 1.5 million copies sold worldwide. I have read it and this is really very inspiring. In researching this book, the authors, Héctor García and Francesc Miralles interviewed the residents of the Japanese village with the highest percentage of 100-year-olds—one of the world’s Blue Zones. Ikigai reveals the secrets to their longevity and happiness: how they eat, how they move, how they work, how they foster collaboration and community, and—their best-kept secret—how they find the ikigai that brings satisfaction to their lives. And it provides practical tools to help you discover your own IKIGAI.

I have also found this TEDx from Tim Tamashiro. Tim Tamashiro delights us with a journey into the discovery of Ikigai, a treasure map for finding one’s own happiness. In this TEDx, Tim is explaining that IKIGAI originates from Okinawa, the birthplace of Karate and home to one of the highest percentages of centurions in the world. In this TEDx, Tim is guiding you on how to take the first step in discovering your own IKIGAI and earn your yellow belt in finding your purpose.

Have you already found your IKIGAI ?