Principles for a good life

Ikigai is a Japanese term that means - the reason to live, the meaning of existence or what is the reason to get up in the morning.

 

It is the combination of four things:

• What you like to do

• What you are good at

• What the world needs

• What you can pay for it

 

When the four elements meet, one manages to form a meaning for himself in life. When there is a combination of only three or two of the elements, it is not enough, and you feel constant frustration. 

 

Studies show that longevity in Japan (in the Okinawa region the average age over 100 is the highest in the world) is explained in many cases by finding the Ikigai.

 

Another important concept in the context of finding ikigai is flow. Flow is a subjective state or experience of high but effortless attention, enjoyment and low self-awareness which can occur during the active performance of a challenging task. Many athletes, masters and artists describe such a situation as a situation in which they function exceptionally well, not noticing that time passes. There are several conditions for a state of flow, including a task that is challenging enough, outstanding skills, a clear goal, being free from distraction and more. When we are in flow, the body is in the optimal state of stress, i.e. neither too high (with all the negative effects) nor too low (which leads to relaxation).

 

To find the Ikigai it is worthwhile to explore the activities that bring us into a state of flow, and try to understand what they have in common, and why that happens.

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On the side there is a more detailed presentation with explanations of the concepts and the way to find the Ikigai.

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Everyone has their own Ikigai, but many did not yet found it. If you have not yet discovered what it is - your mission is to discover it and live a full life ...