IKIGAI -What is your reason to wake up in the morning?
I recently came across a book that talks about the Japanese mindset or way of life called Ikigai. It amazes me how simple it is yet extremely powerful and applicable especially in our stress-filled society today.
The literal meaning of Ikigai is the reason (‘gai’) to live (‘iki’) or sometimes expressed as the reason to wake up in the morning.
Ikigai focuses on finding and enjoying the little pleasures in life which do not have to be grandiose, do not need to be approved or recognised by others, but you! Such as a cup of your favourite coffee in the morning; a hug from your child or the feeling of warm morning sunlight on your face on a cold winter day.
Ikigai focuses on full acceptance of yourself by expressing your unique individuality in your own way. Even if you can only do it in a small subtle way to ensure that you do not contravene the rules of society. As an example, in recent years, I’ve noticed an increasing number of men working in the corporate world, where they should conform to the dress code of suit and tie, who are expressing themselves creatively by wearing bright, funky socks. It always brings a huge smile to my face whenever I notice the stark contrast between the solemn and serious face of a senior executive and the brightly coloured, patterned socks which peep through when they sit down for a meeting.
Ikigai is about celebrating and being in the present, paying full attention to the details and releasing your ego to achieve the state of flow. According to the American psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi who named the psychological concept of ‘flow’ to mean a state of bliss that is achieved when you are so involved in an activity that nothing else matters. In this state, even the most mundane chores will be enjoyable.
In today’s society, we’ve been driven to focus on the big, grand dreams and chasing big wins to achieve happiness, while the truth is that happiness is already within reach in our daily lives if we pay attention.
This is also the reason why so many of my clients struggle with the Sap Thread exercise in the Apple Tree Self Program. We think the little pleasures are not worth mentioning, but in reality, they are what truly defines us, makes us unique and our human experience magical.
For me, some of the little pleasures include watching my children play (that is when I allow myself to pay full attention and not be distracted by my phone or random thoughts); reading a thought provoking book in the tranquillity of my garden; stomping on dry, crispy fallen leaves (yes, it always lifts up my energy) and holding that sacred space for my client during a coaching session, witnessing the flow of insights unfolding always brings me immense joy!
What is your Ikigai? What’s your reason to get up in the morning?
Source: “The little book of Ikigai – The essential Japanese way to finding your purpose in life” by Ken Mogi*
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