What is Ikigai - Japanese philosophy?How does Ikigai help us?

Ikigai is a Japanese word that describes an ancient Japanese philosophy. Perry (2024) explained, “The Japanese concept of ikigai dates back to the Heian period, between 794 to 1185. The idea was further explored by Mieko Kamiya, a renowned Japanese psychologist, in her 1966 book Ikigai-ni-tsuite (About Ikigai). Additionally, Héctor, García and Francesc Miralles co-authored the book "Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life," which explores how ikigai impacts the everyday routines of Japanese people.”

Eatough (2021) explained, “Japanese Ikigai is a Japanese concept that means your ‘reason for being.’ ‘Iki’ in Japanese means  ‘life,’ and ‘gai’ describes value or worth. Ikigai is not the purpose in life, Ikigai can be something that makes you feel happiness too. Ikgai can be motivation for a person who is in a challenging time.

Generally, "ikigai" is thought of as;

·         the enthusiasm for living

·         something that makes you feel happy

·         something that allows you to realize the value and experience of living

As far back as 1970, Mita (1970) listed four conditions for finding meaning in one's life:

·         freedom from extreme poverty

·         finding meaning in one's present life in relation to the future

·          finding meaning in one's own life through connections with other people

·         having a job that serves as a medium between "connections" and the "future."

I wanted to share a bit about how I integrate the concept of Ikigai into my daily practice at Hana Counselling.

Ikigai is a simple yet powerful Japanese philosophy that I find particularly helpful for clients navigating past trauma, mental health conditions, and challenging life circumstances. It encourages them to view their lives from a fresh perspective, fostering self-compassion and kindness toward others.

 This concept provides a continuous source of hope and motivation. Ikigai can be found in anything, whether it's as simple as "I love to eat ice cream" or as profound as "I love my work to help people." The size or significance of the Ikigai doesn't matter.

 Experiencing and embracing your Ikigai can lead to a deeper sense of fulfillment, which in turn encourages us to be more considerate of others and the world around us. When we feel happy and fulfilled, it becomes easier to extend kindness to others and to see the world in a more positive light.