Ikigai
By Lotus
@elmer0421 (449)
May 8, 2025 3:50am CST
I encountered a term Ikigai and I found it is a Japanese concept referring to "your reason for being" or "your purpose in life."
Think of it as what makes you jump out of bed in the morning and what gives your life meaning and makes it worthwhile. It's not necessarily about significant accomplishments or a specific career. It can be found in the small joys of everyday life, your hobbies, your relationships, or things that make you happy and content.
Sometimes, ikigai is explained using a diagram with four overlapping circles:
* (Your passion): What you love to do?
* (Your vocation): What you are good at?
* (Your mission): What the world needs?
* (Your profession): What can you be paid for?
Ideally, your ikigai lies at the intersection of all four of these areas. Nevertheless, it's crucial to keep in mind that finding your ikigai is a individual journey and it can evolve over time. It doesn't always have to involve a job or earning money; it could just be something that gives your life a sense of purpose.
2 people like this
1 response
@DragonflytotheMoon (37)
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20 May
@elmer0421 Thanks for sharing this. I volunteer at the local shelter. I'm the main one with the kitties. Besides spending time with them, I take photos & make observations. To share on social, to help them get adopted. I also socialize the more shy & anxious ones. In July I'll have been going there for nine years. After I had been there for a while I felt I was serving my higher purpose. It wasn't something that I was searching for. Like a lot of things in life, it found me. I'm thankful it did. Have you discovered your purpose & if so, what is it?
1 person likes this
@elmer0421 (449)
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20 May
Thank you for your insight.
I feel like I have found my purpose, and it's to teach, to help shape the next generation.
1 person likes this
@DragonflytotheMoon (37)
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22 May
@elmer0421 That's wonderful. Is it through a glass or just in general? I learned something by you posting this.
