Japanese people talk about the meaning and purpose of life, Ikigai (生き甲斐)
☆KIM HYUNG-RAE’S
FOURTH PUBLISHED BOOK
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11/25/23, 11:44 PM
Japanese people talk about the meaning and purpose of life, ikigai (生き甲斐)
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Ikigai is a Japanese word that means reward and joy in life.
Japanese people believe that ikigai (生き甲斐いきがい) is what gives meaning and
purpose to life, and that nding and realizing one's ikigai is the secret to
a happy and long life.
Ikigai consists of four elements:
- what you like,
- what the world needs,
- what you are good at, and
- what you can make money from.
It is said that when these four elements are balanced and
harmonized, ikigai can be found.
Ikigai has a long history as a Japanese philosophy of life. The origin of
the word ikigai dates back to the Heian period (794 - 1185 AD) and
comes from the word 'kai (甲斐, seashell in Japanese)', which was highly
valued at the time. Ikigai has become a word that means something
valuable in life .
The concept of ikigai is deeply rooted in Japanese life, especially in the
Okinawa region, where it is considered the secret to longevity and good
health . The Ikigai diagram is a recent creation that argues for nding
the intersection of four elements.
However, Japanese people do not associate this diagram with traditional
ikigai and do not go through the complicated process of finding their
own ikigai. They recognize all pleasures, big and small, as ikigai, and try
to stay true to their essence and social role.
In Korea, there is a life philosophy similar to Ikigai.
For example, in order to nd meaning in life,
Koreans place importance on relationships with family and friends,
their own achievements and goals, and religions and ideologies such as Buddhism and Confucianism.
Koreans think and worry deeply about their lives and try to enrich their lives through their own values and beliefs.
It is dicult to explain in one word, but words that express the Korean
philosophy of life include 'jeong' and 'hope.' 'Jeong' refers to the warm
and deep feelings that arise between people, and represents the
characteristic of Koreans who value relationships with family and
friends. 'Hope' refers to the mental strength of Koreans to live positively
even in difficult situations, and shows the efforts of Koreans to achieve
their achievements and goals.
Ikigai is a Japanese word meaning the worth and happiness of life, and
is a concept that represents the reason for existence or the purpose of
life.
How to find your ikigai varies from person to person, but generally
you can consider four factors:
It is what you like (What you love), what
you are good at (What you are good at), what the world needs (What the
world needs), and what you can make money (What you can be paid for).
There is no correct answer as to which of the four elements the
Japanese consider most important in ikigai. However, what we know
through research and interviews about the lives of Japanese people is
that Japanese people want to be recognized for their capabilities and
social value, and they have passion and expertise in their work.
Therefore, it can be seen that Japanese people are likely to focus on
what they are good at and what the world needs in nding their ikigai. Of
course, this does not apply to all Japanese, as there may be individual
differences.
Ikigai diagrams are tools that help you nd fulllment in life. Ikigai
means 'reason for existing' in Japanese and refers to giving meaning
and value to one's life.
The ikigai diagram consists of four areas: ‘What I like,’ ‘What I’m good at,’
‘What makes money,’ and ‘What the world needs.’ The intersection of
these four areas is ‘ikigai.’ The Ikigai diagram helps you identify your
mission, passion, and calling and nd the right dream by taking into
account your professional interests and rarities. If you carefully observe
the characteristics of Japanese people who are good at organizing, you
can use it as a good format. ⓒKim Hyung-rae
ejkGb=KOR&mallGb=KOR&barcode=978895
(http://pod.kyobobook.co.kr/podBook/podB
barcode=1400000230954&ejkGb=KOR)
KIM HYUNG-RAE (HTTPS://KIMHYEONGRAE.COM/AUTHOR/KIMHYEONGRAE)
MARCH 17, 2023 (HTTPS://KIMHYEONGRAE.COM/DATE/2023/03) 290 (HTTPS://KIMHYEONGRAE.COM/16670)
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11/25/23, 11:44 PM
Japanese people talk about the meaning and purpose of life, ikigai (生き甲斐) » Kim Hyung-rae’s “I want to retire gracefully”
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