HOW TO LIVE LIFE TO THE FULL?
Discover your best combination of vocation, talents, profession and personal interests
Recently, in one of the big Facebook groups, a mother was looking for help because… everything was perfect in her life. Yes, that’s right. She has a wonderful family, kids, a loving husband, she does something for herself every day, but she still doesn’t feel satisfied.
Has it ever happened to you? Sometimes I’ve had moments when I asked myself: what else do you want? I’ve also come across videos, especially around big holidays, describing how if I have a roof over my head, I should be happier than several million people on the planet. Or that if I have running hot water, then I’m one of the few with such privilege compared to… again millions who don’t even have water and walk 10 km to fetch it in buckets themselves… and more, and more similar comparisons. Why don’t we appreciate the running hot water enough?
If we jump from one goal to another and think we can always have or do more, rather than feel good about what we had achieved, we would be more anxious and always dissatisfied.
What we lack is described by the Japanese with the word ikigai, or in translation “a reason for being”, described in details in Hector Garcia’s book ” Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Hector+Garcia+ikigai&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
One way to find your ikigai, according to Garcia, is to draw a Venn diagram. In one circle, place what you love most to do; in the second, what the world needs; in the third, what you can be paid for; and in the last, what you are good at. In the center is your ikigai.
We have to distinguish between purpose and reason to live. For example, we want to write a song. That’s a goal. If we want to write the best song we can, and it takes over the world, it’s going to be ikigai.
Here are a few useful questions to help you fill out your diagram:
When do you feel your best self?
Think of such moments when you felt your best self. It could have been when you’re practicing a hobby, like reparing old computers or baking chocolate chip cookies. If you feel most happy at work, think why –is it due to communicating with people, or helping them solve a problem, or something else?
What are your values?
Think of at least 5 personalities you admire and write down why; it could be your mother or father or a celebrity. If you’ve written down qualities like kindness and patience, it’s probably the ones you want for yourself. Let these values lead your thinking and actions.
Do you have a community?
Your desires and values are related to those around you. Let’s not pursue happiness alone. Research shows that the biggest source of happiness is in social connections.
Have you found your reason to enthusiastically welcome every new day?
Based on the articles from Women’s Health, Forbes and BBC, Projects, Economics and more:
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a20529988/what-is-ikigai/
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20170807-ikigai-a-japanese-concept-to-improve-work-and-life
https://www.obekti.bg/chovek/ikigay-ili-kak-da-razberem-za-kakvo-sme-rodeni-na-tozi-svyat
https://www.economy.bg/science/view/29031/Kakva-e-receptata-za-dylgoletie-na-yaponcite
