Ikigai is interesting because it attempts to combine almost all needs in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs into a single project or activity.
According to Andrew J. Brown, this word has been often misappropriated. In Shinichiro Imaoka’s Principles of Living, ikigai is translated as “the worth of living in life.” I love this translation. It is both purpose and meaning. It is very existential as it seems to present itself as a reason to continue living.
According to Imaoka’s first principle of living, one’s ikigai is found by being awakened to three things that characterize the self, namely:
- subjectivity, which he also called autonomy or personality
- creativity or divinity
- sociality or Buddhahood
Intuitively as it all stands now, I feel like I’ve found my ikigai. This is captured by the following statements:
I now have a deeper understanding of myself, I’ve found convergence on what activities I enjoy doing and plan on investing on, and I have an existing community I could minister on and practice what I’m learning with.