There is a Japanese philosophy called Ikigai, where Iki means life and gai mean value or self-worth. They believe this is the life force that makes you feel motivated to get out of your bed every day, continue to move forward with renewed vigor.
This is something I’ve been experiencing a lot lately. Bouts of questioning why I’m doing what I’m doing. Maybe you’ve also had those moments, where you don’t want to get out of bed and you’re just staring at the ceiling, wondering why am are I living the life I’m living? What is the meaning of life? I’ve had many of these existential crises moments where I feel like life is just flying by yet going slow at the same time and I want to find a new meaning to what I’m doing, get reinvigorated somehow. Sometimes, in these moments, we have to slow down. Easier said than done right?
The neuroscientist (similar) Ken Mogi explains that Ikigai is “ finding your reasoning for living” and honestly as vague as that sounds, when we shift our thinking to the bigger picture in smaller steps it gives us something to work towards. Have an honest conversation with yourself, what do you like? Do you actually enjoy the things you are involved in right now or are your interests actually a manifestation of the people around you?
Here are some other tips to help find your life purpose:
1. Multiple small steps add together over time.
Remember that it’s not going to be like all of a sudden you flipped a switch and then a light bulb went off in your head and you’ve suddenly found what you like. It’s more of a gradual process, like a painter painting a landscape, adding their own touches over time.
2. Breakfree from what society says.
If you think that waking up at 4 AM and getting in a workout and meditation will be helpful for you, then by all means go for it. However, if you’re like me and this notion makes you a little nauseous to think about, find your groove and what you actually like. Productivity and work looks so different for everyone
3. Find what is sustainable to your life.
Take a good hard look at what you are doing right now and ask yourself the essential question if this is truly what you can see yourself doing in the long run. Close your eyes, imagine yourself in 1 year, 5 years, 10 years. Are you doing what you want to? Learn to create the joy of gradually learning and take joy in little things, LOVE the journey, not the end product.
4. Be Present
Life moves fast and as cliche as it sounds, slowing down and fully living in the moment, not thinking about the past or planning the future can be a liberating experience. Prioritize the things that matter, switch off your devices, spend some time in nature. Even if you live in a concrete jungle like me, finding the parks or greenery in the big city can be a therapeutic exercise an exercise I do is imagine that I’m one being, one soul in this great big universe. Being present allows you to better understand if you truly enjoy what you’re doing at that moment and stop suffering because we’re never satisfied with what we want or we’re living in regret of the past.
5. Utilize the Okinawa Diet
I read about this “diet” and fell in love with the concept. It’s basically eating as little processed foods as possible, incorporating whole foods into your diet. Another part of it is eating until you are 80% full. There’s this idea that overeating wears down the body and can affect our health making us feeling more sluggish and weary.
6. Movement
yoga, walking, doesn’t have to be intense but by having regular maintenance, you can definitely tie it in with getting your daily nature walks. Movement = energy.
7. Give thanks
it doesn’t have to be you sitting down and journaling about it, but it can definitely be just a moment in your life where you’re like wow that was nice, I’m thankful for this present moment.
Remember Ikigai is all about doing what you love. Once you’ve found your purpose, remind yourself that it is fluid, like water rushing over a stream, and it changes with time, with age, and with experiences as life moves on. Be patient in the here and now.
“fall seven times, rise eight” — Japanese proverb
