No. 18 — 28th May 2023

This week, I went down the Ikigai rabbithole. I wanted to understand why millions across the world began embracing an ancient Japaense idea. Once I dived deeper, I began embracing it too. Here’s my interpretation of Ikigai and how it initiates purposeful living.

A brief background

Ikigai is a centuries-old Japanese way of life, native to the Okinawan Islands. It represents the intersection of passion, mission, profession, and vocation, representing a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment in one's life.

It was unfamiliar to most of the world until the 1960s, and found its way into modern mindfulness through studies by scientists who saught to understand how the Okinawan people lived longer, happier lives.

The concept was further popularised by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles’s wildly successful book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life.

In my opinion, Ikigai received a warm embrace from curious minds across the world because it integrated the core components of what we as individuals seek in life: a sense of belonging (to a mission or cause), a deeper exploration of our passions, a practical pursuit of our profession (to ensure financial stability), and a response to a vocational call.

Ikigai united these aspirations into a mindset and lifestyle that not only gives us a sense of purpose, but is scientifically proven to improve happiness and expand lifespan.

The Principles of Ikigai

1) Passion (Jōyō)

Passion refers to engaging in activities activities that bring us joy, excitment and fulfillment.

It encourages us to identify hobbies, interests or talents that ignite our passion, and pursue them on a daily basis.

By integrating them into our daily routine, we’re more likely to experience satisfaction and joy, leading to a happier day.

2) Mission (Gyō)

Mission refers to pursuing work or activities that contribute to something bigger than ourselves.

It involves finding a cause we believe in deeply, and dedicating our efforts to it consistently.

Our mission becomes a driving force that impacts how and why we act, and addresses a cause we feel we belong to.

3) Profession (Shokugyō)

Profession refers to engaging in work that utilises our skillset and provides us financial stability.

It involves identifying our knowledge, abilities and expertise, and finding a career that aligns with them.

This brings a level of stability and structure to our routine and provides a sense of security for the future.

4) Vocation (Beru)

Vocation refers to answering a higher call by pursuing activities that contribute to the betterment of society.

In involves immersing ourselves in real problems and using our time and effort to help others.

This gives our life a deeper meaning and plants its roots into an interconnected, positive-sum future.

Resource

Understanding the role Ikigai in extending lifespan.

​Link​

That was breakdown of Ikigai. If you're familiar with it (or even if you're new to it) and want to chat about it, reply to this email and we can do that!

Till next week,

Team Juice — Ria, Jay and Akash

Sera, Law Garden, Ahmedabad, India, 380006
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