If you have avid readers in your friends, they might have suggested reading IKIGAI: The Japanese Secret to Long and Happy Life.

Or you might have heard or seen about it one or the other time.

The first time I heard about it in 2017. But it took me four years to get my hands on it. Finally, I fell in love with it after The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and writing this post on IKIGAI.

If you stay till the end, I will share a few meaningful insights from the book.

Let’s get started.

What is IKIGAI?

Ikigai is a Japanese concept of having a direction or purpose in life by providing a sense of fulfilment towards which the person may take action.

In simple terms, IKIGAI is nothing but your purpose, and the book is all about how to find your purpose.

It is the secret of Japanese people why they can live a long and healthy life.

From the concept of IKIGAI, when you have a purpose in life and drive your energy towards it, you lead a happy and peaceful life.

It covered great concepts holistically from

• Getting over depression
• Having healthy eating habits
• Art of living life by celebrating
• Importance of having multiple sources of income to have stability
• Celebrations in your life

How to Find your IKIGAI?

Many persons ask me how to find my passion, purpose, or niche. Unknowingly they are trying to find their IKIGAI.

Once you find it, your life becomes peaceful, and you have a lot of clarity over what you do.

Yes, I am experiencing the same.

Let’s get into the book!

At the core of the book, to find your IKIGAI, you need to look at the below things:

1. What you LOVE
2. What you are GOOD AT
3. What you can be PAID FOR
4. What the world NEEDS

Look at the below Venn Diagram to know more:

From the Venn Diagram, it is clear that

1. Only what you love + Only what the world needs = MISSION
2. Only what you love + Only what you are good at = PASSION
3. Only what you are good at + Only what you can be paid for = PROFESSION
4. Only what you can be paid for + Only what the world needs = VOCATION

At any point in time, you may feel like following your passion.

But there is one situation: if your passion doesn’t meet the world’s needs but if you are getting paid for it, you will have satisfaction but feel useless in following your passion.

There is one more situation: If your passion doesn’t pay you, but if it meets the world needs, you’ll be delighted and feel fullness, but you won’t have wealth.

What do you have to do if you fall into either of the cases?

You have to find that missing element which is in inclination with your thoughts.

If you need help with it, you can fill this form, and I will help you out.

I am not getting written words to express the solution in simple written words. So, scheduling the call is a better option.

Meaningful insights from IKIGAI

1. Don’t worry
2. Cultivate good habits
3. Nurture your friendships every day
4. Live an unhurried life
5. Be optimistic

Final Thoughts

The book has a lot that I can’t cover in a single blog post. But there is something beyond passion which is your IKIGAI (purpose). If you find it and live by it, you can lead a happy and longer life. If you haven’t read it, you can buy it from amazon.

Share your thoughts by commenting below. It would mean the world to me.

PS: The post has an affiliate link which means if you purchase by clicking on that link, I earn a small commission. But you won’t be charged more.