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***IKIGAI: Journey Is the
Reward***
IKIGAI: Journey Is the Reward
For an intrinsically motivated
entrepreneur, the
entrepreneurial journey itself
is the reward.
Intrinsic motivation is the
incentive we feel to work on
something simply because we find
it interesting or enjoyable.
Intrinsic motivation is defined
as the doing of an activity for
its inherent satisfaction rather
than for some separable
consequence.
When intrinsically motivated, a
person is moved to act for the
fun or challenge entailed rather
than because of external
products, pressures, or rewards.
In other words, with intrinsic
motivation, the incentive for
engaging in a behavior or
completing a task is performing
the task itself.
There are three types of
intrinsic motivation: autonomy,
mastery, and purpose.
*** IKIGAI***
WI Glossary
What Ikigai Is
Ikigai is a simple tool for
finding more joy.
Ikigai can be those little
rituals that you enjoy or create
to enjoy your day.
Ikigai is a very special word
because there is no other word
that means exactly the same
thing.
What Ikigai Is Not
Ikigai is not the ultimate tool
for purpose in work and life. It
is not your ultimate WHY or a
self-transformation purpose.
Find Your Ikigai
Find your ikigai, but don't
strap it down with big heavy
things or make it your ultimate
life purpose. You miss out on
what Ikigai brings to the table
if you get Ikigai wrong. "Ikigai"
is not "purpose". Ikigai is just
your reason for "being" and
enjoyment.
*** IKIGAI more ***
J.D. Meier on Ikigai
My ikigai is to advance human
potential while exploring and
expanding the art of the
possible.
FIND YOUR IKIGAI to inspire joy
in life
What truly motivates you to rise
each morning and embrace the new
day?
For over two decades, I’ve been
a high-performance coach at
Microsoft. Along my journey,
I’ve used various tools for
helping individuals, teams, and
leaders find their mission,
purpose, and passion.
One powerful tool is Ikigai - a
Japanese concept to inspire joy
in life
The traditional Japanese concept
of ikigai emphasizes deriving
contentment from simple
pleasures, living in the
present, cherishing joyful
memories, and cultivating a
mindset conducive to a vibrant
and fulfilling life.
This interpretation prioritizes
personal contentment over
professional achievement or
entrepreneurial pursuits.
This perspective resonates
closely with the Zen Buddhist
ethos, highlighting the value of
complete engagement in the
present moment, deriving
happiness from ordinary
experiences, and attaining a
state of flow and balance in
life.
What Ikigai is Not:
Your Ikigai isn’t something you
need to make money from.
Your Ikigai doesn’t have to be
something that the world needs.
Your Ikigai isn’t something that
you have to be highly skilled or
proficient at.
What Ikigau Is
In essence, Ikigai is the
ultimate goal that we all seek –
a life worth living.
Ikigai Meaning: “The Reason for
Which You Wake Up in the
Morning”
Ikigai encompasses all aspects
of life.
The Okinawan people, embracing
ikigai, exemplify enhanced
well-being and longevity.
According to Japanese
psychologist Michiko Kumano,
ikigai is a state of well-being
that arises from a person’s
devotion to activities they
enjoy, which also brings them a
sense of fulfillment.
Ikigai represents your profound
sense of joy and is not confined
to a specific job or career.
It encompasses a spectrum of
joy, purpose, and significance
across various facets of life,
extending beyond the realm of
work.
That’s a good thing. Now your
ikigai can do what it does best,
which is help you realize and
embrace the things that bring
you more joy in your life. This
takes the pressure off your
ikigai. This makes space for the
other tools for purpose. And you
can use the right tool for the
job.
Why is Ikigai Important?
Ikigai is a concept of immense
significance due to its ability
to provide individuals with a
profound sense of purpose,
fulfillment, and overall
well-being.
Several key reasons
contribute to why Ikigai is
regarded as such a big deal:
Life Fulfillment: Ikigai acts as
a compass that directs
individuals toward joyful
things. It encourages the
pursuit of activities that bring
you joy and make your daily
routines and rituals more
meaningful, leading to a more
fulfilling existence.
Health and Longevity: Research
suggests that having a strong
sense of purpose, as promoted by
Ikigai, is linked to improved
physical and mental health.
Individuals with a clear reason
for waking up each day tend to
experience reduced stress
levels, enhanced immune
function, and a decreased risk
of chronic diseases.
Resilience: Ikigai equips
individuals with a sense of
direction and motivation, making
them more resilient in the face
of challenges. A strong sense of
purpose can help individuals
navigate life’s ups and downs,
enabling them to maintain a
positive outlook and persevere
through difficulties.
Positive Psychology: Ikigai
aligns closely with positive
psychology principles,
emphasizing strengths,
well-being, and personal growth.
It encourages individuals to
focus on their innate abilities
and find ways to contribute
positively to their own lives
and the lives of others.
Personal Growth: The pursuit of
Ikigai often involves
self-discovery and
self-awareness. By identifying
and nurturing your passions and
strengths, individuals can
embark on a journey of
continuous personal growth and
development.
Work Satisfaction: In the realm
of career, aligning one’s work
with their Ikigai can lead to
greater job satisfaction and
productivity. When individuals
engage in tasks that resonate
with their purpose, they are
more likely to experience a
sense of accomplishment and
fulfillment.
Happiness and Well-being: Ikigai
encourages individuals to engage
in activities that bring joy,
satisfaction, and a sense of
accomplishment. This pursuit of
happiness contributes to overall
well-being and mental health.
Cultural Legacy: Rooted in
Japanese culture, Ikigai carries
centuries-old wisdom that has
contributed to the longevity and
contentment of Okinawans and
other Japanese populations. Its
cultural significance adds depth
and authenticity to its appeal.
Counteracting Existential
Crisis: In a world often
characterized by busyness and
superficial pursuits, Ikigai
provides a framework for
addressing existential
questions. It helps individuals
find purpose beyond materialism
and external validation.
Holistic Approach: Ikigai’s
emphasis on the integration of
various aspects of life,
including work, relationships,
and personal passions,
encourages a holistic approach
to well-being. It promotes
balance and harmony across
different areas, fostering a
more harmonious life.
What is YOUR Ikigai?
Ikigai is a powerful concept
that can help you find your
sense of purpose and meaning in
life.
It’s a reminder that true
happiness and fulfillment come
spending more time in your
values and aligning your
activities and how you spend
your time around what you enjoy.
By identifying your Ikigai, you
can design a life that is not
only more meaningful but also
more enjoyable and fulfilling.
Whether it’s pursuing a new
hobby, changing careers, or
finding ways to make a positive
impact on the world, the pursuit
of Ikigai can help you unlock
your full potential and live a
more purposeful and satisfying
life.
My ikigai is to advance human
potential while exploring and
expanding the art of the
possible.
What’s yours?
Measuring Ikigai with the
Ikigai-9 Questionnaire
The Ikigai-9 questionnaire
developed by Japanese
researchers, Tadanori Imai,
Hisao Osada, and Yoshitsugu
Nishimura, is a psychometric
tool used to measure a person’s
ikigai.
Here are the 9 questions:
I believe that I have some
impact on someone
My life is mentally rich and
fulfilled
I am interested in many things
I feel that I am contributing to
someone or to society
I would like to develop myself
I often feel that I’m happy
I think that my existence is
needed by something or someone
I would like to learn something
new or start something
I have room in my mind
The participants are asked to
see to what degree each
statement applies to them one a
scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being
“does not apply to me”, and 5
“applies to me a lot. ”
***
The Five Pillars of Ikigai
In the book, The Little Book of
Ikigai, Ken Mogi, a
neuroscientist, introduces the
five pillars of ikigai:
Starting Small: Embark on the
journey by identifying small
sources of joy and purpose, such
as hobbies or cherished
activities.
Releasing Yourself: Discard
mental barriers hindering the
discovery of your Ikigai. Shed
limiting beliefs and
preconceived notions.
Harmony and Sustainability:
Infuse Ikigai into life in a
harmonious and sustainable
manner, uniting work, personal
life, and obligations.
The Joy of Small Things: Delight
in life’s minutiae, be it
moments with loved ones or
savoring a morning coffee. These
snippets contribute to profound
purpose.
Being in the Here and Now:
Embrace mindfulness and embrace
the present moment. Through
this, fathom the elements that
truly resonate with your Ikigai,
aligning actions with purpose.
Mogi emphasizes that the pillars
aren’t meant to be exclusive or
exhaustive, nor are they meant
to be ranked hierarchically.
Instead, they offer essential
signposts to help us uncover and
comprehend our own ikigai.
***
In her groundbreaking work,
“Ikigai-ni-Tsuite” (What Makes
Our Life Worth Living), Mieko
Kamiya, “The Mother of Ikigai
Psychology”, introduced a
pivotal distinction that has
left a long-lasting impact on
subsequent ikigai research.
Kamiya was the trailblazer who
first delineated ikigai as not
only the driving force that
imbues life with significance
(the source of ikigai) but also
the emotion or state of mind
that emerges as a consequence.
The Core Attributes of Ikigai
Kamiya’s insights highlighted
the core attributes of ikigai as
a source (or “ikigai taish?”):
Individuality: Tailored to each
person, it aligns with their
unique identity.
Authentic Expression: It serves
as a vehicle for expressing
one’s true self.
Purpose and Worth: It
contributes to a profound sense
of purpose and value in
existence.
Intrinsic Value: It derives
intrinsic value from activities
rather than being driven by
instrumental motives.
Values Blueprint: It constructs
an individualized set of guiding
principles for life.
Liberating Mentality: It shapes
an internal mental landscape
fostering a life of liberation.
Kamiya’s pioneering insights
continue to resonate, unraveling
the layers of ikigai and its
intricate connection to leading
a truly meaningful life.
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