What is Ikigai?
As a creative, having a clear vision of your dreams is essential. Ikigai, a Japanese concept, combines the words iki (life) and gai (value or worth), and is about finding your purpose in life. To truly manifest and execute your dreams, they must be congruent with your values, desires, and the possibilities that life offers. Ikigai is often depicted as a diagram with four interconnected parts, serving as a system to define a life vision that aligns with your core identity.
Integration, a concept rooted in Jungian psychology, refers to the process of combining disparate elements into a cohesive whole. It’s about uniting previously disconnected aspects of yourself to create a harmonious and authentic life.
Why Integration is Key
Subtitle: The Importance of Aligning Your Purpose with Your Actions
Integrating your purpose mentally and emotionally is crucial to your development. When your purpose is fully aligned with your actions, you eliminate inner conflict, leading to clarity and a stronger intention. It’s important to remember that it’s okay to evolve, refine, or even change your purpose throughout your life.
Living congruently with who you are—resolving inner conflicts and embracing your true self—leads to a life of fulfillment and authenticity. Your purpose must align with the four pillars of Ikigai to ensure that every aspect of your life flows together harmoniously.
How to Use the Four Parts of Ikigai
Subtitle: Creating a Balanced and Fulfilling Life
To truly achieve happiness and fulfillment, all four elements of Ikigai must be present and balanced:
- What You Love to Do: This represents your interests and passions, the activities that bring you joy and fulfillment.
- What the World Needs: This is your purpose or mission, the way you contribute to the world and make a difference.
- What You Are Good At: These are your skills and capabilities, the talents that you have honed and can offer to others.
- What You Get Paid For: This is your trade or service, the work that sustains you financially and allows you to continue pursuing your passions.
When these four elements are in harmony, you achieve a state where your life and work are fully integrated, leading to a deep sense of satisfaction and purpose.