Total Wealth Management
CALL NOW (07) 3281 1226
  • Our Team
  • Services
    • Retirement Planning
    • Centrelink Maximisation Strategies
    • Retirement & Superannuation Planning
    • Personal Insurance Advisers
    • Tax Planning & Strategies
    • Debt Recycling
    • Lifestyle Expense Planning
    • Wills & Estate Planning
  • Process
  • Contact
  • Facebook
Phone: (07) 3281 1226
Total Wealth Management
  • Home
  • About
    • Meet the Team
    • Testimonial
    • Our Advice Process
    • Fees & Charges
  • Services
    • Investing
      • Wealth Accumulation & Management
    • Insurance
      • Personal Insurance Advice
    • Tax Planning & Strategies
    • Loan & Debt Reduction
    • Retirement
      • Retirement Planning
      • Superannuation Advice
      • Centrelink Financial Advice
      • Wills & Estate Planning
      • Lifestyle Expense Planning
  • Knowledge Centre
    • Blog
    • Life Stages
      • Young Independents
      • Retirement Planning
      • Young Families
      • Mature Families
      • Pre-Retirees
      • Retirees
      • Twilight Years
    • FAQ
    • General Finance Calculators
    • Useful Links
    • Free Reports
  • Contact Us
  • Search
Total Wealth Management > Archived > Lost in your career? The Japanese concept of Ikigai could help

Lost in your career? The Japanese concept of Ikigai could help

September 21, 2018/0 Comments/in Archived /by Digilari

If you’ve lost your passion for work, Ikigai might help you re-discover it.

What’s the reason you get up in the morning? What’s your purpose in life? Where do your values, passions, beliefs and talents overlap?

These are big questions, which many of us struggle to have the answers to. But, could the Japanese concept of Ikigai be the answer to finding the answers? The practice of Ikigai is growing in popularity around the world as people use it to unearth and identify their purpose, and lead longer, more fulfilling personal and professional lives.

What is Ikigai?

“Ikigai refers to the things that give joy in your life,” says Ken Mogi, a Japanese neuroscientist and author of The Little Book of Ikigai.

“Ikigai is a spectrum, from small joys to life’s big goals. Ikigai can be a private joy, as well as something socially valuable. Quite often, Ikigai is the reason you get up in the morning.”

Some of the world’s longest-living citizens reside in Japan and it’s thought that Ikigai contributes to longevity1, not only in Japan, but around the globe (whether they have a word for it or not).

There are four principles of Ikigai:

  • What you love (passion and mission).
  • What the world needs (mission and vocation).
  • What you are good at (passion and profession).
  • What you can get paid for (profession and vocation).

If you picture a Venn diagram with these four principles, the place where the four circles overlap is your Ikigai.

“Ikigai gives your life a purpose, while giving you the grit to carry on,” says Mogi.

Why Ikigai resonates with so many

Mogi believes that Ikigai is an antidote for the stresses and psychological pressures of living in a fast-paced world.

“Under the globalising economy, people are increasingly feeling pressured to do better with their lives,” he says. “But success does not come to everyone.”

The principles behind Ikigai recognise that private joys in your life might not necessarily have social significance or translate into your professional life.

“When you have Ikigai, you are likely to perform better, realising flow and mindfulness,” says Mogi.

“And as a result, you might have social success, but that’s a bonus. Even if you do not succeed [at work], you would have Ikigai all the same.”

Ikigai is an antidote for the stresses and psychological pressures of living in a fast-paced world.

Finding your Ikigai

Ikigai isn’t about recognition or acclaim, but rather, it’s about starting small and following the things that give you pleasure.

According to Mogi, there are five pillars of activity that allow Ikigai to flourish:

  1. Starting small (focusing on the details).
  2. Releasing yourself (accepting your strengths and flaws).
  3. Finding harmony and sustainability (connecting with others).
  4. Recognising the joy of little things (appreciating your taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing).
  5. Being in the here and now (being mindful of what you’re experiencing).

Mogi says these five pillars underpin the essence of Ikigai and can be applied to any of the four principles (what you love, what you can get paid for, what the world needs or what you’re good at).

“If you apply the five pillars of activity to the intersection, you would get the most Ikigai,” says Mogi.

Applying Ikigai to your career

The work of childhood is play, and Mogi believes that if someone has lost their passion for work, the best place to start is by reflecting on childhood or a time when life seemed simpler.

“Ikigai is like reviving the inner child,” he says. “What were the things that gave you joy? What did you enjoy doing, without any consideration of social relevance or contributions to your eventual success?”

Children are naturally drawn to the activities and the people that give them pleasure with little regard for how they are perceived or the end product.

“Going back to the intuitions of the inner child would give the necessary rehabilitation, and re-boost your passion to live fully,” says Mogi.

You can define and pursue your own Ikigai, without needing endorsement or authority from others. But, Mogi says, discussing your Ikigai with family and friends can help to realise the rich diversity of Ikigai among people.

“Starting really small usually does the trick,” he says. “If you follow your Ikigai intuitions wholeheartedly, small projects often lead to big things.”

SOURCE: https://www3.colonialfirststate.com.au/personal/guidance/lifestyle/lost-in-your-career-the-japanese-concept-of-ikigai-could-help.html

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Google+
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on Linkedin
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Share on Vk
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Like to know more…

Enter your details and we will contact you with in 24 hours

    Want to learn more?

    Come in for a chat!

    Get in touch for your FREE no-obligation consultation. Appointments available during business hours or after hours by appointment.

    Get In Touch

    Financial Advice Services

    Pre-retirement and Retirement Planning

    Centrelink Maximisation Strategies

    Superannuation Fund and Strategy Advice

    Self Managed Superannuation Funds

    Personal Risk Insurance

    Wealth Accumulation

    Tax Minimisation and Tax Planning

    Debt Management

    Lifestyle Expense Planning

    Estate Planning

    Useful Links

    Meet the Team

    Our Advice process

    Fees & Charges

    Blogs

    Financial Calculators

    Financial Services Guide

    Privacy Policy

    Terms & Conditions

    General Advice Warning

    Opening Hours

    Appointments available outside these times by prior arrangement.

    Monday 9am - 5pm
    Tuesday 9am - 5pm
    Wednesday 9am - 5pm
    Thursday 9am - 5pm
    Friday 9am - 4pm
    Saturday Closed
    Sunday Closed

    Our Office

    11 Lawrence St, North Ipswich QLD 4305

    Contact Us

    Phone: (07) 3281 1226
    Email: twm@totalwealth.com.au
    Fax: (07) 3282 9900

    Postal address

    PO Box 2648, North Ipswich QLD 4305

    Enquire online

    LFG Financial Services
    Total Wealth Management is an authorised representative of LFG Financial Services
    © Copyright Total Wealth Management Pty Ltd ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. | Design by SG to 'By Digilari'
    • Financial Services Guide
    • Complaints Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • General Advice Warning
    Five charts to keep an eye on regarding the global economy Newsletter – 4th Oct 2018
    Scroll to top