Ikigai
Discover Your Reason For Being
Published on 1. November 2018
Book
Hardback
160 pages
978-1-78131-829-4 (ISBN)
Description
Embrace the Japanese concept of ikigai and discover a renewed sense of purpose. Be mindful of small pleasures each day to build a more enjoyable and fulfilling life. Keep mentally and physically active to ease the ageing process.
The Japanese term ikigai has no direct English translation but essentially means 'reason for living' or 'value in life'. The concept posits that a person's ikigai lies at the intersection of four interconnected aspects of life: what we love, what we're good at, what the world needs and what we can be paid for. Ikigai, therefore, is the ideal balance between our passion, mission, vocation and profession.
Ikigai is about making the most of every day, rooted in the belief that finding pleasure in many small things is the secret to a more rewarding life overall. While living in the here and now is key, the sense of purpose derived from pursuing ikigai bolsters our mental resilience to overcome setbacks and feel positive about the future.
This concise, easily accessible book offers readers practical advice to identify what really motivates them to get up and go every morning and how seeking their personal ikigai can improve their daily lives. Each of the tenets of ikigai is explained and examined, illustrated by real-life examples of their application and inspiring photographs.
The Japanese term ikigai has no direct English translation but essentially means 'reason for living' or 'value in life'. The concept posits that a person's ikigai lies at the intersection of four interconnected aspects of life: what we love, what we're good at, what the world needs and what we can be paid for. Ikigai, therefore, is the ideal balance between our passion, mission, vocation and profession.
Ikigai is about making the most of every day, rooted in the belief that finding pleasure in many small things is the secret to a more rewarding life overall. While living in the here and now is key, the sense of purpose derived from pursuing ikigai bolsters our mental resilience to overcome setbacks and feel positive about the future.
This concise, easily accessible book offers readers practical advice to identify what really motivates them to get up and go every morning and how seeking their personal ikigai can improve their daily lives. Each of the tenets of ikigai is explained and examined, illustrated by real-life examples of their application and inspiring photographs.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Quarto Publishing PLC
Illustrations
Full colour
Dimensions
Height: 165 mm
Width: 140 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-78131-829-4 (9781781318294)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
11/2018
White Lion Publishing
€12.49
Available for download
Person
Justyn Barnes has authored over 60 books, including Sunday Times bestsellers and mindful guides like Ikigai which help readers to discover their reason for being. He lives, writes and practises sisu in Hastings Old Town on the south coast of England.
Content
CONTENTS SUMMARY
Prelims: 5 pp
Introduction: 4 pp
Chapter 1: Origins: 12 pp
Chapter 2: Why are you doing what you are doing?: 12 pp
Chapter 3: What you love: 24 pp
Chapter 4: What the world needs: 24 pp
Chapter 5: What you can be paid for: 24 pp
Chapter 6: What you are good at: 24 pp
7 Mission, Vocation, Profession & Passion - Finding the right balance: 24 pp
Conclusion: 4 pp
Index and Credits: 3 pp
CONTENTS BREAKDOWN
Prelims (5 pp)
Introduction (4 pp)
1 Origins (12pp)
Topics include:
* The historical origins of ikigai.
* How a concept so ingrained in Japanese culture as to be taken for granted there has been taken up as the blueprint for more fulfilling, healthy and happy lives.
2 Why are you are doing what you are doing? (12pp)
Topics include:
* Mindfulness - different approaches to improving your self-awareness.
* Identify the social, economic and emotional factors affecting your choices?
3 What you love (24pp)
Topics include:
* What gets you out of bed in the morning?
* What is the flow state and how you can find your flow?
* Find flow in your daily rituals.
* Appreciate the small things.
4 What the world needs (24pp)
Topics include:
* The pleasure of helping others in the community.
* The power of simple gestures - smiling, saying hello, etc.
* Apply your professional skills to voluntary work... or learn new skills by giving up your spare time to causes that you care about.
* Find satisfaction in mundane tasks.
5 What you can be paid for (24pp)
Topics include:
* What are your talents? What will inspire you to train and improve?
* What is success? All aspirations are equal, even if the potential financial rewards are not.
* Kodawari - take pride in the details; focus on quality in the here and now, rather than grand ambitions for the future.
* Gain motivation by speaking to people who benefit from your work.
* Give yourself options to reduce pressure to succeed in one field-the rise of the 'portfolio career'.
* Advice for retirees who no longer have to work for a living.
6 What you are good at? (24pp)
Topics include:
* Challenge yourself to improve; set achievable goals.
* Focus on small objectives.
* Enjoy the process, even the setbacks.
7 Mission, Vocation, Profession & Passion - Finding the right balance (24pp)
If you focus only on your true passion, but cannot make enough money to survive doing that activity, it will be unsustainable. Similarly, concentrating on what you can be paid well for may bring your material wealth, but leave you feeling spiritually bereft. And if doing what you are good at doesn't seem to fit in with what your community and the wider world needs, that can also lead to a sense of isolation and lack of self-esteem. The challenge is to find and maintain a personally satisfying balance between passion, mission, vocation and profession.
Topics include:
* Ikigai is not a silver bullet, it is a daily process.
* Your ikigai will change over time - be mindful of your changing motivations, needs and desires.
* Discover multiple ikigai (reasons for living) and avoid placing too much emphasis on any single thing as a source of happiness.
* Maintaining your focus on your ikigai amid the distractions of the modern world (e.g. social media, 24-hour news etc.).
* Keep on moving, don't stop... The benefits of gentle exercise.
* The importance of a balanced diet.
Conclusion (4pp)
Index and Credits (3pp)
Prelims: 5 pp
Introduction: 4 pp
Chapter 1: Origins: 12 pp
Chapter 2: Why are you doing what you are doing?: 12 pp
Chapter 3: What you love: 24 pp
Chapter 4: What the world needs: 24 pp
Chapter 5: What you can be paid for: 24 pp
Chapter 6: What you are good at: 24 pp
7 Mission, Vocation, Profession & Passion - Finding the right balance: 24 pp
Conclusion: 4 pp
Index and Credits: 3 pp
CONTENTS BREAKDOWN
Prelims (5 pp)
Introduction (4 pp)
1 Origins (12pp)
Topics include:
* The historical origins of ikigai.
* How a concept so ingrained in Japanese culture as to be taken for granted there has been taken up as the blueprint for more fulfilling, healthy and happy lives.
2 Why are you are doing what you are doing? (12pp)
Topics include:
* Mindfulness - different approaches to improving your self-awareness.
* Identify the social, economic and emotional factors affecting your choices?
3 What you love (24pp)
Topics include:
* What gets you out of bed in the morning?
* What is the flow state and how you can find your flow?
* Find flow in your daily rituals.
* Appreciate the small things.
4 What the world needs (24pp)
Topics include:
* The pleasure of helping others in the community.
* The power of simple gestures - smiling, saying hello, etc.
* Apply your professional skills to voluntary work... or learn new skills by giving up your spare time to causes that you care about.
* Find satisfaction in mundane tasks.
5 What you can be paid for (24pp)
Topics include:
* What are your talents? What will inspire you to train and improve?
* What is success? All aspirations are equal, even if the potential financial rewards are not.
* Kodawari - take pride in the details; focus on quality in the here and now, rather than grand ambitions for the future.
* Gain motivation by speaking to people who benefit from your work.
* Give yourself options to reduce pressure to succeed in one field-the rise of the 'portfolio career'.
* Advice for retirees who no longer have to work for a living.
6 What you are good at? (24pp)
Topics include:
* Challenge yourself to improve; set achievable goals.
* Focus on small objectives.
* Enjoy the process, even the setbacks.
7 Mission, Vocation, Profession & Passion - Finding the right balance (24pp)
If you focus only on your true passion, but cannot make enough money to survive doing that activity, it will be unsustainable. Similarly, concentrating on what you can be paid well for may bring your material wealth, but leave you feeling spiritually bereft. And if doing what you are good at doesn't seem to fit in with what your community and the wider world needs, that can also lead to a sense of isolation and lack of self-esteem. The challenge is to find and maintain a personally satisfying balance between passion, mission, vocation and profession.
Topics include:
* Ikigai is not a silver bullet, it is a daily process.
* Your ikigai will change over time - be mindful of your changing motivations, needs and desires.
* Discover multiple ikigai (reasons for living) and avoid placing too much emphasis on any single thing as a source of happiness.
* Maintaining your focus on your ikigai amid the distractions of the modern world (e.g. social media, 24-hour news etc.).
* Keep on moving, don't stop... The benefits of gentle exercise.
* The importance of a balanced diet.
Conclusion (4pp)
Index and Credits (3pp)