Finding your ikigai

The first time I came across the word ikigai, I remember it resonating deeply with me. The definition that I came across at the time was that it is the intersection of finding the following four things:

• What you love
• What you are good at
• What the world needs
• What you can be paid for

If you search google images for the term, then you will be greeted with venn diagrams with the above words in.

However, according to this BBC article¹, it has a slightly different meaning in Japan, where the term originates. It simply means your reason for being, or “the reason why you get up in the morning”. I like this definition a lot more and prefer the concept — unfortunately the economy is not a perfect fit, and therefore not everyone can find something that manages to tick all these four points in one.

But if we do take a look back at the venn diagram, I’m very lucky that I already tick a lot of the boxes. I love and am good at maths, logic and science; this has transitioned to a fascination of data science, which is a fast-growing career. The most troubling part of the venn diagram that I have found to answer is the “what the world needs” section. This is something that I feel strongly about and I think we are creating so many products that are not needed by people. Whilst there are arguments that we live in a free market capitalist society dictated by supply and demand so whatever you are doing is contributing to what people need, and that paying taxes is the largest contribution you can give to society, I personally do not buy it. I think that a lot of products exist solely for businesses to make profit rather than for social good, and marketing brainwashes people into thinking that they want/need it. Hence why playing my part in society is something that I am very passionate about.

[1]: https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20170807-ikigai-a-japanese-concept-to-improve-work-and-life