GLOW UP DIARY #5 : FIND YOUR PURPOSE
"pain is a price to pay for happiness"
-kim seungmin (straykids)
© bloomzone!!
#5:FIND PURPOSE
✉️:Finding a meaningful life purpose is a profound journey that many people embark on at different stages of their lives. It involves discovering what brings fulfillment, direction, and satisfaction. Identifying a purpose can help guide decisions, inspire actions, and provide a sense of meaning in both personal and professional aspects of life.
1.Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to Finding Your Life’s Purpose
﹙ 💌 ﹚ we will explore the concept of Ikigai, a Japanese term that means “a reason for being.” Ikigai is important to know because it offers a pathway to finding purpose and joy in life. It involves harmonizing four key elements: what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be rewarded for...
2.EVERYTHING ABOUT IKIGAI
Basically, ikigai is seen as the convergence of the following four core elements:
1. What you love (your passion)
2. What the world needs (your mission)
3. What you are good at (your vocation)
4. What you can get paid for (your profession)
The word ikigai, that space in the middle of these four primary elements, is seen by the Japanese as the source of value or what make one's life truly worthwhile.
THE 10 RULES OF IKIGAI
1. Stay Active, Don’t Retire:
- The idea behind this rule is to keep your mind and body engaged in meaningful activities. Retirement doesn't mean stopping all productive work. It encourages finding activities you enjoy and continuing to contribute to society, which can provide a sense of purpose and satisfaction.
-Benefits: Staying active helps maintain cognitive function, physical health, and emotional well-being. It can prevent feelings of uselessness and isolation.
2. Take It Slow:
- Embrace a slower, more deliberate pace of life. Instead of rushing through tasks, take time to savor and appreciate the process.
- Benefits:This can reduce stress and anxiety, improve the quality of your work and help u enjoy life more fully. It encourages mindfulness and living in the present moment.
3. Don’t Fill Your Stomach:
- The 80% rule, also known as "hara hachi bu" advises stopping eating when you're 80% full, rather than completely sated.
- Benefits: This practice promotes better digestion, prevents overeating, and can lead to a healthier weight. It’s associated with longevity and reduced risk of chronic diseases.
4. Surround Yourself with Good Friends:
- Build and maintain strong, positive relationships. Spend time with people who uplift and support you.
- Benefits: Good friends provide emotional support, reduce stress, and enhance your sense of belonging. Strong social connections are linked to better mental health and increased life expectancy.
5. Get in Shape for Your Next Birthday:
- Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining health and energy. Aim to improve or maintain your fitness level each year.
- Benefits: Exercise boosts physical health, mental clarity, and mood. It helps prevent chronic diseases, improves sleep, and enhances overall quality of life.
6. Smile:
- Adopting a positive attitude and smiling can improve your mood and the mood of those around you.
- Benefits: Smiling releases endorphins, reduces stress, and promotes a positive outlook. It can improve social interactions and relationships.
7. Reconnect with Nature:
- Spend time outdoors and appreciate the natural world. This can involve walking in parks, hiking, gardening, or simply enjoying a sunny day.
- Benefits: Nature exposure reduces stress, boosts mood, and improves mental health. It can also enhance physical health and encourage a sense of wonder and connection to the world.
8. Give Thanks:
- Practice gratitude regularly by acknowledging and appreciating the positive aspects of your life.
- Benefits: Gratitude enhances happiness, reduces negative emotions, and improves mental health. It can also strengthen relationships and foster a more positive outlook on life.
9. Live in the Moment:
- Focus on the present rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. Engage fully in whatever you are doing at the moment.
- Benefits:This practice, also known as mindfulness, reduces stress and enhances enjoyment and satisfaction. It can improve mental clarity and emotional regulation.
10. Follow Your Ikigai:
-Discover and pursue your Ikigai—the intersection of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Let this guide your life choices and actions.
- Benefits:Finding and following your Ikigai leads to a fulfilling and meaningful life. It helps align your passions with your skills and societal contributions, resulting in a sense of purpose and happiness.
3.Discover Your Ikigai: Guided Journal Prompts for a Meaningful Life
Ikigai journal prompts can help you explore and clarify your purpose and passions. Here are some prompts to guide your reflection:
Exploring Your Passions
1. What activities make you lose track of time?
2. What did you love to do as a child that you may have forgotten about?
3. What topics or activities are you naturally drawn to?
4. When do you feel most alive and engaged?
5. If you could do anything without worrying about money or other obligations, what would it be?
Identifying Your Strengths
6. What skills or talents do you excel at?
7. What do people frequently ask for your help with?
8. What accomplishments are you most proud of?
9. What feedback have you received that highlights your strengths?
10. When have you felt most competent and capable?
Understanding What the World Needs
11. What issues or causes do you care deeply about?
12. How do you want to make a difference in the world?
13. What problems do you see in your community that you wish you could solve?
14. What do you believe the world needs more of?
15. What impact do you want to have on others' lives?
Finding What You Can Be Paid For
16. What professional roles or careers have you considered?
17. How can you monetize your skills or passions?
18. What services or products can you offer that others would pay for?
19. What industries or fields are you interested in exploring for potential income?
20. What value do you bring to your current job or any job you’ve held?
Integrating Ikigai
21. How can you combine your passions, strengths, and what the world needs into a potential career or hobby?
22. What small steps can you take to start aligning your daily activities with your Ikigai?
23. What changes can you make in your life to focus more on your Ikigai?
24. Who can support you on your journey to finding and living your Ikigai?
25. What would a typical day look like if you were fully living your Ikigai?
Reflecting on Progress
26. What have you learned about yourself through this journaling process?
27. How has your understanding of Ikigai evolved over time?
28. What obstacles have you encountered in pursuing your Ikigai, and how can you overcome them?
29. What successes have you experienced in aligning your life with your Ikigai?
30. How can you maintain balance and avoid burnout while pursuing your Ikigai?
ıllı ⠀ : ⠀Let ur passion be your guiding star, leading you to a life filled with joy, purpose, and unshakable fulfillment.stay healthy I love u <143 ❛ ⠀ ♡ ⠀ !!
© bloomzone
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生き甲斐 (ikigai) "reason for living" - is it actually a legit Japanese concept?
Now in the Oxford English Dictionary, “Ikigai” is defined as “a motivating force; something or someone that gives a person a sense of purpose or a reason for living”.
You’ve probably heard of it. It’s been promoted world-wide as an ancient Japanese formula for leading a good life.
However, as someone who lived and worked in Japan for a while, and never once heard this word uttered by a Japanese person, I was a little sceptical of its authenticity.
Of course there is no doubt that it is a legitimate Japanese word. Those who have studied for N3 level of the JLPT will recognise that 「生き」 (iki) is the verb meaning “to live” and that [~甲斐」 (~gai) added to the stem of a verb means “worthy of VERB” or “worthwhile VERBing”. So “ikigai” literally translates as “worthy of living”, in other words “doing something that makes your life worth living”.
So far so good. But is it actually a well-known philosophy in Japan? Do Japanese people discuss their life’s purpose using this term “ikigai”?
Not so much. Whilst a Japanese person might use this term, it is not in common usage. It is certainly not the well-established concept that various English-language self-help books are promoting it as.
Unfortunately this all seems to be a case of someone latching on to a word from an “exotic” Eastern language, and repurposing it for Westerners as the solution to personal growth.
The fact is that Japan still remains mysterious and “exotic” for many people. It’s a well-developed country with a fascinating ancient history, and amazing new technology. It’s so tempting to think that the Japanese must have everything figured out in terms of how to live. (A short stay in Japan will reveal that they are actually just as confused as the rest of us).
If you want to read more, I highly recommend checking out this article on Medium by Rahil Chadha, from the Medium publication Japonica.
He puts it much better than I can: “ikigai is largely a misappropriated Japanese word, retooled into a capitalist weapon for motivational consultants”.
Ouch.
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