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Happiness, Purpose, Ikigai--? I was roaming around in the "Newcomers" section earlier today and found a posting by Dee that included this link to an article on what constitutes true happiness as well as the place of happiness in our lives: https://theconversation.com/true-hap...the-time-88600 When I got to the end of it, I noticed a link to another article, this one on a Japanese concept called "Ikigai": https://theconversation.com/the-japa...appiness-88709 Hoping others here get something out of this reading, and welcoming any discussion or thoughts on these topics that you would care to share. https://s17.postimg.org/vr9j71k5b/b7...46faa48874.jpg https://s17.postimg.org/sx6dtkn3z/ip...umb_Ikigai.jpg |
Happy Sunday HP.... thanks for sharing this!! |
I love this. For me, right now in my life, my ikigai is Storytelling. I engage with it in every aspect of my life (and all four of the Big Circles in the diagram), and trying to describe the feeling I have when I think about it--it's so hard! I would say that it "fills me up" but that isn't quite right -- it more makes me realize that the well of happiness inside me is not finite (which is something I believed for a long time), but in fact infinite. And the idea of never being able to fill it is not scary because now I understand it isn't something that's meant to be filled, it's something that's meant to be explored and discovered anew every minute of every day, and the potential for doing so is in fact, infinite. Ugh, for someone who claims to be a writer that was pretty shoddy. I guess I am still exploring what this means to me!!! |
Originally Posted by SparkleKitty
(Post 6746721)
I would say that it "fills me up" but that isn't quite right -- it more makes me realize that the well of happiness inside me is not finite (which is something I believed for a long time), but in fact infinite. And the idea of never being able to fill it is not scary because now I understand it isn't something that's meant to be filled, it's something that's meant to be explored and discovered anew every minute of every day, and the potential for doing so is in fact, infinite. |
Originally Posted by honeypig
(Post 6746729)
Wow, SK, this is really something--my head is spinning w/that concept. I'm on my way out the door right now, but this is an idea I need to return to... |
The way ikigai has been explained to me by friends who are bi-cultural is that it is a lot like the European concept of "Destiny". It is something that you can reach if you believe in it, and that will make all the hardships and pain of life worth the sense of acomplishment and "correct-ness" in your choices. Or you can avoid pursuing your destiny and reach the end of your life wishing you had. It's not supposed to be some kind of dramatic, Hollywood type drama. It's supposed to be the result of a thousand small decisions made every day. Like deciding to be a teacher, working for low pay in government buildings but becoming a role model for hundreds and hundreds of children. Mike :) |
for some reason, this post made me think about the basic TASTES: Sweet, Sour, Bitter, Salty and Umami. Umami is considered the "fifth" taste.....almost, but not quite, a combination of the other flavors.....deeper, richer, yummier. altho the concept of Umami has been around since the 19th century, and again "discovered" in 1908 by a Japanese chemist, it has only in the last decade become widely known, that's due to foodies everywhere, all the chefs on cooking shows now, etc. no one can accurately describe umami as the flavor is almost "personal" - asparagus is considered umami, tomatoes, kelp, cheese. one famous italian chef stated that parmesan was the most umami ingredient in western culture. but even without being told, we all have experienced the umami flavor. that moment of satisfaction, richness, satiation. taking it further, we have all experienced an umami moment......ah moment of YES....this.......... whew, sorry..........went on a bit of a tangent there! |
Thank you for sharing! We were talking about East vs West the other day at work, and I mentioned that being happy all the time is a very western concept, and is unrealistic. People stared at me as I had two heads and called me a Debbie downer. Sounds like I was not that far off base with that. |
Great post and responses :) |
Anvil....Chef Batalli is always claiming that all things Italian were the first and the best..... (just couldn't resist mentioning that)...... |
It must be my codependent nature. Since I was a teenager I knew my reason for being (Ikigai) was to take care of my mother. It's been almost a year now and I'm still searching. It's been replaced by concentrating on my children. |
My ikigai is being of service because I find that makes me happiest. Thank you sooo much for these terrific articles. |
Huh I JUST heard this word today on a podcast, then I open your reading. What a lovely concept. https://www.npr.org/programs/ted-rad...date=7-31-2016 |
I've been down lately and through the events of the day, something just clicked. Enjoy life. Life is to be enjoyed. What am I doing to enjoy life? Am I willing to do the work, pay the price, needed to enjoy this life? What do I want to do? What do I need to do to make that happen? How do I keep that focus on my goal without undue distractions. The next step, after what would a happy life involve is: what purpose will this bring to society? How will this bring happiness to another individual? |
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