For a while now, we have been hearing the similar things from most parts of the world. We often hear, 'Ikigai'. We hear similar words from various languages. If you just search on Google, you will see that 'iki' in Japanese means life: 'gai' means value/worth or reason. Therefore, 'ikigai' means the purpose of life. The basic idea of this thought is that every person's life has a purpose.

This concept is developed by a Japanese psychologist Michiko Kumano. This thought is based upon a person's conviction or inner calling - the way life becomes meaningful or complete.

A person's life satisfaction lies in the area where one's likes, values, beliefs, hobbies, and personality meet. The important thing is to find that space. That's where many people often stumble. They use two words in the Greek to clarify this. Those words are hedonia and eudaimonia. Hedonia means momentary pleasures or happiness; eudaimonia means lasting satisfactions. Now, it becomes a little easier to distinguish whether your choice is hedonia or eudaimonia.

Michiko suggests using four criteria from four directions to reach ikigai. The most important thing is that you love it. The next is that you are good at it. The next criterion is that the world needs it. The fourth is that you get paid for it.

Remember that your love for it- in other words your passion, and not money, is the primary thing.

Many young people today are going that way, whether they have heard of ikigai or not. Once upon a time, parents exerted undue pressure upon them to choose the areas where they could make the most money. Today, parents also are changed. We must admit that this is a positive result of individualism.

Although the society is beginning to think and live this way only now, there is a group of people in the world who have long since discovered ikigai - those who have chosen consecrated life - a life of dedication! (Although most people would rather think otherwise! 😄)