Are you happy in life? I wish there was a metric we can look at and say that we're x% happy in life but we know there can't be one. Why? Simply because people think about their happiness, and it is a very subjective one that can't be generalised to a wider audience.
So how do we answer this question? Yesterday I came across a framework that originated from Japan called the "๐ข๐ค๐ข๐ ๐๐ข" - which translates to "purpose of life". Everything that you do in life is broadly classified into ๐ฐ ๐พ๐๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐.
You do something because...
โค๏ธ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ถ๐
For example, you love travelling and meeting new people. You do this because you get pleasure & satisfaction out of it.
๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐'๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ด๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐
For example, you can be good at coding due to your experience in tech and practice. You do this because you've mastered a skill and perform better than others in it.
๐ฐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐
For example, the job that you do or anything that helps you pay the bills. Basically, these are the things that earn you money.
๐ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐น๐ฑ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ ๐ถ๐
For example, showing love and compassion towards animals or donating to a cause. You do this so that others around you are happy and you win as a whole.
When you are in a stage of life where you are doing things that check off all the above four, that means you've found your "๐ข๐ค๐ข๐ ๐๐ข" i.e., the purpose of your life.
Now, did I find my ikigai? Not yet.
I've always felt something missing from my life but didn't know how to fulfil it. At least now, when I see the world through the lens of ikigai, I know what quadrants I should be chasing after & focus to find the purpose of my life and live happily.
#ikigai #lifeadvice #lifeandhealth #happinesss
