Ikigai: The Secret to a Purposeful Life | Emily Bidle | TEDxYouth@ASIJ

Summary

The concept of 'ikigai' from Okinawa, Japan, is explored in this video. 'Ikigai' means 'life value' and represents the intersection of what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be rewarded for. Discovering your ikigai involves deep self-exploration and taking concrete actions to align your passion, mission, profession, and vocation. By finding your ikigai, you can lead a more meaningful and healthier life. The video emphasizes the importance of overcoming self-doubt and seizing opportunities to fulfill your purpose and make a positive impact on the world.

Takeaways

• 🌸 Ikigai is the Japanese concept of living a purposeful life, originating from Okinawa, where residents have the highest life expectancy in the world.
• 🕊️ Ikigai stands at the intersection of what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be rewarded for.
• ❤️ The intersection between what you love and what you're good at is your passion, something meaningful enough to make sacrifices for.
• 🌍 Adding what the world needs is vital, as serving society gives a sense of belonging and purpose.
• 💰 Including what you can be rewarded for is essential to make a living out of your purpose.
• 🔍 Finding your ikigai requires deep experimentation and self-exploration through concrete actions and thoughtful reflection.
• 👨‍💻 Steve Jobs exemplifies ikigai, combining his passion for creativity with technology, leading to the unique typography of Apple.
• 🛡️ Possessing a high sense of purpose in life is associated with reduced risk of mortality and cardiovascular accidents, leading to healthier, more motivated, and resilient lives.
• 💪 The speaker's personal journey involved overcoming self-doubt and building confidence through participation in the FutureHack entrepreneurial program, discovering a passion for design and entrepreneurship.
• 🧘‍♂️ The Dalai Lama's quote emphasizes that realizing one's potential and having confidence can lead to building a better world.

Q & A

What is the concept of 'ikigai' as described in the script?

'Ikigai' is a Japanese concept that refers to the things that make one's life worthwhile, or the reason you get out of bed every morning. It stands at the crossroads of what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be rewarded for.

What are the four main qualities that intersect to define 'ikigai'?

The four main qualities that intersect to define 'ikigai' are what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be rewarded for.

How is the concept of 'passion' related to 'ikigai'?

Passion, which is the intersection of what you love and what you're good at, is a crucial component of 'ikigai'. It is something that is truly meaningful to you and you are willing to make sacrifices for.

Why is it important to consider what the world needs when finding your 'ikigai'?

Considering what the world needs is important because serving society gives us a sense of belonging and purpose, which is vital to finding one's 'ikigai'.

How did Steve Jobs exemplify the concept of 'ikigai'?

Steve Jobs exemplified 'ikigai' by pursuing his passion for tools that would unleash his personal creativity. His curiosity and interest in calligraphy eventually inspired Apple's unique typography, aligning his passion, mission, profession, and vocation.

What benefits does having a sense of purpose (ikigai) provide according to the American Psychosomatic Society?

According to the American Psychosomatic Society, possessing a high sense of purpose in life is associated with a reduced risk for mortality and cardiovascular accidents, meaning those with a sense of purpose tend to live healthier lives and are more motivated and resilient.

What personal challenges did the speaker face in discovering their 'ikigai'?

The speaker faced self-doubt, a lack of confidence, and the belief that their contributions did not matter. They had to detach from fears, negativity, and worries to discover their 'ikigai'.

What steps did the speaker take to build confidence and discover their 'ikigai'?

The speaker took concrete actions, such as joining the FutureHack entrepreneurial program, where they collaborated on educational innovation projects, met inspirational people, and gained confidence by pitching ideas and contributing meaningfully.

What impact did participating in the FutureHack program have on the speaker?

Participating in the FutureHack program helped the speaker build confidence, realize their capability, and uncover their passion for design and entrepreneurship, ultimately contributing to discovering their 'ikigai'.

What advice does the speaker offer to others seeking their 'ikigai'?

The speaker advises others to undertake deep self-exploration, let go of fear, pursue opportunities despite insecurities, and shift their mindset from viewing obstacles as challenges to seeing them as opportunities. By doing so, they may discover their 'ikigai'.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Discovering Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Purposeful Life

Ikigai, a concept from Okinawa, Japan, describes the reason for living and intertwines four main qualities: what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be rewarded for. This blend forms a fulfilling life. Steve Jobs is an example of someone who found his ikigai by following his passion for creativity and innovation. Discovering ikigai involves self-exploration and action, leading to a meaningful and healthier life.

05:06

🌟 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Building Confidence

The journey to finding one's ikigai involves overcoming self-doubt and negative thoughts. The speaker shares their personal struggle with shyness and self-criticism, which hindered their sense of purpose. By taking concrete actions, like joining an entrepreneurial program, they built confidence, discovered their passion for design and entrepreneurship, and realized their potential to make a positive impact on society. This experience helped them see obstacles as opportunities and fostered their drive to continue self-exploration and growth.

Keywords

💡Ikigai

Ikigai is a Japanese concept meaning 'a reason for being.' It is the core theme of the video, emphasizing the importance of finding purpose in life. The term is broken down into 'iki' (life) and 'gai' (value or worth), highlighting the pursuit of meaningful activities that make life worthwhile. The video explains that ikigai lies at the intersection of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be rewarded for.

💡Okinawa

Okinawa is an island in Japan known for having the highest life expectancy in the world and a high proportion of centenarians. The video mentions Okinawa as the origin of the concept of ikigai and as a place where people live purposeful and fulfilling lives. The lifestyle and longevity of Okinawans are used to illustrate the benefits of living with a sense of purpose.

💡Centenarians

Centenarians are individuals who are 100 years old or older. The video states that Okinawa has the highest proportion of centenarians, attributing their longevity to living by the concept of ikigai. This demographic detail supports the idea that a purposeful life contributes to health and longevity.

💡Purpose

Purpose refers to the sense of meaning and direction in life. The video underscores the significance of having a purpose as it motivates individuals, fosters resilience, and is associated with better health outcomes. Examples include Steve Jobs' purpose in technology and the speaker's journey to find their own purpose through an entrepreneurial program.

💡Passion

Passion is a strong inclination towards an activity that one loves and is good at. The video explains that passion is one of the four components of ikigai and emphasizes its importance in leading a fulfilling life. Steve Jobs' passion for tools that unleash creativity and the speaker's passion for design and entrepreneurship are highlighted as examples.

💡Mission

Mission refers to the intersection of what you love and what the world needs. It is a crucial component of ikigai that gives a sense of belonging and purpose. The video suggests that serving society through one's mission enhances the feeling of contribution and fulfillment.

💡Vocation

Vocation is the intersection of what the world needs and what you can be rewarded for. It is an essential aspect of ikigai that allows individuals to sustain themselves financially while serving society. The video illustrates vocation through the speaker's participation in a program designed to solve global issues.

💡Profession

Profession is the intersection of what you are good at and what you can be rewarded for. It is a component of ikigai that focuses on making a living from one's skills and talents. The video explains that integrating one's profession with other aspects of ikigai leads to a more meaningful career.

💡Self-exploration

Self-exploration is the process of introspection and personal discovery. The video emphasizes that finding ikigai requires deep self-exploration, which involves reflecting on one's passions, skills, and values. The speaker's journey of overcoming self-doubt and discovering their capabilities through concrete actions is an example of self-exploration.

💡Confidence

Confidence is the belief in one's abilities and potential. The video highlights the importance of building confidence to discover one's ikigai. The speaker's participation in an entrepreneurial program and the resulting boost in confidence illustrate how overcoming fears and self-doubt can lead to personal growth and a sense of purpose.

Highlights

Ikigai: the Japanese secret to living a purposeful life originating from the island of Okinawa.

Okinawa has the highest life expectancy and is known as the land of immortals.

Ikigai stands at the crossroad of four main qualities: what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be rewarded for.

The intersection between what you love and what you're good at is your passion.

Serving society by addressing what the world needs gives a sense of belonging and purpose.

Adding what you can be rewarded for is essential to make a living out of your purpose.

Finding your ikigai requires deep experimentation and self-exploration.

Steve Jobs was passionate about the tools that would unleash his personal creativity, not computer hardware.

Exploring your passions and interests can help you discover your purpose, your ikigai.

Possessing a high sense of purpose in life is associated with reduced risk for mortality and cardiovascular accidents.

To discover ikigai, one must detach from fears, negativity, and worries.

Taking concrete actions builds confidence and helps see one's true capabilities.

Participating in the FutureHack entrepreneurial program helped overcome shyness and build leadership skills.

Working collaboratively on a national project for educational innovation sparked enthusiasm and ambition.

The experience of pitching ideas to changemakers and seeing their impact builds confidence.

The Dalai Lama's quote: 'With realization of one's own potential and confidence in one's ability, one can build a better world.'

Encouragement to ask oneself: What do you love? What are you good at? What can you be rewarded for? What would you like to see change in this world?

Encouragement to take advantage of opportunities despite insecurities and to pursue one's passions.

Shift your mindset from viewing things as obstacles to seeing them as opportunities.

Discovering your purpose may unfold by letting go of fear and pursuing what you've been holding back from.

Transcripts

Translator: Ivana Krivokuća Reviewer: Peter van de Ven

Ikigai: the Japanese secret to living a purposeful life,

originating from the island of Okinawa,

where its residents have the highest life expectancy in the world.

Once called the land of immortals, the UN states

that Okinawa has the highest proportion of centenarians to date.

These Okinawans live by a concept known as ikigai.

"Iki" translates to life, and "gai" describes value.

This term refers to the things that make one's life worthwhile,

the reason you get out of bed every morning.

Ikigai stands at the crossroad of four main qualities:

what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs,

and what you can be rewarded for.

The intersection between what you love and what you're good at is your passion.

This is something that is truly meaningful to you

and you're willing to make sacrifices for.

Adding to the picture, what the world needs is vital,

as serving society gives us this sense of belonging and purpose.

Finally, adding on what you can be rewarded for

is essential to make a living out of your purpose.

Now, finding your ikigai

requires deep experimentation and self exploration.

By pursuing concrete actions and reflecting back thoughtfully,

you can discover how your passion,

mission, profession and vocation

all intersect to bring more meaning to your career and life.

Take Steve Jobs for example.

He was the epitome of success in the technology field,

but he wasn't passionate about computer hardware;

he was passionate about the tools

that would unleash his personal creativity.

His curiosity and interest in calligraphy

eventually became the inspiration

for Apple and its unique typography.

By exploring your passions and interest,

you can engage your mind in novel ways

and discover your purpose, your ikigai.

And not only will your ikigai

help you live a more meaningful life,

but it will also protect you from stress and illness.

According to the American psychosomatic society,

possessing a high sense of purpose in life

is associated with a reduced risk for mortality

and cardiovascular accidents.

So those who feel purpose tend to live healthier lives

and are more motivated and resilient.

And I believe that each and every one of us

has an ikigai.

You just have to undertake a deep exploration of yourself to find it.

But let me tell you now: it is not easy.

It requires courage, determination,

and a willingness to make sacrifices.

In order for me to discover my ikigai,

I first had to detach myself

from my fears, negativity, and worries.

I would often think I'm too shy to make any contributions to society,

and even if I do, who's actually going to care?

What even is my purpose?

I would constantly criticize myself and find faults with who I was

and what I did.

But after years and years of self-doubt and a lack of confidence,

I realized that my only true enemy was myself

and that if this continues,

I would never be able to experience and discover my full potential.

So I tried convincing myself that my contributions do matter

and that I do have a purpose,

but I just couldn't seem to believe that.

So that is when I decided to take concrete actions

that would build up the confidence inside of me

and help me see what I am actually capable of.

Although it took a lot of consideration

and a lengthy list of pros and cons,

I had joined an entrepreneurial program by the name FutureHack,

a boot camp designed for self-motivated leaders

who strive to solve global issues.

I set foot into the program with a shy personality,

minimal experience in leadership,

and the inability to comfortably express my ideas to others.

But throughout the experience,

I had met so many passionate, hard-working and inspirational people.

We worked collaboratively

under a national project for educational innovation.

It was the first time governors, teachers, and students of Japan

had all come together to exchange ideas

on how to reform the Japanese education system.

Over 50 teachers and 50 students had attended this movement

while government officials watched over

and actually took students' ideas into consideration.

It was astonishing to watch students and teachers interacting

and pitching their own ideas to one another.

And this new feeling of enthusiasm and ambition

sparked the confidence inside of me,

and I happily pitched my reformation ideas to the changemakers themselves.

By facing my fear and realizing that I am capable,

I no longer felt scared or intimidated.

I finally felt like my opinion truly did matter to people,

and I developed this great drive towards making a positive impact on society.

I had uncovered my passion for design and entrepreneurship,

and built up this desire to continue expanding and exploring

to further discover my true inner self.

The great Dalai Lama has summed up my experience:

"With realization of one's own potential

and confidence in one's ability,

one can build a better world."

Now, close your eyes.

I am giving you this moment to ask yourself,

What do you love?

What are you good at?

What can you be rewarded for?

And what would you like to see change in this world?

Now, open your eyes,

and open yourself to the opportunities that await you.

I encourage you to branch out and take advantage of these opportunities,

despite your insecurities.

Keep your passion in mind.

Let go of your fear.

Go pursue that thing you've been holding yourself back from for so long.

Shift your mindset from viewing things as obstacles

and see them as opportunities.

Eventually, your purpose may unfold.

Go out and discover your ikigai.

Thank you.