By Resmor Wellness | Lived & Learned Series
I read Ikigai during a week when everything felt like too much — and also, somehow, not enough. I remember pausing on a page and whispering, “Oh… so that’s what I’ve been missing.”
It wasn’t productivity I craved. It was purpose. Ease. A sense that my energy mattered.
This post isn’t a summary. It’s a love letter to the idea that a meaningful life isn’t grand or loud. It’s just… aligned. And yours might start with a cup of tea and a quiet question: What makes you want to get out of bed each morning?
What Is Ikigai?
In Japanese, ikigai (生き甲斐) means “reason for being.” It’s the intersection of:
- What you love ❤️
- What you’re good at
- What the world needs
- What you can be paid for
It’s not about hustle. It’s about harmony — a sense that your gifts and your life are in balance.
“Our ikigai is different for all of us, but one thing we have in common is that we are all searching for meaning.” — Ikigai, p. 2
How to Apply Ikigai in Real Life
1. Start with Curiosity, Not Pressure
You don’t have to know your ikigai all at once. Begin with what lights you up.
Ask: “What could I do for hours without checking the time?”
2. Map Your Ikigai Diagram
Try sketching the 4-circle diagram — and list your truths in each. Look for overlaps, surprises, and connections.
3. Weave It Into Daily Rituals
Ikigai isn’t only about your career. It’s also in your hobbies, your habits, your presence.
Examples: Writing, teaching, growing herbs, painting, listening deeply, being of service.
4. Redefine “Work” as Contribution
Even if your job isn’t your ikigai, your energy can still reflect it. How you show up anywhere matters.
“Be so rooted in purpose that even routine becomes sacred.”
5. Protect Your Energy Like It’s Sacred (Because It Is)
Ikigai thrives in calm. That means saying no to what drains, and yes to what fuels.
Ikigai for Wellness, Creativity & Daily Joy
- Start your day with a 3-minute ikigai journal: “What would make today feel meaningful?”
- Pick one task and do it with full attention — no multitasking
- Celebrate small acts of purpose (a kind word, a finished sketch, a grateful walk)
- Reconnect with childhood joys: What did you love before productivity became the goal?
“There is no future, no past. There is only the present. Live it.” — Ikigai, p. 26
Final Thoughts: Meaning Doesn’t Have to Be Massive
Your ikigai might not be a career or a five-year plan. It might be slow breakfasts, long walks, healing others, or creating beauty. Whatever it is, it matters — because you matter.
This is your invitation to pause, realign, and begin again — gently.
When your life feels like a song that only you can hear — that’s ikigai.
