@Tim Denning - You say tomato and I say red apple. The "Spanish astologer dude" says venn diagram and you say get paid for what you love. I say build self-efficacy in the space that is your wellbeing.
I love you sharing your stories on all things Tim Denning :)
I'm Japanese and we don't obsess over "ikigai". It's just westerners who have obsessed over the word and tried to make it mean so much more than it really means. "Ikigai" just means "reason for living". A rice farmer's "reason for living", from their perspective, is his/her rice crops. They put all their time and energy into making the best rice possible. That along with, for example, their family, their pets, their hobbies, makes up "ikigai". It's just the factors that make us strive day to day. That's all it is. It's not this insanely deep well of knowledge that will solve all your problems. There is no one solution to happiness, that much is indeed horseshit.
If you're feeling unhappy, listless day to day or downright depressed, then the concept of finding/creating more "reasons to live/strive" can do you some good. For instance, hobbies. We all need them. They break us away from work and keep our brains active on something that isn't just to serve other people's needs. That can be part of your "ikigai", adding to your overall happiness. Cos in the end of the day happiness matters most in life. But yeah, that said, "ikigai" ain't that deep. Westerners just make it deep, almost to the point of bastardisation.
Too many people have been conditioned to chase after the wisdom of so-called 'gurus'.
But as Jesus himself revealed: The True Kingdom of the Greater God dwells WITHIN ....
The REAL concept starts and flows endlessly from Within. And while I personally enjoy learning from others, my own personal endgame belongs to knowing the Kingdom from within.
Thank you Tim for being obsessive about your personal Kingdom.
I've heard about Ikigai but never thought much of it. It's true though that passion follows commitment. Getting started is hard but once you gain momentum, just keep the ball rolling. Cheers Tim.
Ikigai can be something small and easy, it's a feeling and its future focussed... The 5 pillars show us how achievable it can be;
1) starting small
2) releasing yourself
3) harmony & sustainability
4) the joy of little things
5) being in the here & now
... Whereas the purpose Venn diagram is actually fascinating I think, I'm working on ways for people to think through its implications in a structured way... I have too many articles I could link too hehe, but one I wrote recently;
I still believe in the concept of a mission, or a purpose, but it isn't always the thing you do for a living. It does give your life meaning. Sometimes you just have to find something you can do easier than most other people and get paid for it.
Also, some things just doesn't come over night, like a purpose (or an obsession).
I like how you laid this out and made me think about it again. Well done Tim.
I used to fall for this Ikigai BS stuff, too. Seeking answers externally almost never works. We have to go within, listen to that little voice. A couple years ago I had my version of a mini mid-life crisis. From the outside, It looked like me being hired and then quitting five or six different jobs in a matter of months. On the inside, I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to 'get back to work' and 'find my purpose.' I hit a ton of roadblocks and nothing felt like a good fit. And then I started writing and everything in my life became more clear. I'm still not making any money, but I'm starting to believe my 'purpose' has been right under my nose all along
I think it's a consequence and not an equivalence ( as in a mathematics). If you find your ikigai you have found your purpose in life , but the opposite is not always true, finding your purpose in life is not systematically your ikigai ❤️
My bullshit meter pegs the moment a Venn diagram appears. I take it as proof of the adage, “ in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king” (Erasmus).
If they buy into the Ikigai methodology too much, they start to become all woo-woo and law-of-attraction-y and wait for the perfect moment, purpose, or idea to fall on their lap and kiss them on the tits while shouting “thank you almighty one for this gift… I now have purpose. Let’s make love.”
The solution:
Follow your curiosity first like I did with writing. See where it leads. At some point this curiosity will turn into obsession if you put in the work and stay true to the path.
Thank you for sparing me from falling down this rabbit hole. I have a strong bias towards Japanese things, particularly music. I know I would have spent an inordinate amount of time in this "icky guy" stuff have I not come across this article!
As a Japanese-American, I can prove that this Venn diagram is totally wrong, and fake. A non-Japanese Spanish author created it. Japanese people do not educate the Japanese about this. All you teach us, Tim, is a clear guidance of Ikigai.
@Tim Denning - You say tomato and I say red apple. The "Spanish astologer dude" says venn diagram and you say get paid for what you love. I say build self-efficacy in the space that is your wellbeing.
I love you sharing your stories on all things Tim Denning :)
Sunshine all the time creates a dessert.
True SS, but too much shade just leaves everything in the dark and we wander around aimlessly trying to find the water source that is our life.
I'm Japanese and we don't obsess over "ikigai". It's just westerners who have obsessed over the word and tried to make it mean so much more than it really means. "Ikigai" just means "reason for living". A rice farmer's "reason for living", from their perspective, is his/her rice crops. They put all their time and energy into making the best rice possible. That along with, for example, their family, their pets, their hobbies, makes up "ikigai". It's just the factors that make us strive day to day. That's all it is. It's not this insanely deep well of knowledge that will solve all your problems. There is no one solution to happiness, that much is indeed horseshit.
If you're feeling unhappy, listless day to day or downright depressed, then the concept of finding/creating more "reasons to live/strive" can do you some good. For instance, hobbies. We all need them. They break us away from work and keep our brains active on something that isn't just to serve other people's needs. That can be part of your "ikigai", adding to your overall happiness. Cos in the end of the day happiness matters most in life. But yeah, that said, "ikigai" ain't that deep. Westerners just make it deep, almost to the point of bastardisation.
Too many people have been conditioned to chase after the wisdom of so-called 'gurus'.
But as Jesus himself revealed: The True Kingdom of the Greater God dwells WITHIN ....
The REAL concept starts and flows endlessly from Within. And while I personally enjoy learning from others, my own personal endgame belongs to knowing the Kingdom from within.
Thank you Tim for being obsessive about your personal Kingdom.
✌️✌️🤟🤟✊️✊️💪💪
ye
Yea, verily, amen--every word!
I've heard about Ikigai but never thought much of it. It's true though that passion follows commitment. Getting started is hard but once you gain momentum, just keep the ball rolling. Cheers Tim.
Ikigai can be something small and easy, it's a feeling and its future focussed... The 5 pillars show us how achievable it can be;
1) starting small
2) releasing yourself
3) harmony & sustainability
4) the joy of little things
5) being in the here & now
... Whereas the purpose Venn diagram is actually fascinating I think, I'm working on ways for people to think through its implications in a structured way... I have too many articles I could link too hehe, but one I wrote recently;
https://www.seekingikigai.online/p/everyone-gets-the-venn-diagram-wrong
Thank God, I thought I was just an asshole.
Also it compels people to give up what might be a really fulfilling hobby to chase after a mythical calling that must be clearly monetizable.
I still believe in the concept of a mission, or a purpose, but it isn't always the thing you do for a living. It does give your life meaning. Sometimes you just have to find something you can do easier than most other people and get paid for it.
Also, some things just doesn't come over night, like a purpose (or an obsession).
I like how you laid this out and made me think about it again. Well done Tim.
I used to fall for this Ikigai BS stuff, too. Seeking answers externally almost never works. We have to go within, listen to that little voice. A couple years ago I had my version of a mini mid-life crisis. From the outside, It looked like me being hired and then quitting five or six different jobs in a matter of months. On the inside, I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to 'get back to work' and 'find my purpose.' I hit a ton of roadblocks and nothing felt like a good fit. And then I started writing and everything in my life became more clear. I'm still not making any money, but I'm starting to believe my 'purpose' has been right under my nose all along
I think it's a consequence and not an equivalence ( as in a mathematics). If you find your ikigai you have found your purpose in life , but the opposite is not always true, finding your purpose in life is not systematically your ikigai ❤️
My bullshit meter pegs the moment a Venn diagram appears. I take it as proof of the adage, “ in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king” (Erasmus).
This is great.
The problem:
If they buy into the Ikigai methodology too much, they start to become all woo-woo and law-of-attraction-y and wait for the perfect moment, purpose, or idea to fall on their lap and kiss them on the tits while shouting “thank you almighty one for this gift… I now have purpose. Let’s make love.”
The solution:
Follow your curiosity first like I did with writing. See where it leads. At some point this curiosity will turn into obsession if you put in the work and stay true to the path.
Simple enough. On spot as always. Love you, Tim.
Thank you for sparing me from falling down this rabbit hole. I have a strong bias towards Japanese things, particularly music. I know I would have spent an inordinate amount of time in this "icky guy" stuff have I not come across this article!
Hi Tim,
As a Japanese-American, I can prove that this Venn diagram is totally wrong, and fake. A non-Japanese Spanish author created it. Japanese people do not educate the Japanese about this. All you teach us, Tim, is a clear guidance of Ikigai.
Great as always Tim. I knew about Ikigai, but haven't been doing much research about it yet, so I won't comment on it.
However, I will comment on 'Do what you love' - because I think this is also overrated.
Passion is overrated - if your goal is to get paid (a lot of money) doing what you love.
Nobody gives a shit about what you love, let alone pay for it.
'Love what you do' - that's what Steve Jobs said, not 'Do what you love'.
Brilliant call out Tim. Made me laugh, smile and nod in agreement. Keep at it fellow writer!