for SL
One of the conundrums that plagues high school students is a pressure to figure out what one plans to do in the world after graduation. As entrepreneurship is on the rise, there is an ever-widening number of options for high school graduates. College is often touted as the single “correct” path to take, but even along this path, many students struggle to determine what they want to major in. In a world where only 20% of US workers are passionate about what they do, there is a great pressure to choose the right career the first time around.
Ikigai (生きがい) poses an answer to this conundrum. The Japanese term doesn’t have a direct English translation, but it roughly translates to “reason for being, reason to live.” Some describe ikigai as your reason to get up in the morning. It is made up of iki, meaning “alive,” and -gai, meaning “value, worth.”1 Dating back to the Heian period (794-1185), it was adopted by the English language as recently as the 1970s, according to the BBC.
The popularized model of one’s ikigai is a Venn diagram with four overlapping circles. The circles represent each aspect of your ikigai: what you love, what you are good at, what you can be paid for, and what the world needs. The idea is that the center, where they all overlap, is your ikigai.
One of the conundrums that plagues high school students is a pressure to figure out what one plans to do in the world after graduation. As entrepreneurship is on the rise, there is an ever-widening number of options for high school graduates. College is often touted as the single “correct” path to take, but even along this path, many students struggle to determine what they want to major in. In a world where only 20% of US workers are passionate about what they do, there is a great pressure to choose the right career the first time around.
Ikigai (生きがい) poses an answer to this conundrum. The Japanese term doesn’t have a direct English translation, but it roughly translates to “reason for being, reason to live.” Some describe ikigai as your reason to get up in the morning. It is made up of iki, meaning “alive,” and -gai, meaning “value, worth.”1 Dating back to the Heian period (794-1185), it was adopted by the English language as recently as the 1970s, according to the BBC.
The popularized model of one’s ikigai is a Venn diagram with four overlapping circles. The circles represent each aspect of your ikigai: what you love, what you are good at, what you can be paid for, and what the world needs. The idea is that the center, where they all overlap, is your ikigai.
This framework has been used by thousands to narrow in on a career or a side hobby. By identifying each individual part rather than a large, abstract concept, the process becomes less daunting. If it seems like a structure that would help you, go ahead—fill it out! You could even write on the one printed above. When you find something that fits under all four categories, consider pursuing it further. If you struggle to find something that can fall in the center, you might consider trying to branch your interests out more. Experiment with new hobbies or different forms of the things you love.
However, the truth is that this diagram is an inaccurate depiction of what ikigai means. In order to become more eye-catching, it alters the concept, turning it into a simple four-step action plan designed to grasp at our attention. This framework wasn’t even originally created to model the idea of ikigai; according to Ikiagaitribe.com, it’s a modified version of Spanish author Andres Zuzunaga’s Venn Diagram of Purpose, merely replacing the word “purpose” in the center with “ikigai.”
In everyday Japanese culture, ikigai is a much simpler thing than models like this one make it out to be. Some of the misunderstandings may stem from the word’s translation: the English language has one word that encompasses both our everyday lives and our entire lifetimes, so a “life’s purpose” sounds like a grand and permanent thing. This is not the case in Japanese; there are two different words to describe these different concepts, and the “everyday life” version aligns more with ikigai. Ikigai is not a single, life-defining purpose that takes hours to discern—it is often not something that is discerned at all. It can be found in the small, everyday joy we experience, the simple pleasures in life, and it does not need to be one single thing. It doesn’t need to make you money or even to be something you love.
However you describe your ikigai, it’s a valuable thing to have. There’s some anecdotal evidence that links having an ikigai to living longer, and according to the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, it is linked to lower rates of depression. Having an idea of purpose allows you to live in greater alignment with your values, but again, it isn’t necessarily a lifelong thing. Your ikigai might change from day to day, so you aren’t stuck in the monotony of something your today-self thinks would be a good idea several years from now.
As you plan your post-high school career, keep the concept of ikigai in mind. Lead your life with purpose, and do the things that bring you joy. We could all use something other than an annoying alarm clock to get ourselves up in the morning.
However, the truth is that this diagram is an inaccurate depiction of what ikigai means. In order to become more eye-catching, it alters the concept, turning it into a simple four-step action plan designed to grasp at our attention. This framework wasn’t even originally created to model the idea of ikigai; according to Ikiagaitribe.com, it’s a modified version of Spanish author Andres Zuzunaga’s Venn Diagram of Purpose, merely replacing the word “purpose” in the center with “ikigai.”
In everyday Japanese culture, ikigai is a much simpler thing than models like this one make it out to be. Some of the misunderstandings may stem from the word’s translation: the English language has one word that encompasses both our everyday lives and our entire lifetimes, so a “life’s purpose” sounds like a grand and permanent thing. This is not the case in Japanese; there are two different words to describe these different concepts, and the “everyday life” version aligns more with ikigai. Ikigai is not a single, life-defining purpose that takes hours to discern—it is often not something that is discerned at all. It can be found in the small, everyday joy we experience, the simple pleasures in life, and it does not need to be one single thing. It doesn’t need to make you money or even to be something you love.
However you describe your ikigai, it’s a valuable thing to have. There’s some anecdotal evidence that links having an ikigai to living longer, and according to the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, it is linked to lower rates of depression. Having an idea of purpose allows you to live in greater alignment with your values, but again, it isn’t necessarily a lifelong thing. Your ikigai might change from day to day, so you aren’t stuck in the monotony of something your today-self thinks would be a good idea several years from now.
As you plan your post-high school career, keep the concept of ikigai in mind. Lead your life with purpose, and do the things that bring you joy. We could all use something other than an annoying alarm clock to get ourselves up in the morning.