Ikigai Thought for Today: Take Back the Pen
Defining ourselves in Ikigai
Audio narration by David Marlow
Seeking Validation
We often seek validation and acceptance from others.
It’s almost as if we walk around with a drawing pad on our chest. We hand other people our pens asking them to write on the pad and confirm our worth.
"Tell me I'm good enough.”
“Tell me you value me.”
“Write that you like me."
Our Ikigai gets buried by life. Loss, sorrow, criticism, disappointments, and even the words of well-meaning family and friends can create layers that cover and eventually hide our true selves.
Looking for external validation creates another one of those layers and makes uncovering our Ikigai much more challenging.
One way to break free is to take control of our story.
When we stop striving for validation from others, we "take back the pen."
Pulling the drawing pad from our chest, we begin to write our worth for the world to see.
Or better yet, we throw the pad away and express our intrinsic worth and value as a unique creation by living our Ikigai every day.
I'm looking at the finite hours I have as a finite human & relishing the imperfectionism of today because learning that I can't have it all, be it all, or do it all is a very hard-won lesson.
Wise words. I started to do it not long ago. It seems that we are taught to look for external approval at all times. Some people get stuck in that loop for the rest of their lives. Others come out of it. I think age has helped me a lot in that field. Mostly because I learned not to care anymore about what anybody else thinks. As always, I love reading your reflections and your Ikigai lessons. Thank you!