The Ikigai Lexicon: A Dictionary Of Purpose.
An Ever-Expanding Antidote To The Challenges Of Modern Life.
Table Of Contents
Introduction.
The 47 Big, Bold, Beautiful Benefits Of Ikigai.
Ikigai, Nagomi, & Destinare
The Ikigai-Pareto Principle.
Growing Your 20.
Words Of Purpose.
Build Your Ikiverse.
Additional Resources.
New words and concepts are being added to the Lexicon every week, so check back every so often to expand your vocabulary and refine your purpose. 🔥
Introduction: The Language Of Purpose.
There are entire libraries worth of books dedicated to finding your purpose. Yet, if you ask most people, they have almost NO IDEA what they should be doing or why.
In a world filled with endless responsibilities and demands on our time, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters. We often find ourselves caught in a whirlwind of tasks that leave us feeling depleted and unfulfilled.
But what if there was a way to identify the activities that bring us the most purpose, growth, and fulfillment? 🤔
You’re about to discover The Language Of Purpose, a set of words and principles that can transform the way we live, help us find our passion, and allow us to prioritize the activities that truly matter.
You’ll learn fascinating Words Of Purpose like:
Pareto-Ikigai.
Nagomi.
Ikigai.
Kaizen
Integration.
Disintegration.
And many, many, more.
Let’s explore this new world, together. 🌀
“A life is well lived when Ikigai meets Nagomi.”
-The Ikigai Guy
The 47 Big, Bold, Beautiful Benefits Of Ikigai.
The following is just a taste of the world you can expect to see when you start to hone your ikigai and dedicate yourself to the study of purpose.
Sense of Direction: Creating an ikiverse helps you understand your life's purpose, providing a clear direction for your future.
Inner Peace: Understanding your ikigai brings a sense of tranquility and contentment.
Increased Focus: A clear purpose allows you to focus on what truly matters to you, reducing distractions.
Enhanced Motivation: With a defined ikigai, you will naturally feel more motivated to work towards your goals.
Better Decision Making: Your ikiverse serves as a guiding principle for making decisions in line with your core values and purpose.
Improved Resilience: When you know your purpose, you can more easily weather life's storms and recover from setbacks.
Career Satisfaction: By aligning your work with your ikigai, you will likely find greater satisfaction in your professional life.
Harmonious Relationships: When you know your purpose, you're more likely to attract and maintain relationships with people who share or support your values.
Increased Confidence: Defining your ikigai leads to self-assurance and confidence, as you understand and appreciate your own value.
Heightened Awareness: Being in tune with your ikigai enhances self-awareness and your understanding of the world around you.
Greater Empathy: Recognizing your ikigai helps cultivate empathy and understanding for others who are on their own purpose-driven journeys.
Reduced Stress: Knowing your purpose can help reduce stress, as it allows you to focus on what truly matters and let go of trivial concerns.
Improved Well-being: Understanding your ikigai can lead to a holistic sense of well-being, as it encompasses mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions.
Enhanced Creativity: Your Ikigai can serve as a source of inspiration and stimulate creativity.
Fulfillment: Living in alignment with your ikigai can lead to a deep sense of fulfillment and happiness.
Longevity: Studies have shown that individuals with a strong sense of purpose tend to live longer.
Increased Productivity: Knowing your purpose allows you to prioritize effectively, which can result in increased productivity.
Better Conflict Resolution: With a clear sense of purpose, you can navigate disagreements and conflicts more effectively.
Authenticity: Your ikiverse represents your authentic self, allowing you to live true to your beliefs and values.
Personal Growth: The process of discovering your ikigai can lead to personal growth and self-improvement.
Clarity of Values: Defining your ikigai helps you identify your core values.
Feeling of Belonging: Your ikigai can help you find your place in the world and create a sense of community.
Better Health: Those with a clear purpose often lead healthier lives due to reduced stress and increased motivation for self-care.
Altruism: An understanding of your ikigai can lead to a greater desire to help others and make a positive difference.
Self-acceptance: Acknowledging your ikigai can foster a greater sense of self-acceptance and self-love.
Greater Energy: When you are excited about your purpose, you naturally have more energy.
Easier Goal-Setting: Your ikigai can serve as a guide for setting and pursuing meaningful goals.
Life Satisfaction: People who know their ikigai generally report higher levels of life satisfaction.
Financial Security: Aligning your work with your ikigai can lead to greater success and, therefore, financial security.
Joy: Understanding and living your ikigai brings joy and enthusiasm to your everyday life.
Increased Positivity: A clear sense of purpose generally leads to a more positive outlook on life.
Better Communication: Your ikigai can help you communicate your needs and desires more effectively.
Continuous Learning: The process of finding and aligning with your ikigai encourages lifelong learning.
Stronger Connections: Sharing your ikigai can create deeper connections with others.
Self-Reliance: Defining your purpose empowers you to rely on yourself and your abilities.
Inspiration to Others: Living your ikigai can inspire those around you to pursue their own purpose.
Sense of Achievement: Pursuing your ikigai often results in a strong feeling of accomplishment.
Adaptability: Having a clear ikigai allows you to more easily adapt to life changes and challenges.
Improved Leadership: Your ikigai can enhance your leadership skills by providing a clear vision and inspiring others.
Increased Self-discipline: Pursuing your ikigai requires self-discipline, which can permeate into other areas of life.
Purposeful Retirement: A well-defined ikigai can help ensure a fulfilling and active retirement.
Greater Courage: Knowing your purpose can give you the courage to face fears and overcome obstacles.
Legacy: Living your ikigai allows you to leave a meaningful impact and legacy.
Better Sleep: Those who feel fulfilled and less stressed (common benefits of defining your ikigai) often experience better sleep.
Deeper Spirituality: Discovering your ikigai can be a deeply spiritual journey and can enhance your spiritual life.
Harmonious Living: Your ikigai encourages you to find harmony in all aspects of your life.
Enhanced Personal Freedom: Knowing your ikigai empowers you to live freely, in line with your true self and aspirations.
Are you convinced?
Ikigai: Your “Reasons For Being”.
Many confusing things have been written about Ikigai. Chances are you’ve seen the infamous Venn diagram (of overlapping circles) that describes Ikigai as some glorified job that you enjoy doing.
Your vocation is important, we all need to make a living.
Ikigai is much deeper than that. It’s why you get up in the morning. It’s what leads you to experience joy and meaning.
Ikigai is about experiencing our essence and purpose in harmony with whatever you do.
It’s not just your reason for being…
…it’s your reasons for being in everything you do and experience.
Nagomi: The Flow State.
"Nagomi" is a Japanese term popularized by neuroscientist and author Ken Mogi, referring to a state of inner peace, tranquillity, and harmony. It encapsulates a profound sense of contentment that arises from embracing life's simple pleasures and finding beauty in the present moment.
Nagomi encourages us to let go of stress and worries, cultivating a deep appreciation for the small joys and connections that surround us each day.
It reminds us to savor the flavors of a homemade meal, cherish the warmth of a shared conversation, and find solace in the beauty of nature. Nagomi invites us to slow down, reconnect with ourselves, and discover a profound sense of fulfillment in the gentle rhythm of everyday life.
In the context of Ikigai, "Nagomi" takes on an even deeper meaning. It becomes a state of being that arises when we align ourselves with our Ikigai, our reason for being. When we live in accordance with our passions, talents, values, and the needs of the world around us, we experience a sense of harmony and inner peace.
Nagomi within Ikigai is the embodiment of finding fulfillment in the pursuit of our purpose.
It is the serenity that comes from aligning our actions and choices with our deepest desires and radiating ripples of harmony in the world.
In this state of Nagomi, we discover a profound sense of purposeful living, where each moment is infused with a sense of joy, meaning, and fulfillment.
Destinare…
How do we ‘find’ our purpose?
It is the question I am asked the most.
You don’t find your purpose, it is already there, deep inside. You uncover your purpose.
But what is ‘purpose?’ The origin of ‘purpose’ gives us some clues as to the deeper understanding of the word.
The 13th Century Anglo-French word for purpose meant with intention, proper function for which something exists.
The meaning transitions in the 14 century to ‘design with intention.’
The definition of destiny as in the old French destinée was connected to purpose.
If you want to get a good argument going link purpose to some level of pre-destination. 😉
🌀 Stay with me though as the exploration will be worth it.
A root of destiny is the Latin, destinare which means to make firm, establish.
Stinare on its own is associated with obstinance which connects with being resolved, determined, and resolute.
The old idea of purpose/destiny is different than how people think about it today.
One did not decide their purpose. Rather their purpose decided them or IS them.
Destiny/purpose meant a firm, resolve, and determination to be who we were meant to be at our deepest levels.
Not the things you’ll do, rather who you are firmly established and rooted in the creation that is you.
The Ikigai-Pareto Principle.
The 80/20 rule, in informal language, is a principle that states that roughly 80% of the effects or outcomes come from 20% of the causes or inputs. It's often referred to as the "Pareto principle" after Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, who observed this pattern in wealth distribution.
In simpler terms, the 80/20 rule suggests that a small portion of effort or resources often yields a significant majority of the results. For example, you might find that 20% of your friends contribute to 80% of your happiness, or that 20% of your customers generate 80% of your sales.
In everyday conversation, you can think of the 80/20 rule as "getting the most bang for your buck" or "finding the vital few that make the biggest impact." It highlights the idea of focusing on the most important factors or tasks that deliver the greatest returns, rather than getting caught up in less significant details.
Disintegration: The 80%.
Disintegration refers to a state of being fragmented or disconnected, where different aspects of our lives, such as work, relationships, and personal passions, exist in isolation from one another. When we live in a state of disintegration, we may feel a sense of emptiness or dissatisfaction, as our actions and pursuits lack a cohesive thread that ties them together.
Disintegrating long enough and somewhere along the way…we just began shutting down parts of ourselves to be able to function.
Integration: The 20%
On the other hand, integration embodies the process of weaving together the various aspects of our lives into a harmonious whole. An integrated life allows us to cultivate a sense of wholeness and purpose by bringing together different facets of our identity. When we integrate our passions, skills, and values, we create a sense of connection and authenticity in our lives. This integration fosters a deep sense of fulfillment, as we experience a seamless flow between our actions, goals, and sense of purpose.
Growing Your 20: The Key To Life.
In the context of Ikigai, the journey is not only about discovering our individual passions and desires but also about integrating them into a unified sense of purpose. By consciously seeking to integrate our work, relationships, hobbies, and personal growth, we can create a holistic and meaningful life that reflects our unique Ikigai. Embracing integration allows us to move beyond fragmented existence, fostering a sense of wholeness and alignment that enhances our overall well-being and brings a deeper sense of fulfillment to our everyday experiences.
"Grow Your 20" encapsulates the essence of the Ikigai-Pareto Principle. By consciously identifying the activities that align with our Ikigai and bring us purpose, growth, and fulfillment, we can direct our energy and efforts toward what truly matters. Here are some practical steps to implement the Grow Your 20 philosophy in your life:
Reflect on Your Ikigai: Take some time to introspect and identify your Ikigai. What activities make you come alive? What skills do you excel at? How can you contribute to the world? Understanding your Ikigai will serve as a compass to guide your choices.
Evaluate Your Activities: Make a list of all the activities you engage in regularly. This could include work tasks, hobbies, social commitments, and daily routines. Reflect on each activity and assess how it aligns with your Ikigai. Identify the activities that bring you the most joy, growth, and fulfillment.
Prioritize Your 20%: Once you've identified the vital few, prioritize them in your life. Dedicate more time, energy, and resources to these activities. Delegate or eliminate tasks that fall into the trivial many—activities that don't contribute significantly to your sense of purpose.
Seek Harmony: While focusing on your 20% is essential, maintaining consonance is equally important. Ensure that you allocate time for self-care, rest, and nurturing relationships. Strive for a harmonious integration of your core activities and personal well-being.
Adapt and Refine: As life evolves, so does our Ikigai. Stay open to new possibilities and be willing to adapt your activities accordingly. Regularly reassess and refine your priorities to ensure they continue to align with your ever-evolving sense of purpose.
Words Of Purpose.
Your Ikiverse: A Tool To Unlock Your 20%.
Discovering your "Ikiverse" is an empowering concept that invites you to create a personal phrase or mantra that encapsulates your Ikigai, your reason for being, and infuse it into every aspect of your life. Your Ikiverse serves as a guiding light, a constant reminder of your purpose, and a compass that directs your actions and choices towards alignment with your Ikigai.
It becomes a powerful tool for living out Nagomi, the state of inner peace and harmony, by integrating your passions, talents, values, and aspirations into everything you do. Your Ikiverse becomes a source of inspiration, a touchstone that brings meaning and fulfillment to even the simplest of tasks, and a reminder to live authentically in pursuit of your true purpose.
By consciously integrating your Ikiverse into your daily experiences, you cultivate a profound sense of authenticity, joy, and meaning, allowing your Ikigai to radiate in all that you do.
Application.
🌀 Write down a few sentences that you think capture your purpose in every area of your life. (Hint: If you choose your family, or your vocation, you’re thinking too small.)
Want Some Help?
Are you ready to embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and purpose? You’re invited to try our premium self-driven course, "Discover Your Ikiverse," available exclusively in Ikiquest+.
This course is designed for individuals who are passionately seeking to learn The Language of Purpose and unlock the full potential of their Ikigai. In this comprehensive program, you will dive deep into self-reflection, explore your passions and values, and develop a personalized Ikiverse that resonates with your unique aspirations and dreams.
With a combination of interactive exercises, guided reflections, and supportive community engagement, "Discover Your Ikiverse" will empower you to live a life of purpose, fulfillment, and Nagomi. Click here to join Ikiquest+ and uncover the transformative power of your Ikiverse today.
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Remember: today is a fresh start. 🌱