Ikigai is about experiencing your essence and purpose in harmony with whatever you do.
This definition of Ikigai intentionally avoids the word balance. I’m not a fan of the concept of work/life balance, for example.
Balance implies equality.
Work equals your life outside of work and vice versa.
Instead, I offer the idea of harmony—things working together in agreement and accord, like a concert.
Much like an orchestra performing a concert, there are times when the brass section will be bold and the woodwinds quiet and other times, the woodwinds will be featured, and percussion will take a lesser role.
Life is like that.
It is in contrast that the music reveals its depth and beauty.
Audio narration by David Marlow.
With that in mind here are two contradictions I want you to ponder.
Plan like an adult yet hope like a child.
and
Be open to the miraculous, down with what happens.
Photo by Manuel Nägeli on Unsplash
Quest well!
"Plan like an adult while you hope like a child."
I love that one so much, David!
You know I'm not a fan of "work/life" either, but I don't mind the use of the word "balance".
Here are three arguments for that:
- Yours, of the orchestra. A well-balanced symphony never has each instrument or even each section sharing equal parts or volume. The string section usually carries the heft of the work. But it is the minimally invasive and perfectly timed entry of heavier instruments that build the drama and punctuate meaning.
- Food. We would never imagine using equal parts spice to protein, or any other ingredients. Perfect proportions, sometimes minuscule, create a balanced dish to the palate.
- Athletics. Balance rarely means standing Square on both feet equally. Especially my beloved hockey. Seeing me stretched out to one side with my stick 6 ft away on one foot, with my other skate 3 ft in the air, no one would say that is a vision of balance. And yet it requires activating hundreds of tiny muscles to maintain balance.
Your rebuttal?
😉
I may agree David and this very topic came across my mental door this morning :) that of the work person somehow not being at the same time a non-work person. When one goes to work does not the one take themselves physically and mentally to work...good and not so good? We have a job that we get paid for yes...we are obligated to do what we get paid to do for those on a clock at a site or remotely working for a company. I propose there is a work-life balance not in equal terms but in relative ones as the same person is involved and must make choices as such. EG at work you get a call that your young son was just involved in an accident....of course you ask to leave to take care of it. You are at home and a work text of importance comes in...do you address it and get back....for most of us...YES. Done right there can be a great synergy that helps us cumulatively develop and grow without much suffering on either end and actually enjoying them more!