East Meets West Academy

I was a international student in Taiwan in 1985.

Ikigai (生き甲斐) is a Japanese concept meaning "a reason for being." It's a personal journey, unique to every person, to find what makes your life valuable, interesting and meaningful.

Nowadays, many young people feel a sense of anxiety and disconnection. Our modern cultures are materialistic and "standardizing" -emphasizing economic success, educational competition, test scores, social rankings and comparisons of children with each other.

If we want our children to be happy and healthy, it's best to teach them to never measure or compare themselves with others. A love of learning leads naturally to skill development, self-direction, mastery, healthy growth and creative thinking. Relationships with other people, animals, nature, books, art, music, science, spirituality, sports and culture are what makes our lives interesting, successful and meaningful.

The Japanese concept of ikigai (finding deep meaning in life) is something that can be taught universally, while staying completely unique to each person. No one of us is the same, and children should learn not to compare themselves to others. To cherish our lives and relationships is what leads to happiness.

~Christopher Chase

Video: Japanese from Okinawa reflect on the importance of Ikigai in their lives https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X7LQZXllUk

Ikigai (生き甲斐) – Reason for Being https://creativesystemsthinking.wordpress.com/2016/01/01/ikigai-生き甲斐-reason-for-being/

How the Arts Transform Consciousness
https://creativesystemsthinking.wordpress.com/2015/11/18/how-the-arts-transform-consciousness/

Zen & the Art of Living Deeply
https://creativesystemsthinking.wordpress.com/2016/05/15/zen-the-art-of-living-deeply/

How We Learn to Compartmentalize
https://creativesystemsthinking.wordpress.com/2019/06/08/how-we-learn-to-compartmentalize/

From Wikipedia:

"Ikigai (生き甲斐) is a Japanese concept meaning "a reason for being." Everyone, according to the Japanese, has an ikigai. Finding it requires a deep and often lengthy search of self-discovery and reflection.

The word "ikigai" is usually used to indicate the source of value in one's life or the things that make one's life worthwhile. The word is also used to refer to mental and spiritual circumstances under which individuals feel that their lives are valuable. It's not necessarily linked to economic status or daily state of things.

Even if a person feels that today is dark, but has a goal, he may feel ikigai. Behaviours that make one feel "a reason for being" are not actions which individuals are forced to take - these are natural and spontaneous actions.

In the culture of Okinawa, ikigai is thought of as "a reason to get up in the morning"; that is, a reason to enjoy life. In a TED Talk, Dan Buettner referenced ikigai as one of the reasons people in the area had such long lives."

Primary text source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikigai