The Integrated Ikigai Model for our Daily Lives
7 Dimensions and 6 questions
Exploring Ikigai in Your Daily Life
In this final session, I want to help you explore Ikigai in your major life areas, focusing concretely on your daily experiences. We will walk through the seven dimensions that contribute to a strong Ikigai, according to Mieko Kamiya, and consider the five, or perhaps six, pillars outlined by Ken Mogi. We'll then formulate questions based on these concepts to integrate Ikigai more fully into our everyday lives.
The Seven Dimensions of Ikigai according to Mieko Kamiya
Life Satisfaction - Reflect on what brings you contentment and fulfillment.
Growth and Change - Consider areas in your life where you seek growth or are experiencing change.
A Positive Future - Think about your aspirations and hopes for the future.
Deep Relationships - Identify the importance of connections and relationships in your life.
Resonance - Explore how your actions and values resonate with others and the world around you.
Freedom and Self-Actualization - Reflect on your sense of autonomy and the freedom to pursue your passions.
Meaning and Value - What gives our lives meaning and value?
As I describe each dimension, choose one that feels most significant to you right now—one that you feel ready to explore or work on, perhaps today or in the coming days.
Next Steps:
Once you've selected a dimension, we'll look at Ken Mogi's pillars of Ikigai and use them to create practical questions for reflection. This will help you integrate these concepts into your daily life in a meaningful and actionable way.
Interestingly, during a conversation with Ken Mogi, I mentioned that he includes sustainability and harmony within one pillar, suggesting that these could be considered separate. He acknowledged that while they are all related, they indeed represent different aspects, effectively making it six pillars.
So, let's take a look at these six pillars, one by one, and I will guide you in formulating questions for each to help you reflect on your daily life.
As we go through these pillars, keep in mind the dimension you selected from Mieko Kamiya's seven dimensions.
Use this specific dimension as a lens to reflect on each pillar, considering how they relate to your chosen area of focus.
This will help you integrate these insights into a practical, meaningful context in your everyday life.
Let's begin with the first pillar.
Starting Small
How can I start small to enhance my life satisfaction? What are simple, everyday actions that could contribute to a greater sense of fulfillment? The idea is to begin with small, manageable actions, whatever your goal or focus may be.Living in the Here and Now
The next pillar emphasizes Living in the Here and Now. This principle encourages mindfulness and presence in the moment. Reflect on how you can be more present in your daily life to enhance your life satisfaction.
Ask yourself: How can I cultivate a greater awareness of the present moment? What practices can help me stay focused on the here and now?The Third Pillar: Finding Joy in Small Things
The third pillar is Finding Joy in Small Things. This principle encourages appreciating the simple pleasures in life.
Reflect on: What small things bring me joy and contribute to my life satisfaction? How can I consciously cultivate these moments in my daily life?The Fourth and Fifth Pillar: Harmony and Sustainability
Ken Mogi initially grouped Harmony and Sustainability together, but we can consider them separately for deeper reflection. Harmony refers to fostering a sense of peace and balance in life.
Ask yourself: How can I create more harmony in my relationships and environment to enhance my life satisfaction?Sustainability, on the other hand, involves making mindful choices that are sustainable and focusing on what truly matters.
This includes the idea that less can sometimes be more.
Reflect on: How can I simplify my life to focus on what is truly important?
Are there areas where I can reduce excess and find contentment in less?
What if less in fact is more?The Sixth Pillar: Being in the Here and Now
The sixth pillar, Being in the Here and Now, encourages living in the present moment.
This is crucial for experiencing life fully and enhancing overall satisfaction.
Reflect on: How can I focus more on the present moment and less on past regrets or future anxieties?By integrating these pillars into your daily life, you can create a more fulfilling and meaningful existence.
Remember to keep the dimension you selected from Mieko Kamiya's framework in mind as you reflect on each pillar, tailoring the insights to your specific context and needs.