Start small

MIEKO KAMIYA AS A ROLE MODEL

Mieko Kamiya's personal mission was deeply intertwined with her quest to understand and articulate the concept of ikigai, which roughly translates as "a reason for being" or "what makes life worth living". Her dedication to this mission was not only an academic endeavour, but also a deeply personal journey that reflected her own search for meaning and purpose in life.

Kamiya's mission was fuelled by her diverse experiences and deep empathy for those suffering from social exclusion, particularly leprosy patients. Her extensive research in this area was not only a professional obligation, but also a personal quest to uncover the deeper psychological effects of alienation and to find ways to achieve mental well-being and a sense of purpose in the face of great adversity.

Her seminal work, "Ikigai ni Tsuite" ("On Ikigai"), is the culmination of this mission. In it, Kamiya sought to explore and define the elusive concept of ikigai from various angles, with the aim of coming as close as possible to understanding what makes life worth living. This work was not just an academic treatise, but a reflection of her personal mission to navigate and elucidate the complexities of human emotions and the sources of life's value.

5 THINGS YOU CAN DO

So the best way to find your mission is to:

• breathe life into things

• Be open to new experiences - maybe this will develop into a mission for you.

• Don't be intimidated by thoughts that tell you you're not good enough.

• give space to your needs and thoughts, e.g. through journaling

• and dare to follow where you are drawn to.