The Great Search for Ikigai

What gives our lives meaning? What carries us through setbacks and helps us grow? Over the past few years, through our Ikigai tests, we’ve collected more than 7,500 responses from around the world—in German, English, and Spanish. These answers reveal not only universal desires but also deep challenges, hopes, and what sustains people both in small, everyday moments and on a larger scale.

In this post, we’d like to share our findings:

• What does Ikigai mean to us today, in 2024, in a world full of complexity, change, and challenges?

• What do we wish for, and where do we find hope and strength?

How Do People Understand Ikigai?

The Japanese concept of Ikigai—life’s meaning and joy—is understood by many respondents as:

• A philosophy of life: “A path to inner balance and joy.”

• Flourishing in the small moments: “Times when I feel truly present—alone or with others.”

• The connection between being and doing: “Doing something meaningful that also nurtures me.”

For some, Ikigai is still an unfamiliar term: “I don’t know exactly, but I want to find out.” These responses show a strong desire for guidance—Ikigai is seen as a tool for self-reflection and shaping one’s life.

Childhood as a Mirror of Joy

Childhood memories often serve as a source of life’s joy:

• Carefree moments: “Freedom on my bike, summers with friends, playing in the sandbox.”

• Deep connections: “The warmth of my mother, laughing with my family.”

• Creativity and a sense of adventure: “Dancing, painting, playing—moments free of worries.”

Many respondents link their most formative memories to simple, genuine joys: community, nature, creativity. These experiences often act as a compass, pointing back to what truly matters.

Challenges and Setbacks—What Moves People?

Beyond aspirations, the test also highlights the challenges people face:

• Inner doubts: “I feel like I’m not enough.” – “Tengo que dejar de tener miedo al fracaso.” (Spanish: “I need to stop fearing failure.”)

• Stagnation and lack of direction: “My job doesn’t fulfill me.” – “I don’t know how to find peace.”

• Present-day burdens: “Family conflicts,” “lack of support,” “too much stress and expectation.”

These struggles are universal. Yet, the answers reveal not resignation but a desire to move forward, let go, and create space for new opportunities.

What Gives People Hope and Support?

Despite challenges, participants feel deeply connected to what sustains them:

• Relationships: Family, friendships, community.

  • “Mi madre y mis amigos me dan fuerzas.” (Spanish: “My mother and friends give me strength.”)

  • “My siblings keep me grounded on the hardest days.”

• Small daily rituals: Reading, exercise, nature.

  • “The forest calms me when the day gets too loud.”

• Belief in oneself and in life:

  • “I know things will get better if I keep going.”

  • “La vida misma, el amor que me rodea.” (Spanish: “Life itself, the love that surrounds me.”)

Hope emerges in small moments—such as gratitude—and on a larger scale, like envisioning a freer, better life.

What Do People Wish for the Future?

The responses are full of hope and intentions:

• Growth and change: “I want the courage to take new paths.” – “I want to let go of what holds me back.”

• Balance and peace: “A life with less pressure and more joy.” – “Un futuro donde me sienta tranquila y segura.” (Spanish: “A future where I feel calm and secure.”)

• Meaningful contributions: “I want to help others find their way.” – “To inspire those around me to believe in themselves.”

Whether it’s personal growth or the desire to contribute to others, Ikigai connects introspection with outward responsibility.

The Universal Search for Meaning

Despite cultural and linguistic differences, clear commonalities emerge:

• People seek clarity to understand what truly matters.

• They yearn for connection—with themselves, others, and the world.

• They desire moments where they can thrive and simply be.

Ikigai provides a bridge between what we do and who we are.

What Is Your Ikigai for 2024?

Take some time to ask yourself:

• What moments make me feel alive?

• What do I want to let go of? What do I wish for the future?

• What sustains me—even in difficult times?

Insights from the Ikigai Test

Resonances with Ikigai: Values and Meaning

• Nature: A source of peace and renewal.

  • German: “The forest calms me when the day gets too loud.”

  • English: “Nature helps me reset. It’s where I feel connected to life.”

  • Spanish: “El mar y las montañas me devuelven la paz.” (The sea and mountains give me peace.)

Insight: Nature represents grounding and clarity, especially in stressful times. It connects us to the present moment and creates distance from the hustle of daily life.

• Music: The language of emotions.

  • “When I listen to music, I forget everything else.”

  • “Making music helps me thrive.”

  • Spanish: “La música calma mi mente y me hace soñar.” (Music calms my mind and lets me dream.)

Insight: Music is universal—it brings joy, soothes pain, and opens space for emotional depth and reflection.

• Art: Creative expression and flow.

  • “When I paint, I lose myself and feel alive.”

  • “Dancing and painting were my first moments free of worries.”

  • Spanish: “Crear me permite aceptar el momento presente.” (Creativity allows me to embrace the present moment.)

Insight: Art bridges “doing” and “being.” It’s not just a source of joy but also a means to process pain and loss.

• Friends and Community:

  • “My friends help me stand when I fall.”

  • “Friends give me the strength to keep going.”

  • Spanish: “Mis amigos y mi familia son mi fuerza.” (My friends and family are my strength.)

Insight: Relationships provide emotional security and resonance, carrying us through good and difficult times.

Challenges, Loss, and Letting Go

• Resilience: “Resilience comes from knowing I’ve survived before.”

• Acceptance: “Aprendí a aceptar lo que no puedo cambiar.” (I’ve learned to accept what I can’t change.)

• Grief work: Many describe nature, art, and spirituality as ways to process loss.

Insight: Loss and setbacks shape us but also open doors to growth, strength, and new perspectives.

Spirituality and Faith—A Quiet Anchor in Difficult Times

Spirituality plays a role in all three languages but manifests differently:

• Spanish: Deeply intertwined with life and community.

  • “La fe me sostiene en los días difíciles.” (Faith supports me on difficult days.)

• English: More individual, often tied to mindfulness and life’s meaning.

  • “Faith gives me hope that there’s something more to life.”

• German: Often expressed through gratitude, nature, and philosophical reflection.

  • “The forest is a spiritual place for me.”

What Resonates with You?

What would you like to explore further? Let us know: hallo @ finde-zukunft.de