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Ikigai or A Good Life
Ikigai or A Good Life
A good life
A book of questions
Franka Kohler
Ikigai or
A good life
A book of questions
»Tell me, what is it, you plan to do with your
one wild and precious life?«
Mary Oliver
Introduction
Why is it so important to do what you love - and to love what Why is it so important that your work also takes care of you
you do? Another thought experiment: Imagine you do something financially? Imagine you do something you love, you do really
you’re genuinely good at, that is paid well, and that is valuable to well and that contributes to the wellbeing of our planet. But: You’re
our world - but you simply don’t really enjoy doing it. The result: hopelessly underpaid and you don’t make nearly enough to live
Your work feels somehow empty. It is passion that drives us and comfortably. The result: You don’t feel nurtured. And since we live
our creativity and makes it exciting to get up in the morning. Of in a society where pay is often confused with appreciation, you
course there are days or even weeks when work feels tedious and don’t feel appreciated either. Maybe you get a lot of praise and
tiring, and we just want to quit. But if this is your general, on-going recognition. As valuable as this is, it doesn’t pay the rent or put
feeling, then there’s something wrong. Lacking passion is not only food on your table, nor does it enable you to realize big visions.
exhausting, it’s also a clear indication that you’re not in the right
place. Because, if what you spend most of your time doing doesn’t How to discover your Ikigai
light up your face and spark your creativity, you’ll end up being So, how do we know what our Ikigai is and how we can bring it
annoyed and frustrated after work, which eventually means falling to the world? The questions in this book encourage you to leave
into a downward spiral. Then it’s high time to find out what you behind trodden paths of thinking, and to find new perspectives
need to rekindle your enthusiasm. concerning your place in the world. Instead of another self-help
book, we decided to write a book of questions, because we are
Why is it so important to do something the world needs? convinced that good questions that enable you to discover your
Imagine you do something you love, you do really well and you own answers, will most likely take you much further than a hundred
clever suggestions. And in case some question marks still remain
after answering the questions, there are some more suggestions
for finding your Ikigai at the end of the book.
»Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the
only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is
great work. And the only way to do great work is to love
what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking.
Don’t settle.«
Steve Jobs
Part 1: What you love
Let’s start where your enthusiasm lies: with what you love. What
are activities that fill you with enthusiasm? In this chapter, we
explore your passions and interests.
The third part of our book is about identifying how you can bring
your gifts and your passion to the world in a way that really makes
sense - for you and for the world. For there is someone out there
who urgently needs what you have to offer. Realize who that is,
what your specific contribution could be and why that is import-
ant.
Are there social challenges that concern you; that concern you more
than other issues, regardless of whether they’re portrayed as more
or less important in the media? Think of an emotional moment you
had, watching/reading something in the news or a heated
discussion you led, where you vehemently stood up for a certain
issue. Which issues do you find yourself thinking about frequently?
Do you remember overhearing conversations which moved you in a
special way?
Which particular issue would you like to devote your attention to? Which challenges/problems that you see in the world would you
like to address?
If this issue was solved, what would that look like? What would be a possible/your approach?
If you had a mission, what would it be? Review your answers of the first two chapters: How relevant
could what you love and what you’re good at be to the topics
mentioned above?
Who would they be relevant to? Who could profit of what you Describe each group of people mentioned above using an avatar
have to offer? Who needs exactly what you have to offer? - a specific person. Find as many details as possible. Give them a
name and a personality. How old are they? What do they look
like? How educated are they? How do they live? Who or what
influences them? What do they do in their free time? What moves
them? What are their dreams? What problems and challenges do
they face, and what are their needs?
If you've mentioned several different groups of people,
concentrate on the three you feel like working with most.
What are five of their biggest aspirations? How can you help them solve their problems and fulfill their
aspirations (through what you love and do well)?
Review your answers in this chapter. Do you recognize a common
thread? Think of three specific ideas you could develop and offer.
Now that you’ve identified what you have to of fer, and who
urgently needs exactly what you have to give, you can move on
to the next question: How can you finance your project?
Option A: Your Ikigai is beyond money. You don’t need finances
for it. Wonderful, so just get going then! Option B: What you would
like to do is of such major relevance to society that there are
public funds available. Option C: Your target group is financially
strong enough to pay for it themselves. Then it’s a matter of de-
veloping a specific product or service that you get paid for well.
In whose interest could it be that you bring this project to the world?
Why is this important for society? What funds could be available?
Who else could help you finance the project? How could you turn your ideas into a specific product you could
sell? For example, developing an app, constructing furniture,
selling natural cosmetics or boxes of vegetables.
How could you turn your ideas into a specific service you could If you already have a product: How could you add a service to it?
sell? For example, offering classes, seminars, retreats, counseling For example, your confectionery is doing really well - now you
or other kinds of support. offer classes where people learn how to make chocolate them-
selves.
What value does your idea add to the world? Who would profit if you brought this idea to the world?
Who would be interested enough in your product that they might Who has had success in making enough money with similar
pay you for bringing it to the world? products or services?
How did they do it? How could you do it?
What will your first steps be? When will you take them? Here are some other tips to support you in finding your
Ikigai:
1. Listen to silence
When we try to discover our place and find out what we truly, truly
want to do, we usually explore these questions in our mind. We
ponder and talk and ruminate, our thoughts go round and round,
which often leads to the exact opposite of what we’re trying to
achieve. Instead of clarity of mind, we end up not knowing whether
we’re coming or going. That is the time to turn to silence. Your
place in the world cannot be discovered by your mind alone,
but rather through an inner authority that - beyond all rational
thought - feels and knows what to do. Some people call this
authority »intuition«. Others speak of an »inner compass«. And still
others call it our »higher self«. But it does not matter what you call
it, what is important is that you learn to listen and trust. The most
direct path to getting in touch with it is through silence. Once we
manage to quiet our »monkey mind«, the constant, restless and
endless chatter in our heads, once we train our mind to become
still and empty, we’re able to notice the soft impulses that point
us in the right direction. These impulses are often crystal clear and
powerful. But it won’t take long and the monkey mind starts off
again, and all our clarity gets buried under worries, doubts and well
intended advice. That is why it is essential to develop a practice
that enables us to realize the subtle impulses and distinguish them
from our thoughts of confusion. Meditation is a wonderful tool to
cultivate silence and quiet your mind - and thus achieve clarity.
But walks or creative forms of expression can work wonders too.
3. Let your core competencies, values and interests guide you 6. Cultivate your personal nature reserve
Let’s embark on a little thought experiment: What if you had your No matter how urgently you want to find out what you truly,
specific combination of qualities, talents, values and interests, truly want to do or how important it is to bring it to the world,
because it’s exactly this specific combination that is needed for a there are things in our lives that must not be neglected. In these
certain task in the world? Which task could that be? To live what times, when work, deeds and activism are often considered more
you love, what you are good at and what is important to you, is important than anything else, it is essential to define your nature
not just nice for yourself - it can also substantially enrich the life reserve and make an agreement with yourself to no longer neglect
of someone out there. And it is a guide to what you have to do. certain aspects of your life. And who knows, maybe you'll reach a
Learn to read it as such. brilliant insight just when you finally turn off your laptop to play a
game or two with your children or take a stroll through the woods.
4. Get support
The question where our place in the world actually is and what
we really, really want to do with our lives feels overwhelming to
many of us. Getting good support to explore these questions
constructively and effectively is very important. You don’t have
to do it all on your own. Treat yourself and the world to this gift
and get support.
Note
Our book offers questions for a good life, but as with any personal
development tool, there is no guarantee. We assume no liability.
Imprint
© 2019 in love with paper e.U.
All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced,
stored in a database or used in any form without the written permission
of the publisher.
ISBN: 978-3-9504763-0-9
Printed in Austria with Love.
www.inlovewithpaper.com