Ikigai: The True Purpose Beyond Happiness

Does happiness really equate to ikigai?

In this video, Nick Kemp talks about how ikigai can be experienced through the struggles and challenges of life, guiding people toward a deeper sense of purpose and meaning.

Happiness is a byproduct of ikigai

Nick: I've spoken to several researchers who, one in particular, relates ikigai to intrinsic motivation, but also existential positive psychology and this idea of bouncing back or overcoming a challenge, or even in the midst of going through a challenge, you begin to understand what matters to you.

And you can feel ikigai through the challenge; and then, once you have overcome the challenge, on reflection, you realize that challenge, that suffering was worth it because it uncovered my ikigai, or it has made me a stronger person, and I discovered things I thought I wasn't capable of.

A simple, easy life, wouldn't uncover this different sources of ikigai or we wouldn't gain this resilience. I always say that ikigai, really, it's not about happiness—happiness is a byproduct of ikigai—it's a meaningful life. And I guess to have a meaningful life, we have to be challenged every once in a while.

Kei: That's right.

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