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.